The use of technology and automatic healthcare industry tools are growing business opportunities. One of these tools is the development of mobile apps for patients. These applications have been able to streamline the hospital workflow easily and effectively. Patients who have access to mobile applications can seek a prescription, cure for their illnesses, medication details, etc. Everything has become much easier and sufficient with the help of mobile phones, computers, tablets, and electronic devices.
Wearable devices are becoming very popular as well, like smartwatches and monitoring devices for patients. These apps can easily tell the various aspects of your health. This includes total step count, heart rates, blood pressure, etc. According to recent reports, the mobile app development market for patients will reach a high of 100 billion dollars by the year 2025. There are several different mobile apps for patients and the future will see even more.
In this article, we have explained in detail the use of mobile apps for patients and what benefits, challenges, and costs the organization will have to keep in mind. Because this has become a serious need of the hour.
What is a Hospital mobile app?
This application is specifically built to give patients the best medical solutions, using electronic gadgets and devices, such as mobile phones, computers, electronic watches, etc. Any kind of medical information can be saved in these apps.
Patient management apps stand for delivering the best treatment and healthcare services to the patients using telecommunication and multimedia modes.
Who uses these mobile app services the most in a healthcare facility?
The main use of mobile apps is to initiate electronic help to doctors, hospitals, diagnostic centers, etc. for providing treatment. Hospital mobile apps are also used to educate students and patients about disease-related physician studies and their undergoing treatments.
Hospital apps for patients serve as an important part of the healthcare industry. These help healthcare providers and patients with transmitting, acquiring, processing, storing, and keeping medical data safe from third parties. Therefore with the use of these applications, healthcare providers and patients can both gain more effectiveness.
Types of mobile apps for patients -
The use of gadgets and technologies in the healthcare sector have for sure made new and much better ways for finding cures and treatments for patients. There are different mobile applications for patients to choose from:
1. Remote patient monitoring
2. Lifestyle apps
3. Clinical diagnostic apps
4. Productivity apps
5. Reference apps
1. Remote patient monitoring apps -
Remote patient monitoring has become a possibility due to the growing digital possibilities in the world. Patient mobile apps have monitoring devices installed in them, helping monitor all the activity a patient has made. These apps allow providers to treat patients from any corner of the world. Remote patient monitoring apps can show blood pressure, heart rates, vital signs, etc to the physician.
2. Lifestyle apps -
Lifestyle apps are used by patients to acquire a healthier lifestyle. The application can make use of the health bars of a patient, such as total step count, diet plans, heart rate, etc. This information helps physicians track the patient’s disease better.
3. Clinical diagnostic apps -
With the help of clinical diagnostic apps, patients can send their health data to physicians. They can then analyze the data and share their response with the patient. Lab reports, EHR, and digital images can be shared via this app. The best way to use these apps is by checking the symptoms and finding a possible diagnosis for the illness.
4. Productivity apps -
With the use of patient mobile apps, physicians, doctors, and other healthcare providers can deliver the best diagnosis for their patients. These apps have charting systems, facilities for remote healthcare and are completely safe by HIPAA compliance.
5. Reference apps -
Patients will no longer have to for a good reference for their treatments, With the help of reference apps, patients can get the latest information straight into their hands, like E&M codes, etc.
Benefits of Mobile apps for patients -
Mobile apps for patients have a lot of benefits, this is why they are used by so many.
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Medical commitment.
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Remote patient monitoring facilities.
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New modes of communication.
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The efficiency with physicians.
1. Medical commitment -
With the use of the top medical apps for patients, healthcare services include educating patients about the medicines, sending them reminders, giving pill information, refiling reminders, etc. These applications have made it easier for patients to adhere to their medicines and avoid making bad medical choices. The number of hospital readmissions has also decreased.
2. Remote patient monitoring facilities -
This is one of the most important things about hospital mobile apps for patients, remote monitoring. Since the widespread of Covid-19, patients have wanted more secure ways to get medical treatment. With telehealth apps for patients, the communication process becomes much easier, via video and phone calls.
The right understanding of diseases needs to be made to find the right cure and treatment. The data recovered from wearable devices will also help physicians treat patients effectively.
3. Communication modes -
Mobile apps for patients have communication modes from one end to another. These are chatting services, messaging, video calling, etc. Since the application is HIPAA compliant, all the modes are entirely safe to use.
4. Efficiency with providers -
With the development of doctor-patient apps, the healthcare efficiency of providers has improved. The burden has been reduced from patients and providers to make face-to-face conversations. It has also allowed providers the ability to access the complete medical state of patients.
All of this sounds very promising, but while developing the best mobile apps for patients, one can face numerous challenges.
Challenges of mobile apps for patients -
When we talk about the drawbacks of a software system, it is important to learn in detail about the consequences these mobile apps can have on your organization. After stating the pros, the cons need to be added.
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Compliance issues
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Cross-platform availability
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Security issues
1. Compliance issues -
This one of the most frequently faced issues when it comes to mobile apps for patients. These issues are mostly faced due to HIPAA and HITECH issues. Every country and region have their own healthcare regulations, these are according to the requirements and the prevailing conditions.
Most countries follow HIPAA compliance when it comes to developing a mobile app for patients. Countries like Canada follow the development rules of PIPEDA guidelines. All regions have their own regulatory sets for providing healthcare services. If an app fails to follow these guidelines, then it can face huge penalties.
2. Cross-platform availability -
Every sector is growing according to their needs. Digitalizing products have become important, but with this comes the question of the interoperability of apps in the healthcare sector. Being able to provide you applications on different gadgets, platforms, etc. has become difficult. Most of the time it is due to security reasons but other times the lack of knowledge.
3. Security problems -
Security is one of the main concerns when it comes to using of developing a mobile application. These apps have patient’s medical data, condition charts, treatment processes, etc. all play a very important role in any hospital.
A lot of the time, secured data and PHIs are compromised. With the fast growth in digital facilities, it is becoming hard to keep up with data security.
Conclusion
The need for hospitals to develop mobile apps for their patients will only increase with the increase in the use of technologies. These apps when used properly can bring effectiveness and increase patient outcomes easily.
Mobile apps for patients have crossed all records in reaching a better future. These apps will bring in new business opportunities as well.