The year 2020 was a landmark not only for our lives but also for the market of health app development. CB Insights reports that telemedicine has seen a massive increase in investment, with nearly 3000% more money invested.
Even without these figures, I’m sure everyone would agree that health is the top priority. Especially in light of recent events. The demand for mobile healthcare apps is increasing as the number of mHealth subscribers grows. The market for mobile healthcare apps is expected to reach 300 billion dollars by 2025. If you are still unsure about whether or not to healthcare app development, it is now time.
A medical startup is created by analyzing ideas, trends, and development stages. I have prepared a detailed outline of the process for healthcare app development. I will explain what a digital health app is, give tips for creating MVPs, and describe all the details. Enjoy the read and make yourself comfortable!
What is a Healthcare App?
The mHealth niche includes a wide range of apps from the professional to the more basic. Mobile healthcare apps also have different purposes. mHealth applications simplify our lives. They track our health data and provide remote assistance. They also give us 24/7 access to doctors. The purpose of the app depends on which category you select.
When searching for app developers, it’s crucial to keep in mind that you will need to give them input data. Take a look at the existing categories.
Professional Healthcare Apps
The name speaks for itself. Doctors are involved in professional healthcare apps. Professional apps are all those that act as mediators between the doctor and patient in the communication and treatment process. DrChrono is a great example of a professional mHealth app. The list below includes other types of professional apps:
- Apps for Doctor Appointments
- Apps for electronic medical records and health records
- Apps for medical reference
- Database applications
- Apps that track your health.
- Networking apps (for doctors);
- Telemedicine apps.
Healthcare Apps For Patients
These apps are not usually supervised by doctors but provide valuable information to patients. Take BetterMe or NTC for example. The list of healthcare apps that patients can use may vary in terms of features.
- Apps for Medical Education
- Reminder Apps
- Apps for a healthy lifestyle
- Dieting apps
- Apps for diagnosis and prevention
- Fitness Apps
You have many options for your startup. You can use these examples to get inspiration before developing a medical app.
Healthcare App Startup Ideas
What are the best ways to successfully implement your healthcare app development startup? Hard work and visual experience. Hard work means you need to study the medical field in depth. Monitor existing healthcare apps and trends in healthcare to keep up with the times. Here are some design screenshots of mHealth apps that we developed at Artoon Solutions.
Booking App
Apps that allow direct communication between doctors and patients are essential today. Online communication and remote assistance may save lives. Apps for doctor appointments allow patients to search for the best doctor and schedule an appointment with one click.
Reminder App
This app’s goal is simple — it reminds users to take their medications on time. You can add this feature to any healthcare app, even if you don’t want to create a reminder app.
Fitness App
These two apps were created for anyone who wants to monitor their health and develop healthy habits. Now, fitness apps are all the rage. In 2020, there will be 87,4 million mHealth app downloaders, compared to only 62.7 million two years ago. It can track the number of steps taken by a user, monitor their heart rate, count calories consumed, and suggest exercises. But I would recommend using these apps in conjunction with other training equipment, such as weights and wearable devices, like fitness wristbands.
Benefits Of Healthcare Application For Doctors And Patients
Medical app development is popular because it meets the needs of both doctors and patients. Here are some of the most important benefits that a healthcare app can offer.
Benefits for Doctors
Remote Assistance
Apps for mobile healthcare allow doctors to monitor patients’ health, even when they are miles away. Doctors can also save time by communicating with patients via video chats, app chats, or calls.
Effective workload distribution
Doctors can schedule appointments using mHealth apps at the best time. Apps for mobile and web can also be used to manage important tasks.
Brand awareness
A lack of loyalty or trust is as painful as a toothache. A healthcare app can increase the brand awareness of a doctor or clinic. Patients who are treated at a clinic with a digital presence grow in trust and loyalty. They are therefore more likely to return to the same clinic.
Benefits for Patients
Treatment process improved
Video calls can be arranged using mHealth apps to improve communication between doctors and patients. Doctors are equipped with all the tools they need to properly examine their patients. The app allows doctors to create prescription lists and control drug regimens.
Cost-efficiency
Online appointments are cheaper than personal appointments.
Online Payment
The healthcare app eliminates the need for cash. Patients can make an appointment in the app and pay for it. It is fast, convenient, and easily accessible.
