Industry
Healthcare
Number of patients every year
> 8000
Result
No-show to 0%
Adelante Zorggroep is a specialized healthcare institution in Limburg, with expertise in rehabilitation, special education and audiology & communication. Within the Audiology & Communication division, more than 8,000 clients are assisted each year with hearing and speech-language issues. One of the challenges in this division is the high no-show rate, which impacts the efficiency of care. To address this issue, Adelante sought a digital solution, leading to a successful collaboration with Squad Apps and the development of the ‘Zelf Plannen’ (Self-Scheduling) application.
Luc van Mölken, cluster manager at Audiology & Communication, explains: “We were dealing with a high no-show rate among clients, which affected many aspects of our division, including operations, scheduling and waiting lists. When a client doesn’t show up, a slot is wasted that could have been used by another client. We wanted to tackle this issue proactively rather than dealing with it afterward through complicated processes.”
Previously, communication with clients was largely one-sided and conducted via mail. Patients received letters with invitations and confirmations, but had no option to schedule their own appointments. This process was inefficient and led to many missed appointments.
Squad Apps developed the ‘Zelf Plannen’ app within three months using the Mendix platform. This application allows clients to schedule their own appointments, increasing client autonomy and reducing missed appointments.
Tom Niesten, director at Adelante Zorggroep, explains: “The key value of the app is that it gives control back to the client. People can decide for themselves when they want to come in. This increases the likelihood that they will actually attend, helping us reduce no-shows. Additionally, it saves us administrative work since appointments no longer need to be scheduled manually.”
A crucial feature of the app is its integration with OpenAC, Adelante’s electronic patient record (EPR) system developed by FENAC. The ‘Zelf Plannen’ app continuously retrieves available time slots from the EPR and immediately updates the schedules of healthcare providers with booked appointments. This ensures a streamlined process and efficient scheduling.
Adelante deliberately chose the Mendix platform, a leading low-code development environment. This platform enables the rapid and efficient development of custom applications without requiring extensive programming knowledge.
Tom Niesten: “We chose Mendix, because we couldn’t find a better alternative. The advantage of low-code technology is that the process takes precedence over the technology itself. This allowed us to develop an application based on our processes. Squad Apps provided excellent guidance throughout this journey.”
The flexibility and scalability of the platform also make it easy to implement future modifications and expansions.
Initial feedback on the app has been very positive. Luc van Mölken shares the first insights: “Among clients who have scheduled their own appointments, we have seen a 0% no-show rate so far. That’s an amazing result! We started on a small scale and plan to increase the volume in the coming months for a thorough evaluation. But the initial impressions are very promising.”
In addition to reducing no-shows, the app has also contributed to more efficient operations and an improved patient experience. Clients find the app user-friendly and appreciate the flexibility it provides.
The collaboration between Adelante and Squad Apps has been highly positive. Thanks to short communication lines and quick iterations, the app was developed within a short turnaround time.
Tom Niesten: “My experience with the Squad Apps team has been fantastic. In just three months, we had a fully functional app. Every deadline was met and communication was excellent. I would definitely recommend Squad Apps to other organizations because they deliver on their promises, without hidden costs.”
Luc van Mölken adds: “The collaboration was very smooth and efficient. We were able to move quickly, which allowed us to develop a well-functioning platform in a short time.”
The ‘Zelf Plannen’ app is a great example of how digital innovations can contribute to more efficient healthcare processes and greater patient engagement. Thanks to the collaboration between Adelante Zorggroep and Squad Apps, a solution has been developed that not only reduces the no-show rate but also eases administrative burdens and enhances the patient experience.
Would you like to learn how Squad Apps can help your organization with innovative digital solutions? Get in touch with us!
