Helix Health
A HIPAA-ready patient app with offline sync and clinician dashboards.
- Client
- Helix Care
- Year
- 2024
- Duration
- 5 months
- Our role
- Design · Mobile · Backend
The project
Helix needed a patient mobile app and clinician web dashboard that worked reliably — even offline in low-connectivity clinics — while meeting strict healthcare privacy standards.
The challenge
Patients and clinicians often work with poor connectivity, yet data must be accurate, private and synced. Off-the-shelf tools couldn't meet HIPAA requirements or the offline reality.
Our solution
An offline-first Flutter app with a secure local store and reliable sync, paired with a clinician dashboard — all on a HIPAA-aligned backend with encryption and audit.
Services
Technologies
The stack behind it
Frontend
Flutter · Dart · Next.js (dashboard)
Backend
NestJS · Node.js
Database
PostgreSQL · Drift (on-device)
Cloud
AWS · Firebase (push)
DevOps
Fastlane · GitHub Actions
AI Integration
Document understanding for intake
Third-party APIs
Push · secure messaging
Security
HIPAA-aligned · encryption · audit logs
Architecture
Offline-first with sync + outbox
How it came together
Business problem
Clinics with poor connectivity needed reliable, private patient software — impossible with online-only tools.
Research
We shadowed clinicians and patients to understand the offline reality and the privacy constraints.
Strategy
Offline-first by design, with sync and an outbox queue, on a HIPAA-aligned backend.
Design process
Calm, accessible flows for stressed users, with clear offline/sync feedback.
Development
A Flutter app with a local store + idempotent sync, and a fast clinician dashboard.
Testing
Connectivity-loss testing, security review and accessibility audit.
Deployment
Store release pipeline + monitored backend rollout.
Results
60% faster intake, fully offline-capable, 4.8★ rating.
Lessons learned
Designing for the worst connectivity made the app better for everyone.
- Calm, accessible flows designed for stressed users
- Clear offline indicators and reliable sync feedback
- Clinician dashboard tuned for speed and clarity
An offline-first client with a local database and an outbox queue that syncs idempotently when connectivity returns, against an encrypted, audited backend.
Helix cut patient intake time by 60% and gave clinicians a reliable tool that works anywhere — even with no signal.
60%
Faster intake
100%
Offline capable
4.8★
App store rating
5 mo
To launch
Inside the product
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