How To Build A Healthcare App – 

The COVID-19 pandemic proved to be a lesson for individuals taking their health for granted by teaching them the importance of life as millions lost their battle against the disease across the globe. The ever-evolving technological realm gives birth to different technologies to make the lives of individuals convenient and effortless by streamlining the distinct processes from the comfort of their four walls.  

The suitable handling of drugs, medics, consultations, and patient privacy is vital for running a quality service and app in the medical field to ensure proper guidelines are followed by app developers. The mobile phone has become a companion of everyone since the day of its invention by allowing individuals to perform any task from any part of the world at any time with a tap. 

The healthcare industry is no exception to evolving technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, machine learning, and augmented reality, transforming different fields to achieve the impossible and turn dreams into reality.  

Hasn’t the invention of the mobile phone made our lives significantly effortless by allowing us to book appointments, event and show tickets, schedule our meetings, track business progress, etc., from the comfort of our homes without stepping out in the scorching heat for small stuff? 

The innovations in the healthcare field have led to the development of healthcare apps, with more entrepreneurs investing in app-making to generate revenue by making consultation services accessible to everyone at any time.  

Over time, healthcare apps have become a necessity and luxury at the same time due to them providing convenient access to doctors and appointments for individuals to discuss their medical issues from their place. 

During the pandemic, everyone was forced to re-evaluate their healthcare plans and methods after everything went under sudden lockdown due to the ongoing pandemic taking the lives of hundreds daily. This is where healthcare apps came into existence and increased over the years due to the convenience they provided to individuals by allowing them to consult doctors and get second opinions from the comfort of their homes for a fraction of the usual costs.  

With the help of a reputable app development company, you can build your healthcare app that would be an instant hit in the market among the target audience. Mobile applications not only aid patients but also enable doctors to collect and preserve personal health data.  

Growth Of Healthcare Apps – 

Of course, the changing times require changes in how doctors and patients interact with technological advancements and new regulatory standards playing a massive role in ensuring they can provide efficient, effective, and accessible care for everyone.  

Statista states that the healthcare app industry generated a revenue of $3.43 billion, with an increase of 9.9% from the previous years due to the changing user demand and technological advancements, with Weightwatchers being one of the top revenue generators. 

In recent years, more than 3150 app developers have developed 9000 healthcare apps available for users at PlayStore for Android users and App Store for iPhone users, averaging more than 250,000 downloads.  

Growth After The Pandemic– 

Healthcare apps were first developed in 2008 and did well among tech-savvy individuals, but the use of these apps has changed its course over time due to the growth in user demand following the COVID-19 pandemic when everyone went under forced lockdown. 

The COVID-19 pandemic led individuals to question how to fulfil their basic needs like grocery shopping, consulting a doctor, and purchasing medical goods and medicines, thus driving the surge in the growing demand for digital solutions like mobile apps to help themselves.  

After the pandemic ended, people realised how convenient it was to consult a doctor from their homes without struggling with the daily traffic and long waiting lines in hospital hallways.  

It led them to adopt the digital solution, healthcare mobile apps, faster than before the pandemic, thus leading to significant growth in the app demand among users globally.   

What Is A Healthcare App? 

Now, I am sure most of you must know what a healthcare app is and how it benefits individuals. Still, for the unaware souls living under a rock, a healthcare app is a tool designed by app developers to make life convenient for patients by allowing them to make doctor appointments from their homes.  

Mobile healthcare apps perform a variety of roles, including easing patient-doctor interactions, giving health information, monitoring chronic illnesses, and maintaining medical data securely.  

A mobile healthcare app allows users to manage their health effectively by providing them with tools for scheduling doctor appointments, receiving reminders for their medicines, and accessing their medical records from their homes without trouble.  

Most of these healthcare apps have tracking systems enabled to help users keep track of their glucose levels and other medical needs. 

