Thinking about going to a doctor can evoke a particular kind of memory for many: long queues, a thousand paper records, and infinite delays. While this image of healthcare services is still pervasive, the industry is undergoing a robust change in 2024, all due to skyrocketing digitalization.
As more and more hospitals and clinics look to transform their operations, healthtech software development is gaining more traction. Statista reports that the worldwide market of digital health is expected to hit $171.9 billion in revenue by the end of this year. This growth is nowhere near slowing down, either, as this number is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 8.49%, reaching $258.3 billion by 2029.
This staggering demand for healthtech is warranted: a single healthcare software solution can perform numerous functions for an institution’s ecosystem. The market is rich with hospital management systems, medical billing software solutions, telemedicine apps, diagnostics software, and other kinds of applications that can cut costs, improve the quality of care, and automate key processes.
In this article, we’ll provide a brief guide to different types of medical solutions and uncover how to create healthcare software that’s profitable, useful, and secure.
Benefits of healthcare software solutions
If you’re considering custom healthcare software development, you’re on the right track. Although medical applications have different advantages depending on the specific needs they meet, there are numerous general benefits this type of software offers. Here are several examples:
- Improved patient experience. A healthcare software system can enable users to access their medical records online, obtain medication prescriptions faster, and book doctor appointments in a couple of clicks. There is also a wide range of applications for disease monitoring, medication management, and lifestyle maintenance.
- Better access to healthcare providers. When it’s possible to book and conduct a medical visit online, patients become less restricted to the doctors in their area. It can be particularly relevant for patients, whose health needs call for specialized expertise.
- Reduced costs. Healthcare institutions can enjoy automation of certain processes that takes a huge load off care teams. Patients, in turn, may also see a reduction in their medical expenses, as telemedicine and other similar services become available.
- Increased security and accessibility. Digitalization can help hospitals gradually reduce the number of paper records and, consequently, ensure less information is lost. It also helps safeguard sensitive patient data more efficiently.
- More precise diagnostics and treatment. New tech solutions are capable of aiding healthcare professionals by introducing imaging software, AI, and other tools that can greatly increase the quality of diagnostics. Such software can also help draft and optimize treatment plans with respect to each patient’s medical history.
Most popular types of healthcare software
Considering how diverse consumers’ needs are, the number of different types of software used in healthcare is only growing. Certain kinds of platforms and applications, however, command a large portion of the market. Here, we will outline what software is used in healthcare and what app types are at peak popularity.
1. Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
This type of software confidently dominates the market when it comes to platforms for hospitals and other health institutions. In a nutshell, EHR systems are used for storing patients’ information: their complete medical history, doctor visits, prescriptions, and, in some cases, they even provide payment and invoicing options. EHRs help greatly improve information accessibility and security, and many countries have started considering making their use obligatory for hospitals.
Read also: EHR Systems: Key Features, Capabilities, and Adoption Tips
2. Hospital Management Systems (HMSs)
Being a more multifaceted version of EHRs, these platforms focus on the organizational aspects of a hospital. They help manage inventories, finances, rooms and beds, as well as accounting, and they also frequently integrate with EHRs to provide more information about patients. In some cases, HMS systems can help with appointment booking and managing doctors’ schedules.
3. Telemedicine software
Among all the types of software used in the healthcare industry, telemedicine is one of the most fast-growing. Statista reports that in 2024, 116 million patients worldwide have already attended doctor consultations online. It’s a leap from the 57 million back in 2019 that was sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic and continued booming due to the ease and availability of online healthcare. Telemedicine platforms allow users to connect with their selected doctors via video or audio calls, as well as over text, pay for appointments online, and obtain electronic prescriptions.
4. Practice Management Software (PMS)
PMS solutions are comprehensive tools that help clinics manage their workflow and operations. One of the main benefits of such software is the specialized features many of them offer: there are PMS systems for the dental sector, ophthalmology, and other specialties. This kind of software can also integrate with a clinic’s surrounding pharmacies and labs to streamline prescription management, organize documentation, and share patient records.
