ABSTRACT

Due to the increasing demand for efficient healthcare services, managing doctor appointments
has received tremendous attention from healthcare providers and technology companies. A
doctor appointment management system is a crucial tool for healthcare providers to schedule
appointments, manage patient data, and improve patient care. This doctor appointment
management system project is unique in its approach and different from existing projects in the
healthcare segment. The project will be built to run on web browsers across different operating
systems, with HTML, CSS, and PHP for front-end and back-end. The project aims to be user-
friendly, providing patients with an easy-to-use platform to schedule appointments and manage
their health information. The system will prioritize appointments based on various factors, such
as the urgency of care required, the availability of doctors, and the preferences of patients. The
system will also be able to recommend relevant doctors based on the patient's medical condition
and history. The project is targeted to meet the needs of healthcare providers and patients alike,
providing a seamless experience for scheduling and managing doctor appointments. The success
of similar healthcare management systems in recent years highlights the potential of this project
to revolutionize the healthcare industry.

i
 Table of Contents
ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................i
1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................1
2. PROBLEM STATEMENT......................................................................................................2
3. OBJECTIVES..........................................................................................................................2
4. SCOPE.....................................................................................................................................2
5. REQUIREMENT ANALYSIS.................................................................................................3
5.1. Literature Review..............................................................................................................3
5.2. Requirement Determination..............................................................................................5
5.2.1. Function Requirement...............................................................................................5
5.2.2. Non-Functional Requirements...................................................................................6
5.3. Feasibility Analysis...........................................................................................................6
5.3.1. Technical Feasibility..................................................................................................6
5.3.2. Operational Feasibility...............................................................................................6
5.3.3. Economic Feasibility.................................................................................................6
5.3.4. Schedule Feasibility...................................................................................................7
6. METHODOLOGY..................................................................................................................8
7. EXPECTED RESULT.............................................................................................................9

ii
 1. INTRODUCTION
Booking a doctor's appointment has been a long-standing process that requires patients to
physically visit a clinic or call a medical facility to schedule an appointment. However, with the
rise of digital technology, online appointment booking has become an efficient and convenient
method for patients to schedule their visits. This project aims to enhance the process of booking
doctor's appointments by introducing an online appointment booking system that allows patients
to book their appointments through an internet-connected device. The system enables patients to
book their preferred time slots and choose from a range of available doctors, thereby providing
them with a hassle-free and seamless experience. With this system, patients no longer have to
wait in long queues or deal with the uncertainty of getting an appointment, as they can quickly
and easily book an appointment with just a few clicks. The system also provides patients with a
record of their upcoming appointments and sends timely reminders to ensure they never miss an
appointment. This project has revolutionized the process of booking doctor's appointments,
making it more accessible, efficient, and user-friendly.

1
 2. PROBLEM STATEMENT
The traditional method of booking doctor's appointments is a time-consuming and tedious
process, often requiring patients to wait in long queues or make multiple phone calls to schedule
an appointment. This can result in patients not receiving timely medical care or missing out on
their preferred doctor's appointment slot. Additionally, the manual process of appointment
booking can lead to human errors, such as double-booking or booking appointments with the
wrong doctor, which can cause inconvenience to both patients and healthcare providers.
Moreover, managing doctor's schedules, patient records, and appointment reminders can be
challenging for healthcare providers, especially in a busy medical facility. Keeping track of
appointment cancellations, rescheduling, and no-shows can result in significant administrative
overheads and revenue loss. Therefore, there is a need for an efficient and user-friendly doctor's
appointment management system that streamlines the process of appointment booking, record-
keeping, and appointment reminders.

3. OBJECTIVES
The objectives are: -

1. To Simplify appointment scheduling for patients.

2. To Streamline administrative tasks for healthcare providers.
3. To Enhance patient experience with reduced wait times.
4. To Optimize resource utilization and improve patient care.

4. SCOPE
The scope of the doctor appointment management system includes developing an online platform
for patients to book doctor's appointments easily and efficiently. The system will allow
healthcare providers to manage and track appointments, patient records, and doctor schedules
effectively.

2
3
 5. REQUIREMENT ANALYSIS
5.1. Literature Review

The doctor appointment management system is a relatively new area of research, with limited
literature available on the topic. However, existing studies on healthcare technology and online
appointment booking provide valuable insights into the benefits and challenges of implementing
such systems.

 Zocdoc

Zocdoc is a third-party appointment scheduling platform that allows patients to easily search for
healthcare providers, view their availability, and schedule appointments online. Healthcare
providers can sign up with Zocdoc to create a profile and list their available services, hours of
operation, and availability. Patients can then use the platform to search for healthcare providers
based on their specialty, and then book appointments directly through the platform. Patients can
receive automated appointment reminders via email, or phone call, reducing the likelihood of
missed appointments.

