Case Study: Automated Pain Diary for Patient Reporting *
Transforming patient care through intelligent automation and streamlined symptom tracking
View Solution
* Example Workflow Demonstration (Fictionalized scenario based on real automation practices)
The Challenge
A patient needed a simple way to track daily pain symptoms and provide a clear summary to their doctor during check-ups.
Manual Journaling Issues
Manual journaling was inconsistent and unreliable for tracking symptoms effectively.
Incomplete Documentation
Notes were often incomplete or disorganized, making medical assessment difficult.
Lack of Structure
Doctors lacked structured reports to track progress over time and make informed decisions.

The goal: create a simple, mobile-friendly system that required minimal effort from the patient while producing professional reports for doctors.
The Solution
We built a no-code workflow using Airtable, Zapier, and Google Docs that automated the entire process:
Daily Entry
The patient logs symptoms via a mobile Airtable form (pain level, location, notes, medication, etc.).
Automatic Capture
Zapier collects entries into Airtable automatically without manual intervention.
Weekly Summary
At the end of the week, Zapier generates a report in Google Docs using a pre-designed template.
Delivery
The patient receives a secure link via email/SMS, which can be shared directly with the doctor.
Workflow Overview
Patient Entry
Patient logs entry in Airtable Form
Data Processing
Zapier collects entries → filters by date
Report Generation
Zapier formats data → inserts into Google Docs template
Delivery
Zapier emails/SMS report link to patient
Key Obstacles & Solutions
These adjustments ensured the workflow was both patient-friendly and doctor-ready.
Template Issue
Problem: Initial Google Doc reports weren't populating with patient data.
Solution: Solved by refining placeholders and mapping Airtable fields correctly.
Date Grouping
Problem: Needed to summarize entries by week.
Solution: Solved using Zapier's Formatter to calculate weekly ranges.
Access Links
Problem: Patients couldn't open "embedded" links.
Solution: Solved by switching to Google Docs "Alternate Link" for universal sharing.
Results
Patient Consistency
Daily logs became easy and accessible on mobile devices, improving patient engagement.
Doctor Clarity
Structured weekly reports improved consultations and medical decision-making.
Time Saved
No manual copying, formatting, or compiling data required from either party.
Scalable
The same system can be rolled out for multiple patients with minimal changes.
Tools Used
Our no-code solution leveraged three powerful platforms to create a seamless healthcare automation workflow.
Airtable
Mobile symptom logging & data storage platform for easy patient input
Zapier
Workflow automation (date filtering, report generation, notifications)
Google Docs
Professional report template for structured medical documentation
Outcome Snapshot
The final solution provides both patients and doctors with intuitive, professional tools for better healthcare management.
Patient View (Mobile Form)
Quick symptom entry through an intuitive mobile interface that takes seconds to complete
Doctor View (Report)
Structured weekly summary with pain trends and comprehensive patient data for informed medical decisions

Result: A seamless healthcare automation solution that improved patient compliance, enhanced doctor-patient communication, and saved valuable time for both parties.