Summary: In this healthcare app development blog, we will cover everything right from the importance of building a healthcare app to its development, deployment, cost, monetization and types of healthcare app. Keep reading the article! We’re sure you will find something really valuable for your business or startup.
“Healthcare is an information business. It’s about connecting the dots. And technology can be the glue.” – Dr Eric Topol
Technology is revolutionizing how we approach healthcare, and healthcare apps are leading the charge.
With the rise of mobile devices and wearables, healthcare apps are becoming increasingly popular among consumers, providing them with easy access to vital healthcare information and services.
In fact, global healthcare apps are projected to reach a market value of $945 billion by 2027 at 19.8 CAGR, according to a report by Research and Markets.
However, building a healthcare app is not a task to be taken lightly. With a highly regulated industry, complex data privacy laws, and the need for reliable and secure technology, developing a healthcare app can be a daunting task. But fear not, this guide is here to help you navigate the world of healthcare app development.
Whether you’re a healthcare professional looking to develop an app for your practice, a startup entrepreneur with a great healthcare app idea, or a seasoned developer exploring the healthcare space, this guide will provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to build a successful healthcare app.
From planning and designing to choosing the right technology stack and ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations, we’ll cover everything you need to know to bring your healthcare app to life.
So, let’s dive in and explore the exciting roller-ups of healthcare app development!
A Brief Overview of the Importance of Healthcare Apps
We can bet that the healthcare industry is on the top trend without even going through any numerical facts. Especially, after witnessing the recent events of diseases across the globe.
Additionally, integrating tech in healthcare fulfils numerous purposes for patients as well as doctors. For instance, booking appointments or consulting a doctor was a tedious task before the patient apps and hospital apps came into action.
Again, the market of healthcare applications is expected to be worth $300 billion, by the end of 2025. (Doesn’t this sentence enough to build your online healthcare presence)
Though, let us share some more numbers that prove the importance of healthcare mobile app development.
✅ A survey conducted by a healthcare organization states that around 75% of patients have known the importance of health-based applications and are willing to use them.
✅ According to fact, the telemedicine app market will surpass $17.14 billion at a CAGR of 14.6 by the end of the year 2026. The number is constantly increasing with 4.86% growth in a quarter.
✅ There are more than 1 lakh healthcare apps in Play Store and App Store in the first quarter of 2023.
These facts clearly show the need and flexibility of mobile health app development.
Consequently, digital healthcare has started spreading its wings to a wider part with the help of technologies like IoT, AI, Big Data, ML, and more. The below image shows business scope fields in the healthcare market.
Note: This is just a glimpse into eHealth business scopes, later in this blog we will cover the types of healthcare apps in depth. Keep Reading!
Healthcare Application Development Guide – From Ideation for Monetization
The main challenge here is to combine slow-paced healthcare and tech-digital speed. Again, note that complex healthcare regulations show a greater impact on healthcare app development.
Here, we will describe how to develop a healthcare app in 7 easy to go steps. This mobile application development process starts with the ideation of the problems and covers everything till the successful deployment of the healthcare or medical app.
So, let the game begin!
1. Identify the Problem Faced by Healthcare Industry
Being an experienced app development company, we have gone through a lot of experience and came to the conclusion that – users will stay and use your app only when it solves the problems being faced.
Henceforth, the first and foremost thing you need to do is know the problems of your healthcare field and define the solution via your application.
One more thing you can do is identify the problems being faced in the existing solutions, and accordingly check on how you can make it better in your mhealth app.
Keynote over here is that do not just duplicate the existing app or solution, as it will bring no fortune to your business. Check out the below-given graph to know the market potential for healthcare apps.
In short, at this stage just dig out the type of healthcare app field you are looking forward to going ahead with.
2. Know Who is Your Target Audience
Once you’ve selected your healthcare app development field, it is time to build the business model and your targeted audience.
According to a healthcare tech report, about 75% of top US hospitals developed a mhealth app without analyzing the target audience. As a result, only 2% of people used the services via the app.
The below image gives you a glimpse of the most favourable countries for developing healthcare apps.
