Transforming Paper Trails into Smart Data Systems

How to simplify record access and data collection at Health camps?

Asptal is a mobile-first application designed to streamline data collection and reporting during mobile health camps in rural Himachal Pradesh,India. It supports the Asptal-Sansad Mobile Swasthya Seva, an initiative led by Union Minister Anurag Thakur to bring primary healthcare to over 5 districts, 800+ panchayats and over 6400+ villages.—the data collection and reporting process remained outdated, fragmented, and inefficient.

I led the product’s UX design to help transition outdated, paper-based workflows into an intuitive digital experience for field medical teams.

Problem

Health workers recorded patient data on paper during each camp, summarized the details in Excel sheets, and sent reports monthly through WhatsApp. This system made it extremely difficult to track individual patient histories, analyze trends, or generate consolidated reports in real time. Delays and inconsistencies affected both operational efficiency and overall health impact assessment.

Key challenges we identified:

Paper-based data collection led to errors, missing information, and lack of traceability
Monthly reporting via WhatsApp made data hard to consolidate or analyze
No real-time dashboards for doctors or administrators to view trends or make timely decisions
Lack of structured data by location and date limited the ability to compare or monitor health camps
Reporting delays slowed down action on critical health issues and resource planning
Users needed a simple, mobile solution that worked well in low-connectivity environments and was easy to adopt

This fragmented system created a gap between field data collection and high-level decision-making. Our goal was to bridge this gap through an intuitive, digital platform that supported real-time insights and seamless reporting, all while being accessible to rural healthcare teams.

Initial Scope and Research

We started with a tightly focused MVP to solve the most pressing pain points around data collection and reporting in health camps. The goal was to build a product that delivered high utility from day one, while setting the stage for future growth.

In-scope for MVP:

Digital data entry for patients and camps
Daily/monthly/annual dashboards
Mobile app with basic role-based access
PDF and Excel export functions

Deferred for future iterations:

Historical data migration
Multi-language interface
Advanced analytics and reporting modules
Web-based administrative panel

This phased scope helped us deliver quickly, test thoroughly, and evolve the product based on real user needs. We designed a mobile-first application focused on simplifying healthcare data collection and reporting for rural field operations. The app was optimized for real-world use by healthcare workers with varying levels of digital fluency and often working in low-connectivity zones.

Key features included:

Patient record management (add/view/edit)
Camp-level data entry and reporting
Real-time dashboards for daily, monthly, and yearly views
Exportable reports in PDF and Excel formats
Role-based access (Admin, Nurse, Lab Technician)
Mobile optimization for Android/iOS devices

This solution helped unify fragmented processes into a single, intuitive platform that supports both data input and decision-making.

Impact & Outcomes

The Asptal app was deployed across 17 mobile health units and is now in regular use across 800+ panchayats in five districts. Its adoption significantly reduced manual reporting time and improved data accessibility for all stakeholders.

Measured outcomes:

60% reduction in time spent generating monthly reports
100% digitization of patient records during health camps
Real-time visibility into field data for better planning and resource allocation
Smooth adoption by healthcare workers with minimal training required

The simplified user interface and data visualization tools empowered field teams to work more efficiently, while enabling administrators to gain a broader view of healthcare activity and outcomes.

What’s Next

With a successful MVP rollout, we identified future features and upgrades to extend the app’s utility and scalability. These enhancements will support more complex workflows and improve inclusivity and data quality.

Upcoming improvements:

Offline data entry with automatic sync
Web dashboard for health administrators and analysts
Photo uploads and lab report attachments
Accessibility enhancements such as voice input and language support

These additions will make the platform even more robust and adaptable to on-the-ground realities in rural healthcare delivery.

Testing & Feedback

We built and tested interactive prototypes using Adobe XD, walking users and stakeholders through key flows and collecting feedback through informal usability testing sessions. This iterative approach helped us fine-tune the product based on real-world needs.

Key takeaways from testing:

Form layout needed simplification for faster data entry
Users requested larger tap targets for easier touch interactions
Reporting filters by date and location were crucial for daily operations
Location tagging and visual dashboards increased trust and engagement

Incorporating this feedback helped improve the final design’s usability and ensured alignment with user expectations and field conditions.