Why Invest in Healthcare App Development? Types & Benefits

Healthcare App Development: Types, Process, and Benefits
16 min read

In today’s fast-paced world, healthcare app development has become one of the most successful industries that is helping patients incredibly. With everyone having a smartphone in hand, the healthcare industry is embracing technology like never before. But what does it really mean? Simply put, it’s about creating applications that help both patients and healthcare providers manage health-related tasks more efficiently.

The healthcare industry has grown significantly over the years and quite rapidly post COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare app development is not only easing a patient’s life but also becoming a vital asset where one can check and stay updated about their health. 

The demand for healthcare apps has skyrocketed. It’s not just a trend; it’s a necessity! People want to monitor their health, schedule appointments, and access medical advice—all at their fingertips. Imagine being able to consult a doctor without leaving your home. That’s the power of healthcare apps.

Healthcare is a large sector and it is a no-brainer that there are various types of healthcare apps in the market. So, what are they? What are the steps to build a healthcare app? 

Let’s explore everything in detail. 

Types of Healthcare Apps

Healthcare app development is a large sector. With advanced technologies, it is a huge addition to small hiccups in daily life. Depending on the purpose of use, app development healthcare can be divided into two categories – Apps for Medical Professionals and Apps for General Users. 

Let’s understand these two in detail.

1. Healthcare Apps for Medical Professionals

Healthcare Apps for Medical Professionals

 

 

These healthcare apps are designed specifically for Doctors, medical staff, and physicians. It comes with highly advanced features. Here are the common healthcare apps for professionals: 

1.1 Medical Networking Apps

Medical networking apps are designed to connect healthcare professionals, enabling them to collaborate, share knowledge, and discuss cases securely. These platforms function as professional networks where doctors, nurses, and specialists can seek advice, consult peers, and stay updated on the latest medical trends and research. Some apps also offer forums, chat features, and groups where professionals can engage in discussions on specific medical topics. By fostering collaboration, these apps help improve diagnostic accuracy and patient care.

Example: Doximity, a networking platform for physicians, allows doctors to connect with each other, share patient referrals, and even search for job opportunities.

1.2 Telehealth Apps

Telehealth apps enable medical professionals to provide remote consultations to patients, allowing for timely and convenient access to healthcare services. These apps use video calls, voice calls, and chat functionalities to facilitate virtual consultations, reducing the need for in-person visits. Telehealth apps are particularly beneficial for follow-up consultations, routine check-ups, and managing chronic conditions. They ensure that patients can receive medical advice without leaving their homes, thereby saving time for both doctors and patients.

Example: Teladoc allows doctors to connect with patients via video consultations, offering services like diagnosing minor ailments, prescribing medication, and managing ongoing treatments.

1.3 Medical Prescription Apps

Medical prescription apps assist healthcare professionals in managing prescriptions, ensuring accuracy, and preventing medication errors. These apps help doctors create, send, and track digital prescriptions, reducing the chances of errors associated with handwritten prescriptions. Some apps are integrated with drug databases that provide information about drug interactions, dosages, and contraindications. By digitizing the prescription process, these apps enhance efficiency and minimize the risks of incorrect medication.

Example: Epocrates is a popular app that helps doctors look up drug information, check for drug interactions, and write prescriptions digitally, simplifying the prescription process.

1.4 Medical Record Apps

Medical record apps are designed to store, manage, and share electronic medical records (EMRs) and electronic health records (EHRs). These apps allow healthcare professionals to access patient histories, lab results, imaging reports, and other essential data in one place. By providing real-time access to patient information, these apps improve the accuracy of diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient monitoring. Additionally, some apps feature secure sharing options, enabling seamless data exchange between doctors, clinics, and hospitals.

Example: Cerner PowerChart Touch provides clinicians with mobile access to patient records, enabling them to review patient histories, monitor progress, and update information efficiently.

