HillCountry Health Connect– HIPAA-Compliant Patient Engagement App for an Austin Healthcare Network

Client Background

An Austin-based outpatient care group operating across Travis County needed to modernize patient engagement. Their workflow relied heavily on phone calls, manual scheduling, and paper-based intake — creating long wait times, inconsistent follow-ups, and administrative overload. 

They needed a secure, mobile-first solution that could streamline communication and scheduling while meeting strict healthcare compliance requirements.

Project Objective

The primary goal was to design and develop a HIPAA-compliant mobile application that: 

  • Enables secure appointment scheduling and coordination. 
  • Improves patient-provider communication through encrypted messaging. 
  • Digitizes intake forms to reduce manual processing time. 
  • Supports prescription refill requests and follow-up workflows. 
  • Sends automated appointment reminders and notifications. 

Integrates with the client’s EHR to reduce duplicate administrative tasks. 

Project Solution

App Vertices developed HillCountry Health Connect as a secure patient engagement platform built with compliance-first architecture. The application was designed for simplicity on the patient side while maintaining robust security, encryption, and operational structure behind the scenes. 

To reduce administrative duplication and streamline workflows, the backend was integrated with the client’s existing EHR system, enabling smoother scheduling, intake processing, and follow-up coordination. 

Tech Stack

  • Frontend: React Native (Cross-Platform iOS & Android Development) 
  • Backend: Node.js with Express.js 
  • Database: MongoDB (Secure Patient Data Storage) 
  • Security & Compliance: HIPAA-aligned encryption + secure access controls 
  • Notifications: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) 
  • Hosting & Deployment: AWS Cloud Infrastructure 

Main Features of the App

  • Secure Appointment Booking: Mobile scheduling built for speed and accessibility. 
  • Encrypted Patient Messaging: Private communication between patients and providers. 
  • Digital Intake Forms: Mobile submission to reduce paper handling and delays. 
  • Prescription Refill Requests: Simplified requests with structured routing. 
  • Reminders & Notifications: Automated appointment alerts to reduce no-shows. 
  • EHR Integration: Backend connectivity to reduce manual data re-entry and administrative overhead. 

Results

HillCountry Health Connect delivered measurable improvements in operational efficiency and patient experience. Within 6 months, the healthcare group saw stronger patient satisfaction, reduced call volume, and faster intake processing through digital workflows. 

Key Outcomes