How Mobile Apps are Changing Healthcare Industry?
The integration of mobile technology in the realm of healthcare encompasses the utilization of mobile devices and patient monitoring tools to facilitate medical and public health activities.
In this era of rapid digital advancements, it would be truly remarkable if these transformative innovations failed to impact the healthcare industry. Curiosity may arise as to the nature of healthcare apps. Mobile healthcare, or mHealth, empowers healthcare professionals and pharmacists to deliver safer and more effective patient care, while enabling patients to actively monitor their treatment and enhance adherence to prescribed therapies.
By harnessing the potentials of mobile healthcare app development technologies in the field of medicine, patients can conveniently access medical assistance from a distance, while clinic staff and independent physicians can streamline their work processes with greater efficiency.
Mobile Health Market Overview
The COVID-19 outbreak has placed enormous pressure on healthcare infrastructure around the world.
Amidst a pandemic, mobile healthcare emerges as a secure avenue to deliver online medical services to patients grappling with chronic ailments and other severe illnesses. This approach ensures that doctor consultations can be conducted without incurring any additional risk of infection for both physicians and patients. Furthermore, the utilization of mobile technologies holds valuable potential for medical students, offering them a range of benefits and resources to enhance their educational journey.
The functionality of the healthcare application involves:
- providing access to medical care for a wide range of patients,
- improving the quality and efficiency of medical care,
- ridding the patient of queues and unnecessary trips to clinics,
- the ability to view patient records without being in a medical facility and store examination results in mobile devices or other means of communication.
Mobile healthcare applications offer an expansive range of benefits to both healthcare providers and patients. With the aid of these medical applications, users can access a multitude of clinic services, such as reviewing medical records or consulting with attending physicians, regardless of their location, whether it’s in a different city or even abroad.
As per Accenture’s findings, the adoption of digital healthcare tools is on the rise, with a notable 74% of patients expressing satisfaction with the convenience and effectiveness of digital health services.
Applications are developed for a private network of clinics and are intended for patients who want to receive quality medical services. This is an application for finding doctors, with which you can:
- make an appointment with a doctor of the required specialization in any of the clinics;
- get an online answer to an exciting question, if this does not require the patient’s presence in the clinic;
- maintain a medical record, keep records of the doctor; pay for medical services via the Internet.
The main advantages of applications:
- a large number of useful options, such as canceling or rescheduling a visit to the doctor, adding the time of the visit to the calendar, or opening additional profiles for family members;
- simple and intuitive interface;
- the ability to pay for services for all your accounts from one account;
- compatible with devices of any brand.
Individuals interested in utilizing these applications must first download them onto their smartphones via either Google Play or the App Store. Once downloaded, they are required to complete a registration process by creating a profile and entering the login credentials (username and password) chosen during the registration phase.
How Healthcare Apps Help Medical Professionals
Professional healthcare app allows you to establish a virtual contact between the patient and the doctor, who can remotely monitor the patient’s health by:
- consultations via video and text chat;
- online checks of the patient’s condition using special tests and health trackers;
- control of prescribed medications.
The application proves to be beneficial for patients who are undergoing outpatient treatment or require continuous care. The question arises as to why certain medical applications gain popularity among both patients and doctors, while others fail to do so. The answer lies in the fact that the most successful products encompass all the essential features that users seek, ensuring a comprehensive solution for their healthcare needs.
Types of Healthcare Mobile Apps
The best way to avoid the massive spread of viral infections is to provide the opportunity to consult with doctors without visiting medical facilities. Mobile applications are ideal for this task.
Apps for Patients
Mobile medical apps for patients allow registration at the clinic, an appointment with a doctor, online doctor consultations, postoperative monitoring, and other useful features
- Applications for patients help them to measure heart rate, blood sugar, weight, etc.
- To schedule an appointment in comfort at home;
- People living far receive high-quality service via mobile apps;
- Access to online reports at any time.
Mobile apps for health are excellent tools for monitoring patients’ condition and maintaining health, accelerating and improving the treatment process. But at the same time, one should not refuse personal consultations with a doctor and regular examinations in the clinic.
Medical & Healthcare Apps for Businesses
The company develops medical apps that help both the doctor in his medical practice and advanced training and the patient.
Medical mobile applications include:
- reference books of medicines and symptoms of diseases;
- medical books and publications;
- fitness apps;
- services for storing medical data;
- applications for caring for the elderly and sick people;
- applications for informing pregnant women;
- health forums and portals;
- corporate applications of clinics and hospitals.
Medical Apps for Doctors
Nowadays, people are increasingly using smartphones and tablets, and medicine is one of the areas where mobile applications for doctors and patients are becoming increasingly important.