2. Healthcare Apps for Patients and General Users

Healthcare Apps for Patients and General Users

These apps are designed for general users and patients to help get medical assistance in a faster way. These apps are not meant to treat severe medical cases like in case of surgery or operation, but small medical assistance like monitoring health, sleep schedule, stress levels – they are a great addition. Here are the different types of healthcare apps for patients and general users. 

2.1 Health Monitoring Apps

Health monitoring apps allow users to track various aspects of their health, such as heart rate, blood pressure, glucose levels, sleep patterns, and physical activity. These apps often integrate with wearable devices like fitness trackers or smartwatches, providing real-time monitoring and data analytics. Users can set health goals, receive reminders to take medication, and access trends that help them understand their health conditions better. For patients with chronic illnesses, these apps offer continuous monitoring, which can be shared with healthcare providers for better management.

Example: MyFitnessPal is a popular app that tracks nutrition and exercise, helping users monitor their calorie intake, physical activity, and progress toward fitness goals.

2.2 Medical Education Apps

Medical education apps provide users with reliable information on various health topics, diseases, symptoms, and treatments. These apps are designed to educate patients, caregivers, and general users about managing specific health conditions, improving their understanding of medical terms and procedures. They may include videos, articles, quizzes, and interactive tools to make learning engaging. Some apps even offer courses or training modules for healthcare awareness, first aid, and preventive care.

Example: WebMD is an app that offers information on symptoms, medications, and treatment options, allowing users to learn about health conditions, treatments, and medical procedures.

2.3 Mental Health Apps

Mental health apps focus on improving users’ mental well-being by offering support for stress, anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues. These apps may include features like guided meditation, mood tracking, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) exercises, and access to licensed therapists via chat or video call. Mental health apps are designed to offer a safe space for users to express their feelings, manage stress, and seek professional help when needed. They can be particularly beneficial for users who may not have easy access to traditional mental health services.

Example: Calm is a mental health app that provides guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices to help users manage stress and improve their mental well-being.

2.4 Health Lifestyle Apps

Health lifestyle apps encourage users to adopt and maintain healthier habits by providing personalized tips, meal plans, fitness routines, and wellness challenges. These apps offer guidance on nutrition, exercise, hydration, and sleep, helping users set achievable health goals. Some health lifestyle apps also include community features, where users can join groups, share progress, and participate in health challenges to stay motivated. By promoting a holistic approach to health, these apps play a significant role in preventive care.

Example: Fitbit offers a comprehensive app that tracks physical activity, monitors sleep patterns, and provides personalized fitness goals. Users can also join community challenges to stay motivated and improve their lifestyle.

Now let’s understand what are the steps to develop healthcare app. 

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Healthcare App Development: A Step-By-Step Process

A Step-By-Step Process

App development for healthcare involves multiple phases, each requiring careful planning, execution, and testing. Below is a comprehensive step-by-step guide that outlines the key stages of healthcare apps development.

1. Define Ideas and Goals

The first step in healthcare app development is to clearly define the app’s purpose, target audience, and key features. Understanding the problem you aim to solve or the service you wish to provide helps set a strong foundation for the project. 

It’s essential to identify whether the app will focus on patient monitoring, telemedicine, medical networking, or another area of healthcare. Having clear goals will guide the subsequent steps and ensure that the app development process stays aligned with the end-user needs.

2. Proper Market Research & Analysis

Conducting thorough market research is critical to understanding the existing competition, user needs, and market trends. Analyze popular healthcare apps to identify gaps and opportunities that your app can address. 

Understanding user demographics, preferences, and pain points will help you refine your app idea and include features that are most in demand. This phase involves gathering data, conducting surveys, and analyzing competitors to make informed decisions about the app’s development.

3. Select a Healthcare App Development Company

Choosing the right app development company can greatly influence the quality and success of your healthcare app. It’s essential to partner with a development team that has experience in building healthcare apps, understands the regulatory requirements (like HIPAA in the U.S.), and can deliver secure, scalable solutions. 

