In the second blog in our mHealth series, we discuss crucial aspects to consider while getting healthcare apps developed.

In continuation to our discussion in our previous blog, [5 reasons why you should consider getting a healthcare app developed], on the mHealth series, there are several critical aspects that have to be considered while getting an app developed for your healthcare business.

A MoEngage study suggests the following:

  • 23% of people uninstall the app on the day they download it.
  • An average app gets deleted within 6 days of install
  • 28% of applications that are downloaded get uninstalled within 30 days.

If you don’t want your app to meet a similar fate, you need to put diligent consideration into your mHealth app’s development.

Now let me outline the 5 most important aspects that you should be considering while getting your mHealth app developed.

1. Healthcare Data Security

A Verizon study indicated that the healthcare industry is the most popular among hackers. And the HIPPA Journal states that healthcare data breaches cost $408 per record. That is almost three times the cross-industry average of $148.

If you do not want to lose a lot of money, your reputation, and the trust that your patients place in you/your organization, it is important to ensure data security for your healthcare app.

And how do you ensure that?

With:

  • Login authorization
  • Using only authorized API
  • Data encryption
  • Tamper detection technologies
  • Network security measures.

Data security measures are also important for keeping your app compliant with regulatory norms. In the absence of compliance, you might land in a legal hot soup.

Your mHealth app should be compliant with the regulations and norms of the following organizations:

  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)
  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH)

2. Healthcare-specific features

Apps are like artworks. Both need to be unique to be worthy and can never be mass-produced. – Anonymous

In my experience of over 20+ years in the IT industry, I have worked on the design and development of hundreds of applications. And I can vouch for the fact that the apps that succeed are the ones that are built with their target audience in mind.
So considering the needs of patients and healthcare professionals alike, here are a few specific features that you should include:

  • Live video consultation – Most important for telemedicine apps.
  • Appointment scheduling – Imperative for healthcare professionals and organizations that want to make their apps the first point for patient contact.
  • Symptom checker feature – Suitable for informative mHealth applications
  • Payment gateway integration – Necessary for all sorts of mHealth apps.
  • Multi-device support – Important for all apps.
  • Synchronization with existing medical ecosystems – For apps that don’t operate as standalone offerings and are to be used along with other devices and systems.

3. Wearable device integration

In 2020, the wearable device market was valued at over 25 billion dollars. [16Best.net]

And a Google report revealed that 56% of Americans own some type of wearable device today.

A lot of these wearable devices are being used as fitness bands and for monitoring vitals like heart rate, SPO2, BMI, menstrual charting, quality of sleep, and even blood pressure and current sugar levels.

This makes it clear that your patients are making the switch to wearable devices. And to stay relevant and competitive in the industry, you need to be making a move too. Even if you aren’t ready to take the plunge right now, you should at least ensure the scope for integration with wearable devices with your app in the future.

If you think integration with wearable devices is an unworthy investment, here is what EMedCert has to report.

“Wearable technology could drop hospital costs by as much as 16% over the course of 5 years, and remote patient monitoring technologies could save our healthcare system $200 billion over the next 25 years.”

That makes it pretty evident that your investment in an app that has scope for wearable device integration would bring in enough saving in the future to cover up the investment cost and even positively impact your bottom line.

4. AI/ML/Blockchain integration

Artificial Intelligence applications are helping healthcare professionals detect cancer at its earliest stages.

Machine learning is helping prevent diagnosis errors and improving assessment in medical imaging.

With blockchain technology, healthcare records are being stored way more safely than before and medical supply chain transparency has improved manifold.

And the benefit of these new-age technologies has also been monetary.

  • AI-based clinical health applications have the potential to create $150 billion in annual savings for the US healthcare economy by 2026. [Accenture]
  • Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) can cut down the expenses of the healthcare industry by $300 billion. [SD Global Tech]
  • With the adoption of blockchain, $100 to $150 billion of the healthcare industry’s expenses can be saved by 2025. [Healthcare Weekly]

Do I need to say anything else about Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Machine Learning, and the Internet of Medical Things being must-have integrations for your healthcare app?

These technologies are creating ripples in the ocean of healthcare-related innovations. And it is best you bank on them to make your app a money-saving, high-performing, and people-pleasing asset.

5. Experts with healthcare-specific experience

Would you say visiting someone who knows nothing more than ibuprofen, paracetamol and antacids is a logical move? No, right? So then you shouldn’t even consider getting your healthcare app developed by developers without healthcare-related experience.

The many nuances of developing a healthcare app can be understood only with experience. So if you are looking to get a mobile app developed for your healthcare business, make sure you find someone with a portfolio including successful mHealth app development projects.

We, at SynergyTop, have years of experience in offering app design and development solutions with ample scope for integration with wearable devices and the latest technologies like AI, ML, and blockchain to various types of healthcare businesses and practices.

About SynergyTop

SynergyTop is a San Diego-based digital commerce company that offers mobile, web, and software development services.

We have delivered over 50 mobile applications to date, with many of them being mHealth apps.

We recently developed a mobile app for a healthcare data-tracking platform which helped them get 40% more patient-reported outcomes. We also developed the PracticeAid mobile and web app that helps doctors serve patients with 36% higher efficiency and increase their month-on-month revenue by 19%.

Looking for a healthcare app for your business? Write to us at contact@synergytop.com to schedule an e-consultation with our experts or drop your queries in the comments section below.