Project Overview

The Audit was the full-scale audit that initiated the project, which involved a cross-platform mobile application, a web application to be designed for clinicians, an admin panel, and an exercises and assessments library.

Agile Project Management We used the Agile methodology that promises constant communication with clients and split the project into cycles of a week of analysis depending on various software components. We adopted a weekly sprint cycle, enabling rapid feedback and adjustments based on evolving client needs and project progress. This iterative approach allowed us to deliver value incrementally and ensure that the final product met the client’s evolving requirements.

Stakeholder interviews and manual exploration of the software Since there was no documentation, we had to interview the stakeholders of the client and also manually test the functionality of the software to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the current software. This hands-on approach ensured a deep understanding of the software’s current state and the challenges faced by its users.

In-depth UX and Code Review We conducted thorough UX research as well as code audit in order to evaluate the architecture of the software, source code, performance, security, and maintainability that would help show areas that need improvement or complete redesign. In addition, we performed a rigorous code audit, evaluating the software’s architecture, source code quality, performance, security, and maintainability. This analysis identified potential risks, performance bottlenecks, and areas for code optimization and refactoring, laying the foundation for a more robust and maintainable software solution.

The Problem

The software struggled with performance issues, security vulnerabilities, poor documentation, inconsistent user experience, and limited functionality, hindering its ability to deliver effective mental health services and meet user expectations.

Poor Performance and Software Defects

The slow performance of the software and its frequent bugs impacted the timely delivery of important mental health services. Both the speed and reliability of patient assessments and the workflows of clinicians were compromised.

Security Vulnerabilities

The software had security gaps with the potential risks of the exposure of patient health information for protection. This raised concerns for HIPAA compliance and the general integrity of the platform.

Lack of Documentation

Since the software was not well documented, it was difficult to realize what the full functionality of the software was, hence was challenging to identify bugs and lay out the updates or changes needed.

Inconsistent UX

The software was not clear and intuitive enough as a user experience. Navigation for different user groups, including patients, clinicians, and admins, was not streamlined and the user interface was not aligned with best practices of mental health care apps.

The Solution

In the process, we had a comprehensive software audit that dealt with architecture and code assessment of the software, performance, and security characteristics. The process of this software audit indicated crucial areas that need to be worked upon for the development of software evolution planning for subsequent versions.

UX Refactoring Strategy

After much research and stakeholder feedback, we developed an elaborated plan for improving the user experience that was built off the requirements to make it simple to use and ensure an easy-to-navigate application for clinicians, administrators, and patients.

Code Refactoring and Security Enhancements

The existing code was scanned, and the strategy for the refactoring strategy was adopted toward the existing code to enhance the readability and maintainability of the software and its performance while strengthening measures of security that existed relative to PHI on the platform.

New feature development

In this we collaborated with the client in defining the new features that enhance functionality of the software. The features included improving patient assessment workflows, enhancing report features, and customized tools for the clinician to create specific assessments and surveys.

Software Evolution Roadmap

After conducting the software audit, we presented with a holistic software evolution roadmap. This included the way in which the required software refactoring into features and the future updates path would follow. We presented an estimated budget and timeline regarding the whole process of evolution

The Result

The audit and evaluation plan provided a clear action plan for transforming the NGO’s software into a robust mental health platform. The project team delivered a comprehensive audit report within four weeks, identifying key shortcomings in the software. The audit included detailed findings on UX improvements, code quality, and security concerns, thus providing the client with an in-depth understanding of the areas that required attention.

The audit ended with a clear and actionable refactoring roadmap outlining the architectural and infrastructure changes needed. The plan also highlighted the redevelopment of critical components, such as the clinician web app and the admin panel. It also pointed out security vulnerabilities and addressed them to ensure that the software met industry standards for managing sensitive patient information. In addition, attention to improving the user experience is of paramount importance, along with substantial enhancements in making it an easier-to-use product by clinicians, patients, and admins alike.

The client is extremely satisfied with the thoroughness of the audit performed and the expertise provided. During the successful planning phase, the client decided to further expand the cooperation for the next step – refactoring the software with the implementation of further new features, thus developing an established long-term partnership for IT.

Optimizing Mental Health Software for Enhanced Patient Care, Performance, and Security.

Comprehensive Mental Health Software Audit and Evolution Planning for an American NGO

About The Project