While Zocdoc offers many benefits to patients and healthcare providers, there are also some
potential drawbacks to using the platform. Healthcare providers must pay a fee to use Zocdoc's
services, which can be a significant expense for small practices. Additionally, Zocdoc charges
patients a convenience fee for using its platform to book appointments, which can be a deterrent
for some patients. While Zocdoc is used by many healthcare providers in the United States, it
does not have complete coverage across all geographic areas and specialties. This means that
patients in some areas may not have access to healthcare providers through Zocdoc.

 MyChart

MyChart is a patient portal offered by many healthcare providers that includes appointment
scheduling and management features. Patients can use MyChart to schedule appointments and
view their medical history. While MyChart includes appointment scheduling and management
features, it may not offer the same level of customization and functionality as some third-party
appointment scheduling platforms like Zocdoc. For example, MyChart may not offer the ability
to search for healthcare providers outside of a patient's existing healthcare system. As with any

4
electronic health record system, there is a risk of data breaches or other security vulnerabilities
that could put patients' personal health information at risk.

However, implementing an online appointment booking system comes with its own set of
challenges, as highlighted in a study published in the Journal of Health Organization and
Management. The study found that healthcare providers need to ensure that the system is user-
friendly, compatible with their existing IT infrastructure, and secure to protect patient privacy.

5
5.2. Requirement Determination

5.2.1. Function Requirement

i. The system should allow patients to register and create a profile that includes their personal
information, and contact details.
ii. The system should allow patients to view doctor availability, select a suitable time slot, and
book appointments online.
iii.The system should allow healthcare providers to manage and schedule doctor availability,
track appointments, and make changes as required.

Figure 5. 1 Use case Diagram of DAMS

6
 5.2.2. Non-Functional Requirements

i. Efficient and Accuracy.

ii. The system will be secured from unauthorized usage and access.
iii.The system should have user-friendly UI.

5.3. Feasibility Analysis

Before starting the project, feasibility study will be carried out to check if the system is feasible.
Feasibility study is necessary to determine if creating a new or improved system is friendly with
cost, benefits, operation, technology and time. Following feasibility study will be performed.

5.3.1. Technical Feasibility

The technical feasibility of the doctor appointment management system can be evaluated
based on its compatibility with existing hardware and software infrastructure. The system
should be compatible with commonly used devices such as smartphones, tablets, and desktop
computers. The system should be able to handle high volumes of traffic and user data,
ensuring reliability and security.

5.3.2. Operational Feasibility

The operational feasibility of the doctor appointment management system can be assessed
based on its ease of use and impact on existing operations. The system should be easy to
navigate and use for both patients and healthcare providers. It should also streamline
appointment scheduling and management, reducing administrative workload and improving
overall efficiency.

5.3.3. Economic Feasibility

The economic feasibility of the doctor appointment management system can be evaluated by
analyzing its cost and benefits. The system should provide cost savings by reducing
administrative workload and improving patient outcomes. It should also generate revenue by

7
improving patient retention and attracting new patients. Additionally, the system should be
cost-effective, with a low initial investment and ongoing maintenance costs.

5.3.4. Schedule Feasibility

Since the project is a small project and constitutes dependencies. It will follow with
methodology of development of the system. During the development process, small iterative
changes will be made in the system.

Table 5. 1. Gantt Chart

Working Time 15thMarch 30thMarch 20th April 5th May 27th May 13th June
Requirements
System Design
Coding
Implementation
Testing
Documentation

8
 6. METHODOLOGY
The Agile SDLC model is a highly effective methodology for developing a doctor appointment
management system. This model emphasizes an iterative and incremental approach to the
development process, with a focus on process adaptability and customer satisfaction by the rapid
delivery of working software products. The system can be broken down into small incremental
builds, which are provided in iterations, with each iteration lasting from one to three weeks.
During each iteration, cross-functional teams can work simultaneously on various areas,
including planning, requirements analysis, design, coding, unit testing, and acceptance testing.
This allows for a highly collaborative and efficient process, where different teams can work
together to develop the product in a cohesive and effective way. Furthermore, customer
involvement is emphasized throughout the process, allowing for constant feedback and iteration.
The Agile SDLC model can ensure that the doctor appointment management system is delivered
on time, with a high level of quality and customer satisfaction.

Figure 6. 1. Agile Model

9
 7. EXPECTED RESULT
The expected outcome of a doctor appointment management system is to improve the overall
efficiency and effectiveness of the healthcare system. This can be achieved through the following
expected results:

i. Improved patient satisfaction: The doctor appointment management system should

provide patients with a more convenient and streamlined way to schedule appointments and
communicate with healthcare providers. This can improve patient satisfaction and
experience.
ii. Improved provider efficiency: The system should also improve provider efficiency by
reducing the time and effort required to manage appointments and communicate with
patients.
iii. Reduced waiting times: The system can help reduce waiting times for patients by
improving appointment scheduling and ensuring that providers have access to accurate
patient information.

10