Aoife Lynch
TherapEase is a web application designed to simplify the administrative workload for therapists. Many therapists rely on several disconnected tools for scheduling, client notes, payments and communication, which can create inefficient workflows and increase administrative workload. TherapEase brings these functions together in one secure platform, allowing therapists to manage client records, schedule appointments, send automated reminders, process payments and generate Zoom links for online sessions. Built using the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express, React, and Node.js), the platform focuses on usability, user-centred design and automation, helping therapists stay organised and spend more time focusing on client care rather than admin.
• The aim of TherapEase was to design and develop a web application that aims to streamline the administrative workflow for therapists.
• Desired features included appointment booking, appointment and payment reminders, client management and payment processing.
• A key objective of the application was to enhance usability and overall user experience, which was achieved by applying user-centred design principles.
TherapEase successfully features a calendar for scheduling appointments, a client management system, session note creation, file storage, Zoom link creation and payment processing with Stripe. Automation in the application includes emails for appointment confirmation, appointment modified and receipts, as well as SMS messages for appointment reminders, payment links and payment reminders.
Time-on-task testing comparing the original workflow to the TherapEase workflow showed a 70% reduction in time spent on what was identified as the 3 most common administrative tasks for therapists. This includes creating a client profile, scheduling an appointment and writing session notes for appointments.
The System Usability Scale questionnaire returned a score of 97.5 from the participants, showing an almost perfect user-experience.
The research question asked how user-centred design principles could be applied to improve workflow efficiency in therapist administration tools. The results of the user testing show that using TherapEase reduces task switching, simplifies common tasks and improves therapists' workflow efficiency.
Overall, the application proves that an integrated, user-centred approach can significantly improve usability compared to fragmented workflows.
This thesis describes the research, requirements analysis, design, implementation and testing phases completed in the development of TherapEase.
Aoife Lynch is a front-end developer with a passion for creating intuitive, user-focused applications. TherapEase was developed as her final year project with coinciding thesis to complete a four-year Honours degree in Creative Computing. She has developed strong skills in modern web technologies, with a particular focus on responsive design, usability and accessibility.