To successfully progress in this step, get the answers to the following questions!
Demographics:
What is the age range of your intended users?
What is their gender?
What is their geographic location?
What is their educational background?
What is their income level?
Interests and Hobbies:
What are their interests and hobbies?
What kind of activities do they engage in?
What are their favourite forms of entertainment?
Are there any specific communities or groups they belong to?
Needs and Pain Points:
What problem or need does your app address?
What pain points does your app solution for the users?
How does your app make their lives easier or more convenient?
What benefits or value does your app provide to the users?
User Behavior:
How do they typically use similar apps?
How frequently do they use mobile apps?
What devices do they primarily use (smartphones, tablets, etc.)?
Are they tech-savvy or less tech-oriented?
Competitor Analysis:
Who are your main competitors?
What types of users are they targeting?
What differentiates your app from the competition?
User Persona Creation:
Can you create user personas to represent your target audience segments?
What are their characteristics, goals, and pain points?
How can your app meet their specific needs and desires?
You will find a lot of answers for your healthcare or medical app development. Let’s head to the next tech phase.
Choose an App Development Company and Tech Stack
Now, it’s time to take one of the biggest decisions for the success of your application. Choose a healthcare or medical app development company.
Here, Excellent Webworld can be a choice for you. Be it developing a doctor app, wellness app, patient app, hospital app, or many more such apps. They have a team of the best healthcare app developers for your app solutions.
Choosing a tech stack for your app for healthcare comes along with a mobile app development company.
Firstly, for your healthcare development process, make a choice of app platforms. You can deploy your application on either Android, iOS or the web.
3. Bring Your Idea Into Life (UI/UX Design)
Note that UI/UX design of a mobile app plays a significant role in the success of the app.
This phase of healthcare app development starts with sketching the visuals of your app on paper. It later continues with app design steps like wireframing, prototyping, ideation, final design, and a lot more.
However, there is a list of a few things that you need to take into consideration while designing your healthcare app.
ATTENTION!
Consider audio and video components for your mhealth app. As there are high chances that with your medical app, you need to provide transcription, add more white spaces, make images simpler, and apply adequate color contrast.
Also, on account of that, the USA has its own set of regulations like the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), and Amendments Act.
4. Mobile App Development
Coming to the heart of the entire medical app development process.
Here, the actual app development will begin. The three core parts of this phase are;
The healthcare app developers you hired, will follow these three sub-steps to build your custom healthcare product.
Another key thing is this phase is to consider the security of your hospital application.
Do not forget to Implement Security and Compliance:
Are You looking for guidance in healthcare app development?
Don’t miss the opportunity to have our domain experts by your side, providing guidance and expertise for your healthcare project.
5. Testing & Deployment
Remember to thoroughly test your healthcare app before deployment to ensure a stable and secure user experience. Continuously monitor and update your app to provide ongoing support and improvements to your users.
A number of tests are carried out before the final deployment of the application. Some of them are functional and non-functional testing, compatibility testing, security testing, user acceptance testing, and more.
Once all the bugs are decoded, the app is ready for the final deployment. Prepare your app for submission to the relevant app stores, such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Ensure compliance with their guidelines and policies. Implement CI/CD practices to automate the deployment process and ensure a smooth and efficient release cycle for updates and improvements.
6. Widespread Distribution & Monetization
Okay, so your healthcare application is on app stores! But What Next?
We have got something for you!
By implementing these strategies, you can increase the widespread distribution and adoption of your healthcare app, ultimately reaching a larger user base and making a positive impact on healthcare delivery.
- Publish on popular app stores (e.g., Apple App Store, Google Play Store).
- Ensure cross-platform compatibility (iOS, Android, web).
- Establish partnerships with healthcare providers.
- Integrate with Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems.
- Implement targeted marketing campaigns.
- Encourage referrals through referral programs or incentives.
- Collaborate with health insurance companies.
- Conduct patient education and provider training.
- Localize the app for different regions and languages.
- Continuously improve based on user feedback.
Note: These are general pointers, you can pick the ones that suit your healthcare app niche.