While selecting an Android App Development Company or iOS App Development Company, review their portfolio, check client feedback, and discuss your project requirements in detail to ensure they can meet your expectations.

4. Choose OS Platform — Android, iOS, or Web?

Deciding on the operating system (OS) platform is a crucial step that affects development costs, time, and reach. Analyze your target audience to determine which platform they primarily use — Android, iOS, or web-based solutions. Based on your platform selection you can decide whether to hire Android Application Developer or iOS App Developer.

For broader reach, consider developing a cross-platform app that works on both Android and iOS. Each platform has its own design guidelines and development tools, so choose one that aligns with your goals and budget.

5. Refine UI/UX Design to Maximum

A healthcare app must have an intuitive and user-friendly interface to ensure seamless navigation and usability. The design should focus on clarity, ease of use, and accessibility, especially for patients who may not be tech-savvy. 

This step involves creating wireframes and prototypes that showcase the app’s layout, colors, fonts, and functionality. A refined UI/UX design can improve user engagement and retention by providing a smooth and efficient experience.

6. Select a Monetization Strategy

Deciding how to monetize your healthcare app is essential for its long-term sustainability. Common monetization strategies include subscription-based models, where users pay a recurring fee for access, and freemium models, where basic features are free, but users can pay for premium features. Choose a strategy that aligns with your app’s purpose and target audience. 

For example, a telemedicine app might use a pay-per-consultation model, while a health monitoring app could opt for a subscription-based service.

7. Develop MVP

Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) involves creating a basic version of the app with core features. The purpose of an MVP is to test the app’s concept with real users, gather feedback, and make improvements before investing in a full-scale development. 

An MVP helps validate your idea, reduces development risks, and saves time and costs. It’s advisable to include essential features and functionalities that demonstrate the app’s core value.

8. Quality Assurance and Testing

Quality assurance (QA) and testing are crucial steps to ensure the app is free from bugs, performs well, and meets user expectations. This phase involves testing the app’s functionality, compatibility across devices, performance, and security. Given the sensitive nature of healthcare data, ensuring that the app is compliant with regulations and data privacy standards is paramount. 

Continuous testing during the development phase can help identify and resolve issues early, resulting in a smoother launch.

9. Launch Your App

Once the app has passed the quality checks and is ready for use, it’s time to launch it on the selected platform(s). Ensure that the app meets all the necessary compliance requirements, and create a launch strategy that includes marketing, promotions, and onboarding guides for users. 

Consider launching a beta version to gather initial feedback and make any last-minute adjustments. 

After the official launch, continue to monitor user feedback and make regular updates to improve the app’s performance and features.

Benefits of Healthcare Apps Development

Benefits of Healthcare Apps Development

App development for healthcare offers numerous advantages that enhance the efficiency, accessibility, and quality of medical services. By leveraging technology, healthcare apps streamline various processes for both medical professionals and patients, leading to improved outcomes and experiences. Below are some key benefits of healthcare apps development:

1. Built-in Diagnostic Systems

Healthcare apps with built-in diagnostic systems help professionals diagnose conditions more accurately and quickly by providing real-time data analysis and symptom assessment. These systems use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms to evaluate patient data, lab results, and medical histories, suggesting possible conditions or treatment options. 

It not only speeds up the diagnostic process but also helps doctors make more informed decisions, especially in complex cases.

Example: AI-based diagnostic apps can analyze medical images and detect anomalies, assisting radiologists in identifying early signs of conditions like cancer or neurological disorders.

2. Electronic Health Record (EHR)

Electronic Health Record (EHR) integration is one of the most significant benefits of healthcare apps, as it allows for seamless access to patient information. EHR systems store and manage patients’ medical histories, lab reports, treatment plans, and more, ensuring that healthcare professionals can retrieve vital data whenever needed. 

It reduces paperwork, minimizes errors, and facilitates smooth communication between different departments, clinics, or hospitals. EHRs also enhance the continuity of care by providing a comprehensive view of a patient’s health journey.