- Improving patient care. Mobile apps enable doctors to remotely monitor the health of their patients, regardless of the distance that separates them. This means that even when patients are away on business trips, they can still stay connected with their doctors. Such apps empower doctors to provide assistance and support to their patients without requiring them to physically visit the clinic. This not only saves valuable time but also allows patients to conserve their energy for the recovery process instead of exhausting themselves with clinic visits.
- Accelerated diagnostics. Thanks to the many different sensors on today’s smartphones and wearables, patients can share health-related data with doctors, making diagnosis easier, faster, and more accurate.
- Convenient data processing. Maintaining patient records in an e- form greatly simplifies the work with patient data, and allows, if necessary, to exchange of information with other attending physicians.
- Remote treatment of patients. Social distancing has become of great importance in 2020 when humanity is faced with a new virus. Remote healthcare allows doctors to see patients faster while avoiding time to turn and unnecessary social contact.
If you add all these features to the application, it will be in demand for a long time.
How Mobile Apps Transforming Healthcare Industry
Although healthcare apps have been in existence for a number of years, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of seamless access to insurance plans, medical records, ongoing or upcoming expenses, and knowledgeable representatives. In response to the pandemic, companies within the MedTech industry are compelled to broaden the range of services provided through their mobile healthcare apps to ensure that all patient requirements are adequately addressed.
Expanded Access to Medical Care
According to Reportlinker’s report “Mobile Healthcare Global Market Report 2022” — the market for mobile monitoring and diagnostics has grown from $65.56 billion in 2021 to $83.71 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate(C) of 27.68%. The market will grow to $250.50 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 31.53%.
This medical care category includes:
- Monitoring systems: work of the heart, pressure, glucose, brain work, sleep, etc.;
- Multiparameter monitoring systems;
- Apps for remote interaction with a doctor;
- Wearable, implantable, and ingestible sensors of various vital signs;
- Diagnostic systems and rapid analysis systems (blood, saliva, urine, breath, etc.);
- Care systems for the elderly, the chronically ill, and children;
- Applications for health monitoring, drug use control, treatment planning, educational systems, etc.
Better Remote Patient Monitoring
With the help of mobile devices, healthcare professionals (HCPs) nowadays have access to monitor patients when it is needed. Applications for healthcare transformed many aspects of clinical practice. A large number of apps are assisting HCPs:
- health record maintenance and access;
- patient management and monitoring;
- information and time management;
- communications and consulting;
- reference and information;
- clinical decision-making;
- and education and training.
Smartphone use in healthcare provides help to HCPs with access to point-of-care tools, that make better clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes.
Immediate Access to Healthcare
Upon installing the healthcare mobile application on your device, you gain instant access to a range of secure online healthcare functionalities, including the convenience of paying bills and utilizing telehealth services. The online health management tool empowers you to access your health records from any location with an internet connection, ensuring round-the-clock availability, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Improved Coordination
Mobile apps are targeting patients to be engaged in aspects of their care coordination. Developers of such applications adopt human factors approaches and methods in the design.
Mobile health applications play a vital role in facilitating care coordination between patients and healthcare providers. These applications encompass a wide array of developed tools that aim to enhance patient engagement and communication. In the design, development, and evaluation of mobile apps, human factors methods are frequently employed to ensure optimal usability and user experience.
Efficient Handling of Emergency Cases
Mobile health apps are revolutionizing the healthcare landscape as a whole, transforming the way we approach medical care. The integration of internet and mobile computing technologies has significantly impacted people’s lives. The adoption of medical apps has the potential to greatly facilitate the exchange of vital information among healthcare professionals, especially in critical health emergency situations.
For example, Emergency Management Mobile Application (EMMA) is the first integrated software and mobile app solution that helps onlookers, incident managers, and 911 systems to improve communication. It gives basic assistance in preventing and managing critical emergencies before the arrival of 911 Emergency.
Accurate Reports
According to a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, the utilization of mobile technology in healthcare, specifically in calculating disease severity using clinical scoring systems, yields dependable and precise reports that can be confidently employed in clinical settings. This research emphasizes the reliability and accuracy of mobile technology in providing valuable insights for medical practitioners.
The free apps that are 100 percent accurate and have the most functions useful for doctors are CliniCalc, Calculate by QxMD, and Medscape.
Virtual Medicine
Virtual Reality is a next-generation technology with the help of which the revolution of the healthcare sector can be made.
George Washington University is already using a VR tool for neurosurgery and thoracic surgery, they virtually explore a patient’s brain and body before executing a procedure. As a result, surgical efficiency is improved. Patients and their families can better understand operations ahead of time. According to a Harvard Business Review study, virtual reality training improved surgical performance by 230% in comparison with traditional methods.