Let’s head to the monetization models.
It’s essential to carefully evaluate and choose the monetization strategy that aligns with your app’s value proposition, user base, and market dynamics. Consider balancing revenue generation with providing a valuable and user-friendly experience to ensure long-term success.
Freemium Model: Offer a basic version of your app for free, while charging for premium features or advanced functionalities. This allows users to experience the app’s core value and encourages them to upgrade for additional benefits.
Subscription Model: Implement a subscription-based pricing structure, where users pay a recurring fee to access the full range of app features or content. This model can provide a steady revenue stream and ongoing engagement with users.
In-App Purchases: Offer additional services, content, or virtual goods within the app that users can purchase. This could include premium health content, personalized consultations, or access to specialized features.
Data Monetization: If your app collects anonymized and aggregated data, you can explore partnerships with researchers, healthcare organizations, or pharmaceutical companies who may be interested in purchasing insights or data trends derived from your app’s user data (ensuring privacy and legal compliance).
Partnerships and Sponsorships: Collaborate with healthcare providers, clinics, or pharmaceutical companies to promote their services or products within your app. This can include displaying relevant advertisements or featuring sponsored content.
ATTENTION!
Many times we have come across the question of what is the difference between a medical app and a healthcare app. Let us brief you on the same.
Healthcare Apps:
This type of app is used by the general public for various activities related to healthcare. The main focus of the healthcare mobile app is medical information, prescriptions, scheduling appointments, and more. Such apps don’t need any protocol or claim and the cost of developing such apps is quite less.
Medical Apps:
The first and foremost thing here is – medical apps are developed for healthcare professionals. The reason is, it focuses on the diagnosis of disease based on the analytical data. Medical app development needs evidence and has to undergo various tests for claims and protocols. As it consists of lots of processes, medical apps require a big budget.
So, What Technologies Are Bound With Healthcare Tech Industry?
In the dynamic realm of healthcare tech, an exciting array of cutting-edge technologies is transforming the way we approach patient care and wellness.
Let’s explore the innovative technologies bound with the healthcare tech industry that is driving this remarkable revolution:
Electronic Health Records (EHR):
Imagine a world where patient records are seamlessly digitized, enabling healthcare professionals to access comprehensive medical histories, treatment details, and test results with just a few clicks. Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems have made this a reality, fostering efficient care coordination and empowering providers with instant access to vital patient information.
Telemedicine and Telehealth:
Breaking down geographical barriers, telemedicine app development technologies allow patients to connect with healthcare providers anytime, anywhere. Through video or audio calls, individuals can receive remote consultations, medical advice, and even diagnoses. The broader realm of telehealth extends beyond consultations to include remote patient monitoring, virtual care, and personalized remote management programs.
Wearable Devices and Sensors:
They have emerged as personal health companions, tracking everything from heart rate and activity levels to sleep patterns and stress levels. These wearable devices and sensors provide individuals with valuable insights into their health and well-being, while also facilitating remote monitoring by healthcare professionals for proactive care management.
Health Information Exchange (HIE):
Unsealing the power of seamless data exchange, HIE systems enable the secure sharing of patient health information among healthcare providers. This fosters improved care coordination, reduces redundancy, and enhances decision-making by ensuring that critical patient data is readily available across different healthcare settings.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML):
Knowing the potential of AI and ML, the healthcare industry is witnessing remarkable advancements. From automating administrative tasks to analyzing complex medical data, these technologies are revolutionizing diagnostics, predicting risks, and enabling personalized treatment plans. AI and ML algorithms are becoming trusted allies in areas such as medical imaging interpretation, drug discovery, and patient risk assessment.
Internet of Medical Things (IoMT):
Ushering in a new era of interconnected healthcare devices, sensors, and systems is something that IoMT is connected with. This network enables real-time data collection, remote monitoring, and improved patient outcomes. Think connected medical devices, smart implants, and remote patient monitoring systems, all working in harmony to ensure timely interventions and proactive healthcare management.
