DocReserve wins Rep. Tom Kean’s 2023 Congressional App Challenge in New Jersey’s Seventh District

When asked what inspired the creation of DocReserve, the student said, “One day, I had an orthodontist appointment for my routine check on my retainer. During the day leading up to the appointment, I realized that I had another event I had to attend on that same day at the same time. The event could not be canceled, so I, therefore, had to reschedule my appointment. Quite strangely, the appointment was scheduled for a portion of the month from the original date and time, with no opportunity to change the time as the schedule of the orthodontist became full. At this moment, I realized that there had to be another way to schedule these appointments that is more flexible and efficient for the patient.

I devised an idea that would allow individuals to schedule appointments non-exclusive to their doctor, as that is typically the main reason why these appointments are frequently rescheduled. If a doctor cannot meet one day, then you are forced to wait until the doctor becomes available once again. It would be much more efficient for a patient to choose the doctor that fits their needs more without being exclusive to a singular healthcare system. For example, in the case of New Jersey, many people are exclusive to Summit Medical Group. However, sometimes, doctors from these groups are miles away from your house for a specific need. I once had a sprained ankle, and the nearest doctor in this system was over thirty minutes away. If I had DocReserve, I would not be exclusive to this group and would have the freedom to choose a closer doctor to me who might have a cheaper copay, better reviews, or more appointment times for the sake of urgency. During these moments, I yearned for a better solution, and when brainstorming for an app idea, I realized the potential not just for people my age but universally for all age groups: the need for DocReserve.”