Types Of Healthcare Apps – 

The fast-paced digital era has transformed the Australian healthcare industry, with healthcare mobile apps leading the charge by making it convenient for users to consult a doctor and gain medical advice from them from their homes. 

This revolution in the healthcare industry has changed people’s outlook towards booking appointments and consulting a doctor any time from their four walls by shifting the healthcare experience for worry rats. 

1. Doctor On-Demand App – 

Isn’t it great that you no longer need to wait to book an appointment with your doctor, thanks to the doctor-on-demand apps that allow you to book an appointment from your home without trouble?  

The first apps to pop into our heads the moment we talk about healthcare apps are doctor on-demand apps that allow doctors to provide care by engaging with patients through live video calls, thus making doctors’ schedules convenient for them. 

Because of their ease, doctor-on-demand apps are popular among young professionals who travel frequently or work irregular hours. These apps can make patients feel better knowing that doctors can assist them with challenging health issues from anywhere at any time. 

2. Reminder Apps  

Don’t you feel stress-free that you no longer need to keep reminding yourself to take medicines or track your glucose levels, thanks to the invention of reminder apps that allow you to set a reminder for your medications?  

These apps are helpful to individuals who keep forgetting about their medicines, as they remind you to take your medicine on time and help them track their glucose levels. Doctors can assist patients with their prescription regimen and enhance their chances of recovery by reminding them to take their drugs at certain times. 

3. Dieting Apps-  

Diet plays a significant part in helping individuals enhance their health by helping them lose excess weight and get on track with their lives. These dieting apps are a perfect match for individuals interested in losing weight, as they provide delicious, healthy meal recipes that are easy to make with proper nutrition.  

These apps can calculate the calorie intake of an individual, the exercise they are doing, their goal weight, tips to lose weight and personal trainers for guidance.  

4. Medical Records App- 

As for medical record apps, doctors are using them to replace the traditional way a patient had to fill out the forms at their office before getting an appointment to get on with the consultation. 

Doctors have replaced the paper-wasting traditional form-filling method with these medical record apps that allow individuals to fill in their health details and concerns on their smartphones or tablets from their homes. 

These apps are a practical approach to streamlining the appointment process and giving patients more control over their health information.  

5. Mental Health Apps- 

The mental health of individuals has gained traction in the previous years due to more people opening up about their struggles while suffering from mental health diseases like depression, anxiety, BPD, etc. Thanks to mental health apps, people no longer need to struggle alone to fight off addiction and anxiety, as these apps are tailored to cater to specific health concerns relevant to each patient.  

These apps enable individuals with mental health issues to connect with the required help like psychiatrists, clinical trials for new drugs, and counselling to help them deal with their problems. 

6. Women’s Healthcare Apps-  

Healthcare apps are starting to cater specifically to women to help them keep track of their menstrual cycles, ovulation period, and the symptoms of PMS to help them prepare for their future cycles in case they want to have a baby shortly.  

These apps enable women to have prenatal care more conveniently by allowing them to track their fitness, nutritional regimens, and when they need to see the doctor. 

7. Chronic Disease Management – 

There are millions of individuals suffering from chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, epilepsy, lupus, etc., and these chronic disease management apps help such individuals deal better with them. 

These apps assist patients in tracking new symptoms or repeating issues to help doctors provide appropriate care to individuals from their offices urgently without the patients leaving their homes for a visit.  

8. Pharmacy Delivery App- 

Hasn’t life become significantly effortless with the invention of pharmacy delivery apps that  

allow patients to order their medicines from their homes and deliver them to their doorstep without needing to step out to make minor purchases?  

These apps help patients get prescription medications right to their front door. It provides people with more freedom to get their medications filled while reducing avoidable costs associated with taking time from work. 

Steps To Develop A Healthcare Mobile App-  

Developing a healthcare mobile app is complex, especially considering the critical and diverse nature of the medical field due to these apps requiring stringent security measures and compliance with the guidelines and regulations of healthcare to address the wide range of user needs.  

