The next generation of healthcare is all about user-friendly apps. The global mHealth apps market size stood at over $38 billion in 2021. By 2030, it is expected to make a giant leap, growing at a CAGR of 11.8%, according to GrandViewResearch. Wearables and medical apps are among the greatest enablers of accelerated mHealth adoption.
Hospital apps, in particular, hold great potential for transforming traditional care delivery and facilitating access to critical patient data. Here’s how you can create a hospital app that will help your patients along their journey in the healthcare industry.
Why are mobile apps vital for hospitals?
Mobile apps are a great way to deliver healthcare. They can help hospitals improve patient care and satisfaction as well as increase efficiency, productivity, and revenue—and they’re also an effective way to build brand awareness.
By offering information on your hospital’s services in real-time, hospitals can better cope with evolving patients’ needs as they arise throughout their stay at the hospital. Hospital app development also translates into fewer missed appointments due to miscommunication and fewer visits for follow-ups.
Here are the main advantages that mHealth applications bring to the table:
- Improved patient engagement – patients can access and monitor their medical records/prescription details;
- Minimized risk of misdiagnosis – applications serve as unified storage of patient data;
- Automated billing and payments – patients can make instant payments securely with a few clicks;
- Improved prescription alerts – electronic reminders are sent directly to patients’ smartphones;
- Better interoperability of health data – digitally stored medical data can be easily accessed by other healthcare systems.
Features and functionality of healthcare apps
According to Accenture, around 66% of the largest US hospitals rely on mobile health apps. However, the majority of those apps fail to deliver the optimum level of mobile patient engagement due to poor user experience and functionality.
Below, you’ll find the set of mainstay features for a hospital-focused application.
Patient information
These apps allow patients to view their medical records, receive notifications about upcoming appointments or lab tests, and make payments for services. Hospital apps also provide access to the latest updates related to a patient’s condition or treatment options.
Patient appointment management
This feature allows a patient to book a meeting or follow up on one that has already been scheduled in advance through the app’s calendar system (or even via text message). A user can also set up reminders so that they don’t miss any important events and get reminders when they’re time for them.
Billing & payments
Hospital applications may also have built-in payment management to automate accounting. This includes medical billing, accounts receivables, and insurance coverage. Patients can choose a payment method and send the payment within the app.
Medical Claim Management
To avoid confusion, hospital applications are often combined with claim management software to automate the billing process. The application helps monitor all claims, browse claim history, and presents contact information of insurance workers.
EHR/EMR integration
An automatic data sync between hospital management systems and digital charts can benefit both patients and doctors. The two systems can seamlessly exchange information and help doctors act on the latest patient data.
Integrations with wearables
Wearables are used to track health and life indicators including heart rate and blood sugar levels in addition to fitness. By enabling your app to link with wearables, you can improve the efficiency of tracking patients’ health.
Top mHealth app development trends
For you to have a comprehensive understanding of user expectations, we have included the most cutting-edge trends in mobile healthcare below.
Patient-generated data
Patient-generated data is the personal data that patients produce through their interactions with medical devices, apps, wearables, and other technologies. This can be anything from blood pressure to mood and can be transmitted to doctors or caregivers remotely.
The use of patient-generated data is beneficial for both doctors and patients alike. It has been shown that it helps to improve patient satisfaction in many cases and also allows for a more personalized care plan.
Patient-generated data is also a powerful tool for hospitals as it helps them improve the quality of care for their patients. Hospitals are increasingly using this information to find out more about the care provided in their facilities.
Patient support chatbots
Patient support chatbots are a type of chatbot that is designed to provide information and guidance to patients. They are often used in hospitals and other healthcare facilities as a way to answer patients’ questions and provide them with information about their condition.
These chatbots can be programmed to answer questions related to anything from the patient’s diagnosis, treatment, or prognosis. They can also be programmed with information like the hospital’s phone number or website.
Patient support chatbots are seen as a more efficient way of providing this type of information because they don’t require human staff members to constantly monitor the conversation. According to Juniper Research reports, interactions with healthcare chatbots are projected to score over $2.8 billion per year by 2023.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine for hospital apps has been around for a while now. Hospitals have been using telemedicine to provide care to remote areas that don’t have access to doctors or hospitals. The idea behind these hospital apps is that they allow people in rural areas to access medical advice from doctors in major cities.
By embedding telemedicine into hospital apps, care providers can provide consultation via video and chat to reduce waiting times and increase patient satisfaction.
The final word
The healthcare industry is one of the most dynamic and fast-moving sectors in today’s technological world. There are many challenges for hospitals, especially when it comes to improving patient satisfaction and efficiency. With mobile apps, hospitals can manage their workflows more efficiently, improve their communications with patients or staff members, and enhance overall patient satisfaction levels by providing them with the latest technology available today.
To develop a hospital app, you first need to write a development brief that includes your business needs, expected results, and system requirements. The more detailed your brief is, the less time it will take your development team to perform the groundwork.