A Digital Companion for Recovery: How Inghelburch Put Patients at the Heart of Rehabilitation

A Digital Companion for Recovery: How Inghelburch Put Patients at the Heart of Rehabilitation

Key takeaways

At Inghelburch, rehabilitation used to feel overwhelming: too much information at once, scattered communication, and goals that felt abstract instead of supportive. Together, we designed an app built not around technology, but around the patient experience. Now, patients carry their recovery journey in their pocket, with schedules, goals, and personal insights always at hand. Staff benefit from a tailored admin tool that reduces workload. The result: more clarity, more agency, and a solution that starts with human needs.

  • Client

    Inghelburch

  • Services

    User interface design Dashboard design UX design

  • Links

    Google Play Store

From Information Overload to Patient-Centered Clarity

Inghelburch is a psychological rehabilitation center in the heart of Bruges. Its day treatment programs support people with psychological vulnerabilities, offering small-scale, intensive, and specialized care. The mission: to help individuals regain control of their daily lives when roles at home, at work, or in social settings feel out of reach.

But entering rehabilitation can be overwhelming. Patients arrive at a vulnerable moment, only to face a flood of schedules, group sessions, and practical details. For people seeking calm and stability, this added stress.

  • Paper timetables and notice boards caused anxiety about missing updates, while staff spent hours keeping communication consistent. 

  • Personal goal-setting — an essential part of recovery — often felt abstract instead of motivating. And because of the sensitive nature of psychological rehabilitation, privacy was crucial. 

Inghelburch needed a solution that simplified, unified, and supported their operations.

Our patients deserve clarity and support, not extra stress. We wanted a tool that would give them control over their journey while reducing the burden on our team.

Jelke, Therapist at Inghelburch

Inghelburch app mockup

Co-Creating a Tool Shaped by Patients, Not Technology

We didn’t begin with technical specs — we began by listening. Together with patients and staff, we mapped frustrations, hopes, and daily needs. The I•ROC (Individual Recovery Outcomes Counter) provided a structured, evidence-based framework for identifying strengths, setting goals, and tracking progress. This ensured the app’s features supported meaningful recovery.

Patient and staff voices guided every step:

  • A low-stimulus design

  • Schedules and goals placed front and center

  • Supportive, non-intrusive reminder notifications

We followed our trusted process — discover, define, design, develop, deploy — always testing early with real users. The admin platform was refined through staff feedback, ensuring it felt intuitive and adapted to existing workflows. By putting people first, the technology naturally followed.

Case inghelburch2

From Scattered Communication to One Clear, Empowering Companion

Today, patients describe the app as a reassuring companion. Instead of juggling papers or fearing missed updates, they can check schedules, track goals, and see progress at any time. Rehabilitation feels concrete, not abstract.

For staff, the custom-built admin tool saves hours of coordination each week, freeing time for what matters most: caring for patients. Communication is unified, information is clear, and privacy is safeguarded by design.

The app gives patients a sense of peace and control. For our team, it’s a relief: we can focus on care, knowing the essentials are always clear and accessible.

Kris, Director at Inghelburch

Want to Design Technology That Starts With People?

At Bits of Love, we believe digital tools in healthcare should always begin with human needs. By co-creating with patients and care teams, we build technology that feels calm, supportive, and empowering.

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