5 Best Apps For Health in 2023
Stfalcon selected the most convenient, useful mobile health app that helps improve health.
Doctor on Demand
The app Doctor on Demand provides 24/7 access to online doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, and other healthcare professionals. The care is available to you, anytime and anywhere. You can select and see your favorite specialists again and again, right from your smartphone via an app, tablet, or computer.
Teladoc
The mission of Teladoc Health is to give the full spectrum of health and well-being. The utilization of healthcare technology and clinical expertise, such as Teladoc Health, extends beyond addressing illness and encompasses supporting individuals throughout their lifespan to attain improved overall health.
By leveraging Teladoc Health’s advanced technology and professional knowledge, individuals gain access to a comprehensive array of physical and mental healthcare services. This enables them to make informed decisions that promote enhanced well-being while fostering clinical collaboration that ultimately leads to the delivery of high-quality care.
HealthTap
HealthTap believes that everyone deserves affordable primary care.
HealthTap stands out as the United States’ largest network of volunteer doctors, comprising over 140 specialists across various fields. Through the collaboration of these doctors, HealthTap has developed a vast and reliable database consisting of millions of trustworthy answers. Every doctor affiliated with the HealthTap Medical Group holds a valid license to practice medicine in the US, is board-certified in their respective specialty, and has undergone comprehensive training via an online care program. Rest assured that the doctor you select from HealthTap will be there to support you at every stage of your treatment journey.
BetterHelp
BetterHelp is the largest online platform for therapy in the world. Their impact extends beyond individual cases, as they are actively involved in transforming the overall perception of mental health and providing valuable support to those in need. By offering accessible and affordable care, therapists play a crucial role in addressing the challenges people face in their daily lives. BetterHelp, for instance, offers a convenient messaging feature that allows individuals to connect with licensed therapists at any time and from anywhere. Through this platform, users are carefully matched with one of the 29,000 licensed therapists based on their specific conditions and concerns.
MyTherapy
MyTherapy is a pill reminder and medication tracker app. Irrespective of the aspect you need assistance with, be it medication reminders, tracking measurements, or managing exercise routines, MyTherapy is designed to empower you in taking control of your health. This comprehensive platform not only helps you document and monitor your health-related data but also provides visual representations of patterns that emerge over time. With MyTherapy, you can easily gain an overview of your health and identify areas in your treatment plan that may require improvement.
How Can Stfalcon Help You with Mobile Healthcare App Development?
When it comes to addressing health concerns, mobile applications have become an invaluable resource, providing swift solutions. In situations where an individual needs to access clinic services and faces the choice between traditional methods of searching and making appointments via phone calls or utilizing a simple and user-friendly mobile application, the latter option tends to be favored.
For healthcare service providers, having a mobile application ensures they can effectively engage with their audience without losing potential patients. The application streamlines the process of securing appointments, saving valuable time that would otherwise be spent navigating the standard appointment booking procedure. By simply tapping a few buttons on their smartphone screens, users can register for hospital visits conveniently. Furthermore, the application offers the added advantage of allowing users to access online consultations at any time and obtain detailed information about doctors by viewing their profiles.
Our Experience
Online booking system for meetings with the doctor
Our team has experience designing and custom mHealth app development. The technology we have used provides easy and fast authorization in the application. We have chosen BankID, QR code, and confirmation of personal data in the application because it was a client from Sweden. In the development process, we used progressive JavaScript frameworks.
Read the full case study
HospApp — task manager for hospitals
The Stfalcon team developed a demo Android application for hospital staff that included key features. Our team provided comprehensive services including user interface design, Android development, manual testing, quality assurance, and implementation.
Read the full case study
However, our work was focused only on specific screens, namely:
- Messages
- Chat room/group
- Tasks, which featured essential functionalities for both chatting and task management.
Final Thoughts
Users of healthcare mobile applications prioritize seamless access to their health records and health insurance documents at any time and from anywhere. They also value the ability to easily communicate with doctors when important health-related questions arise. Additionally, users seek information about eligible services and anticipated costs without unnecessary delays.
In the face of the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic, healthcare providers and insurance companies are stretched to their limits, making healthcare applications an essential bridge. To cater to diverse user demographics, the features incorporated into a mobile medical application should be user-friendly and intuitive.
Stfalcon’s experienced team specializes in the development and testing of healthcare apps using modern technologies and methodologies. Their expertise ensures that the resulting application is reliable, secure, and scalable, meeting the evolving needs of users in the healthcare domain. If you are interested in creating a top-notch product, just contact us.
Originally published at https://stfalcon.com.
