The Healthcare industry was the first one affected by the pandemic. COVID-19 caused restrictions, making it hard for patients to attend clinics and wait in queues for hours until they could finally book an appointment. At the same time, the entire world faced digitalisation, making it easier for businesses to enter the space with apps and websites.
Latest reports show that 70% of people around the world at the age of 18 use the Internet, while approximately 42% of the adult population used the Web from smartphones last year. These numbers have more than doubled this year. That is because people prefer apps and websites over physical stores and now use software for almost any task in their life.
While some clinics were stressed by the changes in the field, some were able to start the software development process as soon as possible. Now they have successful applications that are used by millions of users all across the world. Even though the health situation in the world seems to slowly improve, people will tend to use the software more and more. So now you still have time to enter the digital space with your product.
If this isn’t enough, let’s explore the top reasons to consider software development for any modern clinic.
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Easy Appointment Booking Process
Before COVID-19, patients had to visit the hospital and wait in long queues just to get an appointment. And even after hours in the long queues, it seems almost impossible to get an appointment the day you come, starting the process once again. As a result, clinics finally started to book appointments through calls, which led to a growing demand for calls. Although phone calls have made the process easier and shorter, modern users don’t like them.
As a result, clinics and hospitals felt the need to provide more efficient solutions – mobile applications. Most of these apps are designed especially to allow users to quickly and easily book an appointment with a doctor. These apps do not require calls and offer a vast choice for users, so they can filter doctors and find the perfect day for them.
Easier Access to Medical Records
Having a mobile app allows patients and doctors to avoid paper records. Therefore, patients can now visit the doctors and show all previous information regarding their health and procedures without worrying about misplacing the report or forgetting it at home.
The same happens for doctors since apps allow them to conveniently keep all patient data in one place and reduce human mistakes. In addition, there is an Electronic Mobile Records (EMR) App that allows patients to show/transfer medical records at any given moment.
Easy Bill Payments
Paying medical bills has never been easy for patients. Not only because of cost but also because it takes too much time for the patient to pay the bill. In order for payment to pay, the Hospital Staff has to manually take payments while also maintaining track of patients’ bills.
Patients should also wait in long queues to finish their payments. If your mobile app supports online payments, you will save lots of time for both – your staff and patients. In addition, it also boosts payment security if the app is based on blockchain, keeping easy track of all payments.
Self-Assessment in Remote Areas
If your patients can’t visit the clinic psychically for some reason, they can seek professional assistance online. This remote consultation has already been used by many hospitals during COVID-19 since it was an excellent choice for patients as well. These applications can provide video or audio calls, while some only contain a chat feature, allowing patients to get a quick consultation with a healthcare provider in case of an emergency.
In addition, IoT devices have also been connected to these apps. This way, doctors can easily monitor patients’ weight, blood sugar level, blood pressure, cholesterol level etc., to learn the progress of the treatment.
IoT in Healthcare Apps
As we already mentioned, The Internet of Things (IoT) things technology has also been applied by many clinics. When these devices are combined with mobile healthcare apps, they can deliver the best services. The IoT-based applications and services can also be connected to advanced medical equipment that monitors the patient’s body.
If you need mHealth development, consider using team augmentation services to save money, boost the process and get specialists in this tricky industry. For example, Deazy is a developer marketplace that connects you with hand-picked, high-quality development teams to provide broad technical expertise and deliver your innovation roadmap with ease.
Available Across Devices
Healthcare apps bring extra convenience. They are designed for any device, like tablets, smartphones or wearable devices. Since all these devices can also be connected, it only simplifies the entire treatment process for everyone.
Effective Promotion
A mobile App can also become an excellent marketing tool. That is because it keeps your users informed about the latest news, offers discounts, provides useful information about their health and so on. There are so many clinics and apps, so you are located in the middle of a storm, making it essential for you to promote your services and grow brand awareness. This can be done using push notifications, but make sure you carefully send them, as no one wants numerous notifications during the day.
Final Thoughts
The Healthcare industry experiences many changes. In 2019 clinics and hospitals found out that they now need to digitise their business. While some companies have already developed apps for patients, some are still waiting. Time is essential in the market. In addition, you can see how many benefits the mHealth app can bring you in our guide to make your final decision.