However, if you are an entrepreneur looking into developing a healthcare app, then there is an array of things you need to keep in mind for it to be successful, and a reputable app development company can help you achieve it. 

1. Market Research – 

Market research is the first and pivotal part of developing an app that does well in the market due to its ability to help developers identify target audiences and user preferences by accessing the competition and needs of the hour.  

This step ensures that the app developers and healthcare providers understand how the app would work in the market and its benefits. 

2. Prioritize Unique Features- 

One thing you need to do to ensure your app stands out among the competition is to offer unique features to the target audience to help you gain loyal customers.  

After researching the market trends, you need to select the features you want in your app by choosing a brilliant app development company to help you understand the user needs and work on it while incorporating your vision.  

The app development experts will help you select the perfect framework, technologies, features and programming languages that will best suit your needs to help you reach your target audience.  

3. Design And Development – 

The design and development process of a healthcare app is equally pivotal to helping you attract a target audience towards your app, as users prefer an app with simple navigation and high-security protocols over a complicated app. 

It is necessary to hire a known app development company and discuss the key components you want to include in your app to help app developers turn your idea into a reality without any issues. This step will help you ensure that the end product is as desired or better than the initial idea since it involves getting the target audience’s attention. 

4. Testing And Deployment –    

Testing and Deployment is another crucial step in healthcare app development, as it helps you deliver a bug-free, smooth-running app to your users to help you make the best first impression. It is pivotal to stress the importance of performing several tests before launching the final product for customer use to ensure it doesn’t fail in the market.  

The app developers help you undertake testing of your app to uncover any defect in the product by employing some individuals to test the product in the beta stage. 

5. Launch And Maintenance –  

After thorough testing of your app, you can launch the end product in the market while closely analysing the user feedback to make required changes in the app to ensure you keep up with the latest trends and technologies.  

You can start your app at this level because you have demonstrated sufficient proficiency in troubleshooting and reflection. The unveiling will take place once everything is ready to shoot! It will also be accompanied by a healthcare app development company, which will assist you with application implementation at all stages. After the app launch, you need to keep maintaining the app by integrating the latest trends and technologies.  

Key Technologies To Integrate In A Healthcare App- 

Over time, the Australian healthcare sector has shifted from brick-and-mortar four-walled hospitals to mobile and tablet screens, allowing people to consult a doctor whenever they want without worrying about anything. To improve the user experience and operations of a healthcare mobile app, several cutting-edge technologies must be integrated into the development process to enhance the overall experience.  

1. Electronic Health Records- 

For curious souls, an Electronic health record is an electronic version of a patient’s medical history maintained by the provider and doctor to include clinical data relevant to that person’s care under a particular provider.  

The EMR/EHR app development solution assures that patient information and stored electronic records are in harmony. This link aids in monitoring medicinal supplies by providing relative specifics of what the patient requires in each situation, thus improving the entire healthcare operation. 

2. Telemedicine Capabilities  

Isn’t it great that you no longer need to wait your turn in the hospital hallway and can consult a doctor from your home at any time with no issues?  

Thanks to telemedicine capabilities, you can connect with your doctor through video calls, thus allowing healthcare providers to evaluate, diagnose, inform and treat patients without an in-person visit. It has increased the efficiency of providing medical care to those in need by healthcare providers without visiting a hospital. 

3. mHealth or Mobile Health  

Mobile health is the ability to use mobile devices and technology to support public health practices and medical records, as it includes several apps like treatment support, diagnostics, health education, etc., integrated with wearable technology to help individuals better track their needs.  

This brilliant technology has enhanced the overall experience of patients by boosting healthcare accessibility, especially in remote areas, thus promoting patient engagement. 

4. IoT 

IoT has enabled remote monitoring by keeping patients safe while empowering physicians to provide excellent treatment. It has also enhanced patient participation and satisfaction as contacts with doctors have become more convenient and efficient. 