Blockchain:
Empowering patients and healthcare providers with enhanced data security and privacy, blockchain technology has found its place in healthcare. By decentralizing and encrypting patient health data, blockchain ensures transparency, interoperability, and trustworthiness. It offers patients greater control over their health information while facilitating secure data exchange among healthcare stakeholders.
Health Apps and Mobile Health (mHealth):
The power of health and wellness is now at our fingertips. Mobile health apps and solutions have emerged as personal health assistants, offering a plethora of functionalities such as medication reminders, symptom tracking, fitness monitoring, and access to reliable health information. Empowering individuals to actively engage in self-care, mHealth apps revolutionize the way we manage our well-being.
Health Analytics and Big Data:
Unlocking the hidden potential of vast healthcare datasets, health analytics and big data technologies offer valuable insights into population health management, clinical decision-making, and healthcare resource optimization. Analyzing complex healthcare data, these technologies help identify patterns, trends, and predictive models, revolutionizing how we approach healthcare challenges.
Robotics and Automation:
Embracing the precision and efficiency of robotics and automation, the healthcare industry is witnessing groundbreaking advancements. From surgical procedures to rehabilitation, diagnostics to medication management, these technologies enhance accuracy, streamline workflows, and ensure patient safety.
The world is filled with amazing technologies driving the future of healthcare tech, and paving the way for enhanced patient care, and improved outcomes. And, it makes a world where healthcare is smarter, more accessible, and more personalized than ever before.
Get ready to commence on a transformative journey into the future of healthcare!
Key Compliance for Healthcare App Development – Must Check
Compliance with regulatory standards is crucial in the healthcare app development process to protect patient privacy, ensure data security, and maintain ethical practices. Here are some important compliance rules that you must consider:
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): The mhealth app that considers protected health information (PHI) in the United States, compliance with HIPAA is essential. Ensure that in mhealth app development follows HIPAA’s Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, including measures to safeguard PHI, obtain patient consent and maintain proper data handling practices.
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): The healthcare app that serves users in the European Union (EU), compliance with GDPR is mandatory. This regulation focuses on protecting individuals’ personal data, providing transparency about data processing, and obtaining informed consent for data collection and usage.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Regulations: These regulations are considered for the medical device development that are involved in diagnosing, treating, or preventing diseases. The app may require FDA approval or clearance, depending on its intended use and risk level.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standards: ISO alike ISO 13485 (Quality Management System for Medical Devices) and ISO 27001 (Information Security Management System), provide guidelines for ensuring quality and security in healthcare app development. Adhering to these standards demonstrates a commitment to best practices.
Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA): It applies to healthcare apps operating in Canada and regulates the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information. It requires obtaining consent, ensuring data security, and providing individuals with access to their information.
Telemedicine Rules and Licensing: Depending on the jurisdiction, specific telemedicine rules and licensing requirements may apply. Ensure compliance with regulations regarding remote consultations, prescribing medications, and providing telehealth services across different regions or countries.
Accessibility Guidelines: Some of the guidelines like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), ensure that individuals with disabilities can access and use your healthcare app. Compliance with these guidelines promotes inclusivity and equal access to healthcare services.
Adherence to Ethical Guidelines: It is outlined by the American Medical Association (AMA) or local medical boards, to ensure ethical practices in healthcare app development. This includes respecting patient autonomy, maintaining confidentiality, and obtaining informed consent.
Types of Healthcare Apps
There are various types of healthcare applications, each serving a specific purpose and catering to different aspects of healthcare delivery. Here are some common types of healthcare applications:
1. Telemedicine Apps:
One of the most popular healthcare apps enables remote consultations between patients and healthcare providers through video or audio calls. They facilitate virtual diagnosis, treatment, and prescription services, improving access to healthcare.
2. Health and Fitness Tracking Apps:
Such apps are so popular among Generation Z and millennials. It helps users monitor and track their health and fitness-related data, including steps taken, calories burned, heart rate, sleep patterns, and more. They often integrate with wearable devices or sensors to provide real-time data and personalized insights.
3. Medication Reminder Apps:
Reminder apps help users manage their medication schedules by sending reminders for dosage timings, and refills, and tracking adherence. They can also provide medication information and interaction alerts.
