Shaunak Dhar

ClinicQ — Live Digital Queue Manager for Neighbourhood Clinics

Patients in small clinics often wait 2–3 hours with no visibility into queue status. Receptionists manage tokens manually using paper slips and verbal announcements, leading to confusion and frequent interruptions. I built a real-time digital queue manager that lets receptionists assign tokens quickly while patients can track their position, current token, and estimated wait time on their phones. The goal was to reduce uncertainty, improve clinic efficiency, and eliminate manual queue management. Process I mapped the clinic workflow and identified three core actions: add patient, assign token, and call next. I built the backend using Express.js and MongoDB, with Socket.IO for real-time updates. Initially I considered polling but switched to WebSockets for instant synchronization. Tokens are generated automatically and stored persistently. Wait times are calculated from queue length and average consultation duration entered by the receptionist. I tested edge cases such as duplicate tokens, page refreshes, empty queues, and multiple users connected simultaneously. Results The system enables receptionists to register patients and assign tokens in seconds. Both receptionist and patient screens stay synchronized through real-time Socket.IO events, eliminating page refreshes. Estimated wait times update dynamically based on queue conditions instead of hardcoded values. The solution reduces manual tracking, improves transparency for patients, and decreases interruptions at the reception desk while maintaining an accurate live queue. Reflection I would replace manually entered consultation times with analytics based on historical doctor data to improve estimate accuracy. I would also add WhatsApp/SMS notifications when a patient's turn is approaching, allowing them to wait elsewhere. For production deployment, I would implement authentication, audit logs, and role-based access control. Finally, I would conduct usability testing with real clinic staff to validate workflows and identify further improvements.