Furthermore, remote monitoring of a patient’s health reduces the length of hospital stay and prevents readmission. IoT also has lowered healthcare expenses while improving treatment outcomes. 

5. Security And Privacy Technologies – 

If you plan to develop a healthcare app, you need to ensure proper security measures are taken to maintain the privacy of patients and their  

medical records, including encryptions and tokenization’s to ensure safe end-to-end communications.  

While developing a healthcare app, it is pivotal to adhere to guidelines like HIPPA and GDPR to ensure you don’t get involved in legal issues. 

6. Cloud Computing-  

The cloud environment allows for the automated administration of medical kits and consultations since it is flexible and effortlessly expanded to meet amplified inventories. It means that inventory information in these healthcare facilities is secure and can be accessed from anywhere.  

Cloud computing simplifies and secures the exchange of medical records, streamlines back-end processes, and even makes it easier to develop and manage telehealth applications. The healthcare sector operates more efficiently and pays less using the cloud. 

Benefits Of Healthcare App – 

You must be aware by now of how the healthcare industry is booming and expected to expand significantly in the years to come. However, a rise in the healthcare industry’s CAGR also means a better requirement to adapt to the changing needs of the target users and building a healthcare app will help you power your medical business with several benefits by investing in the creation of a healthcare app.  

The emergence of healthcare apps has completely changed the healthcare field and made them indispensable resources for companies trying to improve their offerings and expand their customer base.   

1. Enhanced Access To Healthcare For People- 

You know the best part about the invention of these healthcare apps is that it has made medical benefits and doctors accessible to people living in remote or underdeveloped regions, thus closing the gap by enabling mobile phone and tablet discussions between medical experts and patients.   

2. Improved Health Monitoring- 

Are you someone who needs to monitor your health continuously to track your glucose levels? Thanks to the invention of mobile apps, you can effortlessly keep track of almost everything from exercise to the calories you intake. 

These apps also help you monitor chronic conditions like hypertension, lupus, diabetes, etc., by providing patients with valuable insights into their health status to help them better their overall health.  

3. Cost Efficiency  

Do you know how much it costs to visit a doctor in the hospital for a routine check-up? The invention of healthcare mobile apps has helped reduce the overall cost of in-person visits by enabling individuals to have a personal one-on-one with medical professionals from their homes. 

It has reduced the overall visit cost for healthcare professionals and patients by enabling them to use modern technologies to communicate. 

4. Patient Education And Engagement- 

Isn’t it great that you no longer have to rely on visiting healthcare professionals to know more about your diseases and symptoms? Healthcare mobile apps play a crucial part in patient education and engagement by providing them with means to get reliable health information, medicine reminders, and tools to track their progress.  

This helps generate better health outcomes for patients, as these apps enable patients to adhere to their treatment plans religiously. 

5. Data-Driven Decision Making – 

The data collected by healthcare apps allow patients and medical professionals to make informed decisions at the global level by allowing them access to crucial healthcare information. 

It helps medical professionals and patients to identify the latest trends, predict outbreaks, and develop targeted programs to help individuals deal with their diseases better. 

Key Features To Have In Your App- 

1. Login/Sign-up 

The prime feature that you need to have in your healthcare app is the sign-up or login-in option to get detailed information about the users and the diseases they are dealing with.  

This feature enables users to register on the app and store their personal information, including names, phone numbers, medical records and addresses that are then used by healthcare professionals to customise the platform experience for their target users. 

2. User Profile  

If you are looking into developing a healthcare mobile app, then you need to add a user profile feature that enables your users to personalise their details on the dashboard to help health professionals understand the needs of their patients better.  It allows users to limit the information they want to share publicly regarding their disease and personal information. 

3. Dashboard–  

Integrating a dashboard that presents the user base’s urgent information in an easy-to-understand manner—such as upcoming appointments, current vitals, and much more—is crucial to help bridge the gap between medical professionals and patients.  