5. Medical billing software
This type of software for healthcare tailors accounting digitalization to the medical sector. Such solutions simplify financial processes for hospitals and other healthcare institutions by organizing invoices and enabling payment functionality. It also frequently comes as a part of a larger system, such as EHR or PMS.
6. Pharmacy and medication management software
Pharmacies face the challenge of rigorous inventory management, and pharmacy management software can greatly assist with tracking expiry dates and storage conditions for different medications. Such systems can also automate billing and prescription processing. Hospitals, on their end, can benefit from similar software to manage medications, keep track of administration schedules, and make it easier to detect potential drug interactions.
7. Medical imaging software
This kind of software is required to process and analyze the results of certain imaging tests, such as MRI, PET, or CT. Such systems offer 3D modeling functionality, as well as tools for designing, prototyping, and printing 3D components for prosthetics or devices.
8. Health tracking apps
If you’re considering medical software development, health tracking apps present one of the most flexible and desired options in the field. These applications can help users manage their activity levels, diet, sleep habits — the potential features reach as far as your imagination. A subset of such apps is also used to monitor diseases: patients can use specialized software to keep track of their symptoms, prescriptions, medical events, and treatment history.
9. Wearable devices
With the Internet of Things being an ever-present trend in software development, it’s no wonder the healthcare industry has jumped on the bandwagon as well. There is a growing pool of health apps that integrate with wearables and other IoT devices. Such software typically comes with the possibility of real-time tracking of a person’s heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen, and blood sugar levels.
Read also: Predictive Medicine with IoT Wearables: Benefits and Use Cases
Things to consider in healthcare software development
Healthcare software development can present immense potential and variety, but it comes with its challenges. We’ve prepared several points to keep in mind before your app takes off — and a couple of recommendations on how to approach them.
Regulatory compliance
A paramount point in healthcare solutions development is ensuring your software will comply with the rigorous regulations in the field. The laws can vary from country to country, but there are several main regulatory acts that you will need to comply with if your app is set to be released for the EU and American markets.
One of such regulations is HIPAA — the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. HIPAA dictates crucial privacy requirements in handling medical data to protect patients against unlawful or discriminatory conduct. Although this is only an American regulation, a company must be HIPAA-compliant if it plans to interact with healthcare data of American residents in any way. Similarly, the EU market is regulated by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
In order to avoid penalties, put your customers’ confidentiality first and invest time into researching the applicable laws. Gaining relevant certifications and compliance badges can not only make your application secure but boost its reliability in users’ eyes.
Data security and privacy
Handling patients’ medical history and, depending on the functionality of your application, financial information comes with a great responsibility. Before you create healthcare software, consider what security requirements and privacy protocols you will put in place to ensure your solution is safe and reliable.
To achieve the best results, information security must be observed on several levels, including technical safety measures and data handling policies. Here are a couple of points to consider implementing:
- Develop clear guidelines on how information must be processed. Giving access to data on the need-to-know basis and providing security training to your employees can go a long way towards reducing the number of human errors.
- Implement sufficient encryption, multi-step authentication, and session expiry periods for all systems that allow it.
- Develop healthcare software together with a development company that shows sufficient expertise in designing robust security measures for their applications.
Interoperability
There are numerous types of healthcare software, but the efficiency of all of them is defined by how easily data can be shared among all the necessary systems. This ability to exchange and use information is called interoperability.
In the medical sector, interoperability is vital. It can positively affect patient care and response times, while the lack thereof in an application may result in the solution being isolated or even completely unusable. So, when developing a healthcare app, make sure it will allow hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, labs, and other relevant units to share data quickly and securely.
How to develop healthcare software
So far, we’ve discussed the peculiarities of technology in the medical field. Now let’s get down to business and explore how to develop healthcare software in six detailed steps.
