Inspiration
We aimed to develop an application tailored to assist Black women in the healthcare system. Our vision for the app was born from a desire to empower and support Black women throughout their healthcare journeys. We aimed to provide a platform where they could access crucial information on maternal health, find culturally sensitive care providers, connect with support networks, and advocate for their rights within the healthcare system. By bridging this gap in resources and support, we aspired to contribute to a future where every Black woman receives the quality care and attention she deserves during pregnancy and childbirth. Our mission was not just about developing an app but about making a tangible difference in the lives of Black mothers and their children.
What it does
SoulCare is designed to provide personalized support to Black women throughout their pregnancy journey. One of its key features is the ability for users to anonymously enter the symptoms they are experiencing, empowering them with tailored guidance and a personalized plan of approach for their health and well-being. Upon entering their symptoms, users receive a carefully curated plan that takes into account their specific needs and concerns This personalized approach ensures that each user receives relevant and practical advice to address their symptoms effectively. In addition to this personalized guidance, SoulCare goes further by connecting users with a list of minority OB/GYNs in their area, focusing initially on the Washington, DC area. These healthcare providers are specifically chosen to provide culturally sensitive and understanding care to Black women.
SoulCare takes pride in its commitment to connecting Black mothers with Black physicians, ensuring a culturally affirming and understanding healthcare experience. The app's list of minority OB/GYNs in the Washington, DC area consists of healthcare providers who are Black themselves, and deeply rooted in the community they serve. This deliberate approach recognizes the importance of representation and shared experiences in healthcare. By facilitating connections with Black OB/GYNs, SoulCare aims to create a sense of trust, comfort, and mutual understanding between patients and healthcare providers.
How we built it
SoulCare was built on the backend using Python, and front end using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. We split up our group to dive into backend and front end development separately, while keeping in constant communication to develop our output plan. To start, we ensured we were on the right path by engaging in in depth communication with our sponsors to see what kinds of software they were looking to get out of Bison Bytes. Then, in combination with SoulCare's dream, we got to work developing drafts on whiteboards and through various IDE services. Once we had a solid plan, we dove into front end and back end development simultaneously to make the most use of our time. Despite many setbacks with connecting API endpoints and incorporating Open AI, the SoulCare team kept pushing through and developing the app you see today.
Challenges we ran into
We encountered several challenges during the development process. One of the key hurdles was the training and fine-tuning of the GPT4 model to ensure optimal performance. We encountered challenges in attempting to implement encryption for user logins. Despite our best efforts, we were unable to incorporate this feature within the given time constraints. Lastly, defining the layout and design of our app was one challenge, it required a series of iterative design reviews and feedback sessions amongst each other to hone our vision and guarantee a cohesive and engaging user experience.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
- Establishing and hosting GPT4 API endpoints
- Solidifying a solid foundation and architecture of our final product, prototyping what it would look like.
What we learned
- How to work as a team to improve efficiency in app development
- How to develop API software from the source and connect with Open AI
- How to utilize subprocess to manage external dependencies in Python projects
- Learned deeper about building interactive functions between user input, data processing, and GPT-3.5 response generation
What's next for SoulCare
SoulCare still has much more on the rise, as we will continue to expand our database outside of the DC area to reach black mothers all over the country and assist them through these trying times. Additionally, we would like to continue to expand on the medical professional to patient connection by adding additional interface for medical professionals to sign in and accept new patients to their services. This connection will help to fight back against the stigma's of black women in the medical field and allow users to connect with their doctor's before their appointment even happens.
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