Wander Management System

At this stage, healthcare software consultants interview the target users of the wander management software (e.g., nurses) and analyze the existing workflows and their drawbacks. Regulatory requirements (e.g., HIPAA) and external risks are also assessed.

Using this input, business analysts define a detailed and accurate list of functional and non-functional requirements. These requirements form the basis for solution design, development planning, and resource allocation, helping to avoid costly scope changes later in the project.

A clear project scope statement is created to outline objectives, deliverables, milestones, resource needs, and constraints. Tools such as feature lists, user journey maps, and traceability matrices support scope control and ensure alignment across teams and team members. Explicit scope exclusions and potential extensions are also defined to prevent misunderstandings and ensure flexibility.

During this stage, architects work closely with business analysts to review functional and non-functional requirements, including performance goals and compliance with regulations such as HIPAA and GDPR.

An appropriate architectural style—such as microservices, event-driven, or layered—is established, along with key design principles like modularity, loose coupling. The system is decomposed into core components, including user interfaces, server-side logic, databases, and external services. Interactions between these modules are defined, and deployment strategies are outlined for physical or cloud-based infrastructure.

Architects produce detailed diagrams illustrating component relationships, data flows, and a deployment model. In parallel, technical specifications are documented for each module, including APIs, integration standards, data formats, and communication protocols. The architecture is refined iteratively based on input from developers, QA engineers, and stakeholders, allowing for adjustments as project needs evolve or technical challenges arise.

At this step, it's wise to prioritize usability and avoid creating visually heavy interfaces, which would complicate wander management and delay incident response. To ensure accessibility, the system is designed in compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2. and ISO 9241 principles, ensuring smooth workflows and clear, intuitive interactions. The user experience (UX) is enhanced through methods such as:

• Personas to understand user needs.
• User stories to define functional requirements.
• Customer journey mapping to visualize end-to-end interactions.
• Wireframes or clickable prototypes to test design concepts.
• Card sorting to optimize information structure.

These methods collectively help ensure that the wander management system is not only functional but also easy to use for both staff and administrators.

ScienceSoft recommends following the Agile approach when developing a custom wander management system. This methodology will enable the delivery of a fully functional solution while preserving flexibility for early-stage testing and feedback. By involving key stakeholders during development, their insights can shape system components (like mobile staff applications, dashboards, alert logic, and threshold settings) without interrupting daily care routines. Early validation ensures that essential elements meet user needs before the system goes live.

It is advisable to perform functional, performance, usability, integration, and security testing simultaneously with development. This will help identify potential issues early and avoid expensive fixes later. In addition, consider testing the solution in a simulated environment to verify the functionality of physical components, including wearable devices. Fine-tune zoning configurations, and notification logic as needed.

At this step, the development team deploys the final solution at the facility, ensuring the proper functioning of alerts, location tracking, and access control. ScienceSoft experts recommend starting with a pilot deployment in one area (e.g., one floor) to test its real-world performance and gather extra feedback from the staff involved in the pilot.

At this stage, ScienceSoft's team provides clear documentation for system use and maintenance, as well as the training materials for current and future users. Hands-on training is given to facility staff, helping them learn how to respond to alerts, assign and replace tags, and handle basic troubleshooting. In-app tooltips within the system for everyday tasks are also handy.

The development team closely monitors the live system for the first few months after the deployment to detect any performance issues and quickly resolve emerging problems reported by the staff (e.g., gaps in geofencing, frequent device disconnects, or false alarms).

After the system is stabilized, it still experiences regular updates to maintain security and compliance with changing regulations. The staff and executives can request adding new features (e.g., new types of analytics).