Remote Assistance
People don’t have to leave the house to solve most issues. The time spent in queues or getting to hospitals is not wasted.
6 Steps To Build A Healthcare App
The process of developing a healthcare mobile app is not simple. You need to take into account many differences and nuances from other apps. This list will help you navigate the difficult path and avoid making mistakes.
Step 1: Do Market Analysis
Your healthcare app is a waste of your time if you don’t value it. Healthcare mobile app development involves market analysis. Market analysis is essential to the development of healthcare mobile apps.
Step 2 – Study Your Audience
User research is crucial. Artoon Solutions has developed professional healthcare apps to address health issues such as bulimia and anorexia. You should be prepared to deal with sensitive issues when developing healthcare applications. Interviews, focus groups, or surveys are challenging because you have to strike a balance between getting to the heart of the problem and maintaining ethics.
I recommend asking about the method, and not personal issues. When I interviewed someone with bulimia, I asked “How do create your eating plan?” rather than “Did it hurt you that your mother commented about your weight?”
My recommendation is that you ask about the method, and not personal issues.
Since I know the angels, I would also like to share some tips for interviewing.
- Prepare for your interview
- Explain the context, goals, and value of the interview;
- You should guide the person who you are interviewing.
- Do not take information to heart.
- Do not believe everything you hear;
Even the most expensive services for healthcare app development won’t help you if your app isn’t useful. You must identify all the problems of your audience.
Step 3 – Choose App Type
The type of healthcare app determines the database, functionality, and goal of the app. You can’t just tell medical app developers to create any app. Instead, you should define the key points as a team.
- What kind of app do you need?
- How it will work
- What pains will it solve?
Step 4: Create the Design
The design is the key to the success of an app. It should be intuitive and consistent. The goal is to guide the user smoothly to the desired endpoint The design should be easy to use, and the fewer interaction points there are, the better the experience for users. Also, I would recommend that you reduce the cognitive load as much as possible.
Step 5: Make it HIPAA compliant
It’s important to note that healthcare is a sensitive topic, and developing healthcare applications is not easy. It’s important to follow certain regulations if you plan to develop a healthcare application.
In the USA, for example, your app will be required to comply with all HIPAA regulations. In Europe, any app that processes personal data must adhere to the GDPR.
HIPAA was created to protect the personal health information of both patients and healthcare providers. How can you tell if your app complies with HIPAA? This is a great question, and we’ve put together a quick checklist to help.
Why restrict access?
Users’ health information is accessible to specific user roles. Only the treating physician can view their patient’s profile, including analysis, progress, and diagnosis.
How can I ensure data encryption?
The developers must use reliable encryption protocols and protect all health information. The IT team should store information on several servers so that it can be recovered in the event of a crash or error. They must also respond immediately to any alerts.
How can I find HHIPAA-compliant services?
All services for the development of healthcare mobile apps must be HIPAA-compliant. We used Sendbird chat which is HIPAA-compliant while working on a project. We had to customize the software to meet our specific needs. There is no comprehensive list of HHIPAA-compliant services. This is a shame, I know. But here’s a checklist that you can use to choose the service.
This is not a complete list. There are administrative requirements as well, such as assigning roles and policies to specific people. Check the official guidelines for any rules you may have broken. You can also work with companies that provide HIPAA audits to help you stay compliant.
Step 6: Build MVP
The next step is to develop an MVP. When creating a healthcare app MVP, it’s important to follow the basic rules of MVP creation: make it fast and viable.
You should prioritize features that are essential to the app, make sure they solve a problem and constantly iterate. MVPs give you an advantage over full-blown products because they allow you to enter the market quicker and gather feedback sooner.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, I’d like to draw a few conclusions from this article. Apps for healthcare can be divided into two categories: apps with a professional focus and apps that are aimed at patients.
You may face some challenges when you want to create a healthcare application. These include user research and data protection. You may have to deal with sensitive issues when interviewing potential customers. Asking about the methodology and not personal matters will help you to make your research easier. Note that your app should be HIPAA compliant and follow all rules. You risk a fine if you don’t.
Artoon Solutions has extensive experience in the development of healthcare apps. We know how to create HHIPAA-compliant software, from research to launch. You’re searching for a healthcare application development company, or you need professional advice for your project. We’ll be glad to assist you.
