Keshavarthan Kirubakaren

SyncQ: Real-Time Patient Queue Management

Patients in clinic waiting rooms experience high anxiety because traditional queue displays are static and uninformative. They do not know their actual wait time, and receptionists are constantly interrupted by patients asking, "How much longer?" The gap identified was the lack of an intelligent, dynamic queue system that adjusts to real-world delays (like doctor breaks or emergencies) in real-time. Process I approached this by prioritizing event-driven architecture over standard HTTP requests to ensure zero-refresh syncing. I built the backend using Node.js and Socket.io. Initially, my wait-time algorithm relied on static math (e.g., 10 minutes per patient), but I realized this felt inaccurate to users. I iterated by creating a live-ticking chronometer on the frontend that calculates wait times based on the exact timestamp the active patient entered the room. I also built strict edge-case handling for emergency line-jumping and an automated 15-minute standby penalty queue for patients who miss their turn. Results The outcome is a commercial-grade, zero-latency triage system. By scanning a QR code, patients receive a personalized digital ticket with a live countdown tailored to their exact position in line. The system successfully automates complex clinic workflows, including automatic queue recalculations when a doctor goes on break, and seamless handling of emergency patients without breaking the token numbering sequence. Reflection Next time, I would expand the digital ticket feature by integrating the Twilio API to send SMS notifications. While the QR code works beautifully for patients with smartphones, an automated SMS text message saying "Your turn is in 5 minutes" would make the system more inclusive for elderly patients who might not use QR scanners.