1. Define your vision and goals
When developing software for healthcare, the first step is to decide what you’d like to achieve, who represents your target audience, and what kind of needs your software is going to meet. The idea doesn’t have to be perfectly detailed yet, but you need to draft the general vision and goals.
2. Create a development plan
Once you have a solid understanding of how the system should look and behave, it’s time to partner up with a software development company. Developing medical software can be a complicated endeavor, and a software company will help determine the technology and operational requirements, as well as compose the development plan.
3. Settle on the final design
When the plan is in place, the development team can start wireframing and present a couple of initial prototypes for you to decide on for the final look and feel. Custom healthcare software solutions might feel generic unless you deliver sufficient personalization, so this is the time to flourish with your research. Getting into the mindset of your target audience can bring you closer to understanding what interface and app mechanics will be intuitive to use.
4. Start developing and testing
Software development in healthcare works best when done in iterations: you can start by building a pilot version of the app, testing it, and adjusting according to the feedback you receive. Focus on rolling out the core features you can build upon later. This approach helps the development team deliver the product faster and significantly reduces development costs.
When the solution is ready, make sure to test its components separately, as well as how they function together, to iron out any bugs before launch.
Thinking of healthcare software development?
We at Eastern Peak can help you build a unique, safe, and compliant healthcare software solution that enhances patient care, streamlines operations, and ensures data security.
5. Launch the app and gather feedback
The final step in development is to deploy your application. Once it goes live, the main job is to gather users’ feedback and deliver swift support and fixes if necessary. Custom healthcare solutions are primarily used by professionals in the field, as well as users with particular medical needs, so keeping open feedback channels can grant you invaluable insights into improvement opportunities and ultimately lift your software above the competition.
6. Maintain and update your software
Software development for healthcare doesn’t end on the day of the launch. After your application hits the market, it’s a continuous process to maintain, scale, and update it. The healthcare industry is fast-paced, so make sure to stay informed about the latest changes in medical practices, regulations, and requirements, and roll out respective updates and new features swiftly.
Also, the post-production period is the time to consider where your product is heading. In addition to regular troubleshooting, you may also start thinking about performance optimization and scaling as you gain more users.
How to get started?
Healthcare software solutions development is a multi-step process. To get your software to the market, you need to
- decide on the type of the application or platform you’d like to build;
- research your target audience, their needs, preferences, and expectations;
- identify the tech stack needed for a particular type of application; and
- develop the software and ensure its compliance with numerous regulations in the field.
It might seem like an insurmountable task, but you don’t have to venture into it alone.
Contact us if you’re looking to develop a custom healthcare software solution. Our experienced team will help you convert your vision to reality and build a reliable, safe, and compliant medical app that will guide millions on their journey to a healthier life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is healthcare software?
Healthcare software is a range of solutions that help digitalize all kinds of medical services and processes in the healthcare industry. Healthcare institutions can use it to store patients’ information electronically, reduce their paperwork, improve diagnostics, and help more patients via telemedicine. Additionally, healthcare software solutions grant patients such features as real-time health tracking with wearable devices, medication management, and symptom tracking.
How much does it cost to develop healthcare software?
Every app is unique, and the average development cost will vary depending on what you want to achieve and what platforms to target. It’s also important to remember that different types of software used in the healthcare industry will present different complexity and technology requirements. Considering the price also depends on your desired features and target platforms, it’s always better to contact your chosen software development company for a precise quote.
What pricing models are common for healthcare software solutions?
Most healthcare software applications offer subscription plans, the one-time purchase option, or pricing based on the actual usage of the app. You can also consider building a free application with additional paid features or instilling per-user pricing.
What compliance regulations must healthcare software follow?
Software solutions for healthcare are under tremendous scrutiny due to the sensitivity of data they process and store. Healthcare software must comply with HIPAA, HITECH, FHIR, HL7, FFDCA, and GDPR, to name a few. These regulations vary by country, so make sure to review the applicable laws in your target countries of operation.
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