4. Electronic Health Record (EHR) Apps:
EHR apps permit healthcare professionals to access and update patient health records electronically. They provide a centralized platform for storing and managing patient data, improving efficiency and communication among healthcare providers. EHR system development plays a crucial role in tailoring these apps to meet the specific needs and requirements of healthcare organizations.
5. Health Information and Education Apps:
The mhealth apps that provide reliable and up-to-date health information, including symptoms, treatments, disease management, and preventive measures. They aim to educate users about various health conditions and promote health awareness.
6. Mental Health and Well-being Apps:
Wellness apps mainly focus on mental health and well-being, offering features like meditation guides, stress management techniques, mood tracking, therapy sessions, and mental health resources.
7. Chronic Disease Management Apps:
A type of healthcare app that help individuals with chronic diseases or conditions manage their health effectively. They provide tools for tracking symptoms, medications, and lifestyle factors and connecting with healthcare providers for personalized care.
Looking Forward to Create a Secure Healthcare Application?
Meet no other than Excellent Webworld. The team have years of experience to build a custom healthcare app solution for your needs.
8. Women’s Health Apps:
Women’s apps cater specifically to women’s health needs, including menstrual cycle tracking, fertility planning, pregnancy monitoring, breastfeeding support, and menopause management.
9. Remote Patient Monitoring Apps:
One of the best healthcare apps that enable continuous monitoring of patients’ vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, glucose levels, or oxygen saturation. They facilitate remote patient care and early detection of health issues.
10. Medical Reference and Decision Support Apps:
These apps provide healthcare professionals with medical references, drug databases, clinical guidelines, diagnostic support tools, and calculators to aid in decision-making and patient care.
It’s important to note that these are just a few examples, and there are many more specialized healthcare applications available in the market. The specific type of healthcare app needed depends on the target audience, healthcare goals, and desired functionalities.
Healthcare App Development Cost – Money Matters
Well, coming to the cost of healthcare app development – there are a lot of things you must know!
Firstly, note that a lot of things are required to build a final medical product. A few things that help you to get an estimated cost of healthcare application development are;
These are just a few factors that let you know the average healthcare app development cost.
If we talk about the average cost it can start from around $50,000 and may go up to $5,00,000. (the cost may vary depending on your app requirements)
For more detailed info on how much does it cost to develop a healthcare app, peep into the below-given table.
Remark – This is some estimated cost that we’ve come up with, it may go up or down based on your app development requirements. For more info, you can get in touch with our team.
How Excellent Webworld Can Help You With Healthcare App Development Services?
Excellent Webworld is an experienced healthcare mobile app development services provider who have expertise in developing app solutions for various industry niche.
On the same point, Excellent Webworld has been named a leading healthcare app development company. They have worked on a number of types of healthcare applications like hospital app, doctor app, patient app, fitness app, meditation app, health and wellness app, and a lot more.
Benefits of working with Excellent Webworld include;
For any queries, just get in touch with our professionals. They are here to solve your issues and propose the best healthcare solutions for you.
| Basic App ( 1 Platform) | Full Product (More Features + 1 Platform) | Complex & Large App (2Platforms) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Analyst | $3,000+ | $5,000+ | $7,000+ |
| Project Management | $5,500+ | $10,000+ | $15,000 |
| UI/UX Design | $5,000+ | $10,000+ | $15,000+ |
| App Development | $40,000+ | $75,000+ | $150,000+ |
| Quality Assurance | $5,000+ | $15,000+ | $25,000+ |
| Total Cost | $58,500+ | $115,000+ | $212,000+ |
The End Of Article Begins With Your Healthcare App Development
After reading the article, what do these figures and facts bowl down to? The straight answer is – there is a tremendous opportunity to ease and grow your healthcare operations. We can call application development a one-time investment to enhance the quality of services, promote patients’ self-management, and a lot more.
We’ve gone through every crucial aspect that is necessary for healthcare app development. Now, it’s you to choose your app development healthcare market niche and let your success chapter begin in mhelath world.
Let’s Brainstorm Your Healthcare Application!
