From booking a cab to receiving stock dividend updates, there is an application for every purpose—ranging from simple to complex tasks. The healthcare industry is no exception.
mHealth (mobile healthcare) is no longer just a USP; it has become a necessary function for health organizations and clinics of relevant size. With over 54,000 apps on Playstore and 41,000 on the App Store, health centers must understand user preferences, in-demand features, development mechanics, and more to gain visibility and adoption among the intended audience.
Here is an overview of how healthcare mobile app development has evolved up to 2024 and the factors that will influence the industry’s growth in the coming years.
What is Healthcare Application Development?
Healthcare app development is the process of creating a mobile app to introduce automation and enhance the delivery of medical services, sometimes streamlining internal operations.
Healthcare-specific applications are essentially apps with features designed to improve patient access to care and provide additional facilities remotely, in real time. As of 2024, the mHealth industry has crossed the $100 billion mark, with a growth potential to reach up to $260 billion by 2032.
The need for healthcare applications has become more evident after the COVID-19 outbreak. Remote health monitoring has become an integral function of digital patient care. With current technological advancements, medical app development offers superior services to users. Applications for telehealth, record coding, patient care, and wellness have made it convenient for healthcare organizations to offer quality service and provide care seekers with increased access to better facilitation.
For these aforementioned use cases, medical apps must not only be developed to be useful but also need to be user-friendly and feature-filled. The goal of medical health application creation should include purpose-specific frameworks, user-centric design, and integration of value-added features. To achieve this, having an industry-leading healthcare mobile app development company by your side is essential to win the digitization race.
Types of Healthcare Applications
Telehealth/Telemedicine
Telehealth applications have become key players in the remote healthcare service industry. These platforms facilitate virtual consultations, enabling healthcare professionals to connect with patients irrespective of geographical boundaries. Key functionalities include real-time video calls, secure data transmission, and electronic health record integration.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Custom software for remote patient monitoring helps medical practitioners track patients’ vital signs and health metrics remotely. This technology results in proactive healthcare management, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits. Integration with wearables and other monitoring devices ensures a comprehensive approach to patient care.
Chronic Disease Management
Tailored software solutions for chronic disease management make it easier to track and manage long-term health conditions. Features like personalized care plans, medication reminders, and real-time monitoring to enhance patient outcomes are true game-changers in this niche.
Patient Engagement
Engaging patients during healthcare service delivery is essential to drive value. Custom applications designed for patient engagement that offer educational resources, personalized health trackers, and communication tools create a collaborative relationship between healthcare providers and patients.
ER/Urgent Care
Off-the-shelf software for emergency and urgent care provides standardized functionalities. These applications streamline triage, quick patient registration, and integrate with diagnostic tools, optimizing response times and contributing to a more organized healthcare delivery system.
Successful Healthcare App Development Process
Define the Scope of the Project
Clearly outline the app’s goals, target audience, and expected outcomes. Additionally, consider regulatory compliance, such as adhering to HIPAA and GDPR standards, and address security requirements to ensure data integrity and patient confidentiality.
KYC
Understanding the end-users’ needs and pain points is necessary to map the app development process. Conduct thorough user research, create detailed user personas, and ensure the developed application aligns with the identified user requirements.
Identify Problems to Address with Digital Solutions
Analyze existing healthcare challenges and identify areas where digital solutions can provide tangible benefits. Examples include addressing appointment delays, improving medication adherence, and bridging communication gaps.
List Features & Third-Party Integrations
Prioritize features based on user needs and consider integration with essential third-party systems such as Electronic Health Records (EHRs), payment gateways, and laboratory systems.
Develop the Framework
Choose an appropriate technology stack based on factors including native, hybrid, or web development. Develop wireframes and prototypes to visualize the application’s structure and functionality.
Code the Design
Implement features while focusing on usability and scalability. The development process should prioritize user-friendly interfaces and ensure that the software can scale with the growing needs of the healthcare system.
Test & Debug
Conduct rigorous testing across various devices and scenarios to identify and resolve bugs and issues. An easy-to-navigate interface and seamless user experience are crucial for the success of healthcare applications.
Launch & Support
Publish the application on relevant app stores and ensure a smooth deployment process. Ongoing support, including regular updates and maintenance, is vital for the sustained success of the healthcare application.
Proficiencies to Look for in Your Developer
Systems Interoperability
Your mobile app development company austin must integrate Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and lab systems. They should speak the language of healthcare standards like HL7, FHIR, and DICOM, ensuring your app plays well with various healthcare components.
Platform Agnostic Development
Look for a developer who can make your app run seamlessly on iOS, Android, and the web. Technologies like React Native or Flutter? They speak that language, ensuring your app reaches everyone without sacrificing performance.
Effective Push Notifications
Your app’s communication should be on point. Your developer needs to nail secure and timely push notifications—essential for delivering critical updates like appointments, test results, and medication reminders.
Value User Input
A great developer values user feedback. They’ll build feedback loops into your app, constantly improving based on user experiences. This means your app stays adaptable, user-friendly, and always in sync with what users need.
7 Must-Have Medical App Features
1. Easy Registration
Simplify the sign-up process with an intuitive interface and options for social login or biometric authentication. Make the onboarding experience easy to influence quick user adoption.
2. Efficient Physician Search
Provide a robust search feature with comprehensive filters, ensuring that users can easily find and connect with healthcare providers. Integration with provider directories enhances the overall user experience.
3. Appointment Scheduling & Reminders
Enable direct booking of appointments and send timely push notifications or SMS reminders. This makes the appointment process straightforward and enhances user convenience with reduced no-shows.
4. Medication Reminders
Implement features for setting medication reminders and tracking dose intake. This feature not only ensures medication adherence but also brings high user satisfaction through better health outcomes for patients with chronic conditions.
5. E-Prescriptions
Add a personalized digital prescription feature to enhance the efficiency of healthcare providers. Ensure compliance with legal requirements to maintain the integrity of the prescription process.
6. Patient Engagement
Incorporate chatbots to answer common patient queries and provide basic medical FAQs. These AI-driven interactions enhance patient engagement and provide a more informed healthcare experience.
7. Convenient Transactions
Add secure and reliable payment gateways to provide users with flexible options, including credit cards, digital wallets, and insurance billing. A hassle-free payment process results in user experience and success, eventually.
What’s Next?
To create a winning healthcare mobile application there are endless possibilities and infinite combination options with the above-mentioned features and methodologies. A clear roadmap, a result-focused strategy, and a team of niche-experienced app designers are all that you need to get started