November 1st – Present
Overview
MedWheel is a prescription management system that utilizes both software and hardware. This project started as a hackathon project for the YCPHacks 2024 season, but has grown larger since then. The team working on this project is myself, Baia G, Brendan H, and Youssouf H. The project includes a medication dispenser, this being the hardware. The project also includes a mobile app for individuals that struggle with all their medications to dispense the correct medications and the correct times. The app syncs up to the device and tells the device what meds to dispense. This occurs both at the prescribed times, but also whenever the user orders them via the app. The project also includes a web app dashboard for pharmacists and custodial accounts to manage and view the data related to the user. This can include adding prescriptions, editing times for the prescriptions, and viewing when the user last took their medications. Our hack won 1st place overall, and you can still see its Devpost online.
The Problem
The problem is that there are many disadvantaged individuals who struggle with the number of medications they wish to take. Nobody wants to struggle to open 15 bottles every morning, afternoon, and night. Sorting many medications and taking them each at their proper times can be risky, time consuming, and, most importantly, difficult.
The Solution
MedWheel solves these problems. The hardware allows a user to input all of their prescribed medications, and that’s all they need to do. The app does the rest for them. The app will sort, manage, and dispense the proper medications at the proper times, all on its own.
My Role
I was the designated app and database engineer. I built the mobile app in React Native, allowing for excellent versatility. I also managed our databases. We decided to build using Firebase. Our database included users, pharmacists, custodians, medications, and instructions for users.
The Future of MedWheel
After the hackathon, our team was contacted by multiple people who wanted to see this as a real product. Family, friends, and professionals. Because of that, as well as plenty of encouragement from other people at the hackathon, we have decided to continue working on MedWheel to sell it as a product and a service for people to use. The product itself will take over a year before an official launch.
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