Show HN: Free French Health Directory – Find Doctors and Medical Facilities
2 points| toutoulliou | 3 months ago |mavillesante.fr
What you can find: - Search by healthcare facility type (hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, mental health centers, etc.) - Search by practitioner type (general practitioners, specialists, surgeons, paramedics, etc.) - Geolocation to find the nearest options - Filter by city, postal code, or use your current location - Detailed information including contact details, addresses, and specialties - Health blog with articles and medical news
The platform aggregates official data from French health authorities and includes 11 categories of establishments and 12 categories of practitioners, making it easier for people to access healthcare information.
Built with Django, features autocomplete search, responsive design, and is optimized for mobile use.
I'd love to get your feedback on the user experience, search functionality, and any features you'd like to see added!
toutoulliou|3 months ago
I started this project because I noticed how difficult it was to find reliable, up-to-date information about healthcare facilities and practitioners in France. Existing solutions were either incomplete, outdated, or not user-friendly, especially for people who need quick access to medical care.
The journey began when I had to find a specialist for a family member. After spending hours searching through multiple websites and government databases, I realized there had to be a better way. That's when I decided to build a centralized, free directory that would make healthcare information accessible to everyone.
Technical Challenges:
Data Collection: I'm using official data from the French Ministry of Health (FINESS database), which includes thousands of healthcare establishments and practitioners. The challenge was processing and structuring this data effectively, especially with the various categories and specialties.
Geolocation: Implementing accurate geolocation features was crucial. Users should be able to find the nearest options easily, whether they search by postal code, city name, or use their device's location.
Search Performance: With such a large database, search speed and autocomplete functionality needed to be optimized. I implemented efficient querying and caching strategies to ensure fast response times.
Data Updates: Healthcare information changes frequently (addresses, phone numbers, new establishments). I set up automated tasks using Celery to regularly update the database and keep information current.
Tech Stack:
- Backend: Django (Python) - Frontend: HTML, TailwindCSS, vanilla JavaScript - Database: SQLite for development, ready for PostgreSQL in production - Task Queue: Celery for automated data imports
What's Next:
I'm planning to add more features like: - User reviews and ratings (with moderation) - Appointment booking integration
The site is completely free and will remain so. My goal is to help as many people as possible access healthcare information quickly and easily.
I'm open to feedback, suggestions, and collaboration. If you're a developer and interested in contributing, or if you have ideas for improvements, feel free to reach out!
You can test the search functionality, try the geolocation feature, or browse by category. I'd especially appreciate feedback on the user experience and any bugs you might encounter.
cjbenedikt|3 months ago