The graph of healthcare applications usage in the USA, and other countries around the world, has exploded. GMC (General Medical Council), stated that where only 30% of doctors used healthcare applications in 2011, this percentage has now increased to 83%.
Mobile apps have revolutionized the world and the healthcare sector is no different. Health publishers have enabled millions of users to get paid or free subscriptions for such apps after installing them in the Play Store or AppStore with just a few simple clicks.
Importance of Healthcare Apps for 2023 and Ahead
Health and fitness apps have become popular because people are more aware of their health, and also their family members’ health. These apps offer unique features. Some healthcare apps offer an online BMI calculation, which is essential before any check-ups or subsequent appointments.
In 2023, several apps have already proved their value. If you are wondering if now is the best time to create a fitness application? There is no better time to launch an online service of this kind than now.
App development begins with understanding how the app will be used – who it is for, what its purpose will be, and the benefits it will bring to your customers. All these questions are important for app strategizing, and both the owner and developers must be on the same page.
App developers must strategize the best app workflow based on the services offered by the company when developing a custom healthcare app.
Here are the Top 9 Things App Developers Must Consider Before Developing A Healthcare Mobile App
1. Multiple App Platforms
To keep up with the culture of multiple gadgets, applications must be compatible with all platforms, including desktops, smartphones, and tablets. A smartphone user may expect information instantly, and this is not aligned with the smaller screen.
Patients can use dynamic applications with interactive features on their smartphones. Apps optimized for tablets can offer more functionality than their smartphone equivalents.
While a comprehensive patient engagement solution is highly optimized for larger screens/desktops/tablets, “call a doctor” is more of a smartphone feature.
Apps developed for Android or iOS can be used on tablets, and vice versa.
2. Interoperability
People often ask how to achieve synchronization. Health industry workers believe that working remotely makes it impossible to stay in sync with a central management system. False.
When developing mobility solutions for healthcare, the app developer must consider the app’s interoperability with the clinical management systems used by all staff. The software, including instant appointment setting functionality, is built on the cloud to promote real-time data transmission and scalability.
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3. UI/UX Development
The User Interface (UI), and User Experience, are key to the success of any application. App developers should prioritize UI/UX, as both doctors and patients use the app to input information.
The developers must focus on easy-to-use designs so that the patients don’t get lost when booking appointments, requesting consultations, or accessing online reports. It should also be simple for doctors to instantly record online sessions and patient visits.
Patients are often looking for solutions to their health problems. Consider their mood when choosing colors, fonts, and text compositions for your app. Never show a depressing image of an urgent medical situation.
4. API Integration
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are a set of tools and protocols that allow the software to interact with specific modules or the whole software.
As soon as a patient or doctor enters their login credentials, an API request is made to connect the device to the core server. To authenticate the device and access the central list of patients online, it is necessary to integrate API components. Every health professional working in a hospital wants this feature.
5. Iterative Development
The scope of a new project is large, but it could be confusing for end users to bring all the features together at once. Agile programming allows developers to deliver working code using an iterative process (building, refining, and improving the product as required).
Slowly developing a product allows for a more detailed analysis of what new features can be added to the product that will benefit both the user and admin. App developers must have a thorough understanding of agile methodologies for app development before they can develop any commercially sustaining products.
6. Data Security
The app is the most appropriate way to store data in clinical management software. It connects to and communicates through various API requests. The app servers, on the other hand, are designed to increase speed without ensuring complete data security. The information that is transferred between the device, and the remote server, can be accessed by government agencies, individuals, or unscrupulous organizations.
Developers must encrypt data stored on their servers to resolve this issue. It doesn’t matter what industry the app is in, as long as the user can save information, the data must be secure. For healthcare app developers, end-to-end data encryption is best.
7. Device Security
Arxan, an app protection company, says Android apps are not as secure as iOS apps. Most IT Consultants recommend that Android App Development is not used for apps where data security is a priority. Android is the most popular smartphone platform, and it’s impossible to risk losing such a large audience.
Samsung Knox allows for remoteness in both work and personal life. It is a step that has been long awaited because many organizations have implemented a “bring-your-own-device” policy. Blueberry is working hard to ensure that its devices are protected to the same standard.
The Android App Developer may suggest adding certain codes that will work to the benefit of the app’s beneficiary.
8. Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
The Minimum Viable Product is an application that has basic features and functions, which are mainly used to solve one or two problems. It is designed to give the best user experience. You should not spend your entire budget to create the MVP, as it is only the first step. Later on, you may want to add advanced features to your app to help users.
MVP allows you to collect customer feedback, which was impossible during the development of your app. Asking your customers what they want and delivering it is the best way to get their feedback.
9. App Testing
A commercial application cannot be launched without quality and functional checks. In a sensitive sector like healthcare, the launch of an application without testing could be disastrous, as it contains confidential information about the medical histories of patients.
Test the app for these parameters:
- Data Security – PII compliance, PHII compliance, and HIPAA compliance.
- Check the accuracy of the tracker when developing a geo-location-based app for fitness.
- Try running the app in the worst possible connectivity.
- Functional Testing of the Application
- Performance benchmarking – Test the application’s loading speed and other performance benchmarks.
- Platform Flexibility: Test the performance of your application on different platforms, including Android, iOS, and Windows.
What is the most important thing?
The fate of an application is ultimately determined by the user’s dependence and its performance. It is important to make the application user-friendly and to solve the various problems of the users. End-users are also constantly evaluating the quality and performance of healthcare applications. If success is your ultimate goal, the app must be updated and well-maintained.