Example: EHR-integrated apps can automatically update patient records after consultations, ensuring that all relevant information is stored securely and accurately.

3. Telehealth & Telemedicine

Telehealth and telemedicine apps have revolutionized healthcare by enabling remote consultations and continuous patient monitoring. These apps allow doctors to connect with patients through video calls, voice calls, or chat, making healthcare more accessible, especially for those living in remote areas. 

Telemedicine reduces the need for physical visits, saves time, and provides convenience for patients who need regular follow-ups. It also ensures that patients can receive medical care even during emergencies or lockdowns, without compromising safety.

Example: Telehealth apps enable chronic disease patients to have regular check-ins with their doctors, monitor symptoms, and adjust medications remotely.

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4. E-Prescribing

E-prescribing refers to the digital generation and transmission of prescriptions, which can be sent directly to pharmacies. Healthcare apps that support e-prescribing simplify the process for both doctors and patients, minimizing the risks associated with handwritten prescriptions, such as misreading dosages or drug names. 

These apps can also check for potential drug interactions, allergies, and contraindications, enhancing patient safety. E-prescribing streamlines the entire medication process, ensuring that patients receive the correct medication without delays.

Example: A doctor can use an app to prescribe medication digitally, and the prescription is immediately sent to the patient’s preferred pharmacy, where it can be processed for pickup or delivery.

5. Less Stress & Burnout

Healthcare apps help reduce the workload for medical professionals by automating repetitive tasks, like scheduling appointments, billing, and managing patient records. With the support of an app developer login feature, healthcare teams can easily access and update critical information, allowing them to focus more on patient care instead of paperwork.

Example: Appointment management apps automatically schedule and confirm appointments, reducing the workload for clinic staff and ensuring that doctors have a well-organized calendar.

6. Better Service and Equipment Management

Healthcare apps contribute to better service and equipment management by providing tools to monitor and track medical devices, equipment inventory, and supplies. With accurate tracking, hospitals and clinics can ensure that all equipment is well-maintained and readily available when needed. 

It also helps in reducing costs associated with equipment downtime, overstocking, or understocking of supplies. By using apps for equipment management, healthcare facilities can streamline their operations, improve patient care, and prevent unnecessary delays.

Example: An app can track the usage and maintenance schedules of hospital equipment, alerting staff when a machine requires servicing or when supplies are running low.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, healthcare app development is revolutionizing the way we perceive and access health services. The process may seem complex, with various types of apps catering to different needs, but it’s absolutely rewarding. Whether you’re a patient wanting to track your health or a provider looking to enhance your practice, there’s an app available for you. 

So, why wait? Dive into the world of healthcare apps today. If you are looking for healthcare app development, you are at the right place! 

Artoon Solutions, one of the leading iOS and Android app development agency USA, with skilled professionals and healthcare mobile app developers, will help you turn your dream into reality. Contact Us Now!!

FAQs

1. What is healthcare app development?

Healthcare app development refers to the process of creating applications that assist patients and healthcare providers in managing health-related tasks efficiently.

2. What types of healthcare apps are there?

There are several types, including patient-centric apps, provider-focused apps, fitness and wellness apps, and telemedicine apps.

3. What are the main steps in healthcare app development?

The main steps include idea validation, market research, design and prototyping, development and testing, and deployment and maintenance.

4. How do I choose a healthcare app development company?

Look for a company with experience in healthcare technologies, a strong portfolio, and positive customer feedback.

5. Why are healthcare apps beneficial?

They enhance convenience and accessibility for patients while streamlining operations for healthcare providers, ultimately leading to better health outcomes.

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Artoon Solutions

Artoon Solutions is a technology company that specializes in providing a wide range of IT services, including web and mobile app development, game development, and web application development. They offer custom software solutions to clients across various industries and are known for their expertise in technologies such as React.js, Angular, Node.js, and others. The company focuses on delivering high-quality, innovative solutions tailored to meet the specific needs of their clients.

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