Things To Consider For Healthcare App Development

Developing a healthcare app is a great opportunity for startups wanting to digitize their healthcare business. This category has witnessed a boom after the recent pandemic as people demanded online health solutions. However, healthcare mobile app development comes with many challenges due to the intricate nature of the industry.

You can navigate through these challenges by making the right decisions. In this blog, we'll look into the major factors you need to consider when developing a healthcare app. So, let's get right into it.

A Clean UI/UX

A healthcare app is not the canvas for you to showcase your beautiful and unique UI designs. Both patients and doctors are going to use the app to access medical records multiple times a day. Cleanliness and neatness are the primary things they will look for in a healthcare app. It's about being functional more than attractiveness.

Secondly, time is of the essence in healthcare. Slow performance and loading are big no-nos. Optimize your app for speed and ensure that it functions even on suboptimal network connections.

Privacy & Security

If your app involves sensitive patient data, it should comply with the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA). Healthcare data is highly sensitive and you must ensure that it is secure within your app. Add a privacy policy to the app that explains what information you are going to collect and how it will be used.

Implement encryption of data at rest and in transit, and conduct regular security assessments. You can also collaborate with cybersecurity experts to ensure that your app meets industry standards.

Interoperability

This is a challenge for healthcare, as multiple systems and devices are involved. These include Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems, medical devices, and other healthcare software. Your app should seamlessly integrate these systems to provide maximum functionality to your users. Try using standards such as HL7 and FHIR to facilitate data exchange between systems.

Scalability

Scalability includes two aspects: increasing your app in terms of features and functionalities and increasing it in terms of server size.

As time passes, you have to update your app with the latest technologies and features to keep up with industry trends. This includes features like AI or NLP.

Secondly, you should design your app in such a way that it can handle an increased load when the time comes. This can be achieved by implementing cloud-based solutions and considering server architecture to support scalability.

Offline Access

The need for healthcare can be urgent and not time-bound. Access to critical patient information can mean the difference between life and death. That's why you must provide offline functionality in your app so that essential data can be accessed in areas of poor or no network connectivity.

Clinical Workflow Integration

The more your app aligns with traditional clinical workflow, the better it is. Research medical professionals to find out their processes and pain points. Try to tailor your app to enhance efficiency rather than disrupt it. Seamlessly implement features like appointment scheduling, prescription management, and billing to provide maximum efficiency.

Telemedicine Capabilities

The telemedicine niche has witnessed a surge in popularity since the pandemic. You can implement telemedicine capabilities in your app by adding features like video conferencing. Just make sure that they are secure and HIPAA-compliant.

Develop a Healthcare App

Healthcare app development is a multifaceted process that requires careful consideration of the above-mentioned factors. WDI can help you with just that. As a mobile app development company, we have worked with many healthcare startups and helped them navigate this complex tech landscape. Allow us to provide you with the same.