4. Progress Tracking- 

You need to integrate a progress-tracking feature in your healthcare app to make it stand out among the competition by allowing users to track their progress and keep a check on their vitals and the effect of treatment. 

5. Search Bar- 

Search functionality is a must-have for your healthcare app, but it requires close attention. A search icon at the top of your healthcare app allows users to search for desired information on your app regarding their diseases, cures, etc.  

The healthcare apps keep the users engaged as they serve as a comprehensive search engine for health- queries. It significantly improves each user’s experience with the software, lessens annoyance and raises satisfaction levels for the customers. 

6. Notifications – 

User engagement is a crucial part of developing a healthcare app as it helps you engage with your users and keep them loyal to their customers. You may notify your users about their schedule, appointment, medicine availability and intake changes by using Push Notifications.   

7. Payment Gateway – 

Here, users can make payments for consultations, treatments, sessions, and other services they obtain through the multiple payment gateway. Additionally, an integrated payment gateway helps increase the platform’s user loyalty. 

8. Video Monitoring – 

Video monitoring is a crucial feature that you need to integrate into your healthcare app, as it allows patients to have their consultation with healthcare professionals from their homes through video calls. It also allows patients to access updates and live video sessions by doctors and clinicians to help them understand their disease better.   

Challenges To Develop A Healthcare App 

Once the trends have brought us up to date, we still need to comprehend the difficulties in creating healthcare mobile apps. Gaining an intense comprehension of these issues will enable you to develop innovative digital trends that ultimately lead to a resolution. 

1. Deep-rooted habits are hard to overcome 

Adapting to newer technology isn’t simple for individuals with complicated and stubborn beliefs regarding age-old methods, as these entrenched habits and resistance make it challenging to embrace modern advancements. There is more to digital transformation in healthcare than simply creating patient-facing websites or apps. It also involves influencing the stakeholders’ conventional way of thinking.  

2. Data Regulations – 

Safeguarding confidential patient information is among the most crucial responsibilities this rapidly evolving sector must fulfil. As a result, compliance with state regulations is required to preserve data security. As information sharing makes it more challenging to facilitate the same, the most important thing is to promote privacy regulations by accounting for necessary legal steps.  

How Much Does It Cost To Build A Healthcare App? 

The cost to develop a healthcare app in Australia depends on several factors, including the app’s complexity, the features required, the development team’s experience, and the location of the development team. It also depends on the company you choose to develop your healthcare app, as the pricing of an iPhone app development company and an Android app development company is different.  

The bottom line to developing a brilliant healthcare app is the cost while maintaining high quality at affordable rates, and a reputable app development company can help you achieve your dream app at a lower price.  

The cost of developing a healthcare app in Australia ranges between $25,000 to $50,000 for a basic model, $50,000 to $100,000 for a moderately complex app, and $100,000 to $250,000+ for a complex app, depending on the features, design and platform you choose.  

Conclusion – 

For the creation of a healthcare app, there is a need for comprehensive preparation, professional knowledge and devotion to quality and safety. From start to finish, every single step plays a crucial role towards creating an app that will be successful and easy to use by the intended audience.  

Therefore, it is important to know the exact needs of your patient’s medical staff or management team when including features in the software. 

The most secure healthcare apps prioritize privacy. There is no negotiation with regulatory compliance like HIPAA or GDPR which protect private patient information. Encrypted data storage, robust security against breaches and regular security audits are ways to build user trust within such an environment. 

7 Pillars, an app development company believes in taking a client-centric approach to turn our client’s dream apps into a reality while designing solutions for healthcare apps to ensure the latest technologies get incorporated into it and the end product aligns with clients’ vision.   

Crafting a healthcare app can become a lucrative business endeavour for entrepreneurs with an anticipated market value worth billions of dollars and an expanding user base. If you are an entrepreneur looking to create a healthcare app to boost your business, then look no further and contact us at 7 Pillars, an app development company today.