Rapid technological advances are allowing healthcare providers to offer services previously only available in hospitals or other specialized facilities. Today, telemedicine is becoming an increasingly popular way for doctors to keep up with the latest developments in their field and help people get the care they need. Physicians can use this cutting-edge tool to diagnose patients, prescribe medications and even perform surgery from a distance. But how do you develop a telemedicine application? This blog will tell you exactly that.
Why Telemedicine Has Become a Need?
Telemedicine is one of the best alternatives to in-person doctor visits. It is a remote clinical health service that helps people get healthcare anywhere at any time. Telemedicine applications allow patients to connect with a physician or health care professional via video, instant messaging, email, and phone calls.
- The total value of telemedicine market is anticipated to increase from 79.79 billion USD in 2020 to 396.76 billion USD in 2027.
- According to a study, female patients have a higher likelihood of scheduling a telemedicine appointment (63% in 2019 and 2020).
Telemedicine applications are typically used by patients who want to consult their doctors remotely. The primary objective of this telehealth service is to help people get healthcare from any place and at any time. It is a growing health trend in the United States and many other countries.
Additionally, various applications allow you to book appointments with your doctor, view lab test results, make payments for services, request refills on prescriptions, share your medical history with your doctor so they can better understand you, and communicate with your primary care physician if needed.
When compared to traditional in-person visits, telemedicine appointments save patients more than a hundred minutes of their time.
Patient's Need for Telemedicine
According to a survey carried out in 15 of the most significant cities in the United States, new patients have to wait an average of 24 days to be seen by a physician. Because of this, one in three patients chose to go to the ER instead of their doctor’s office to avoid long waits and the trouble of making an appointment.
- Nearly 82% of patients surveyed said that new technology should make getting medical care just as easy as getting an Uber or ordering takeout.
- 77% of patients would like text messaging to communicate with their doctors.
- · 69% of patients prefer mobile device-based virtual appointments to in-person consultations with their doctors.
Doctor's Need for Telemedicine
By using telemedicine apps, doctors can address the following challenges:
- The constant stress of reducing expenses
- Complying with legal requirements
- Maintaining a consistent schedule
- Their work-life balance is impacted by their inability to manage their time effectively
Benefits of Telemedicine Application
Telemedicine apps are a great way to connect people with doctors and can be used in various settings. Telemedicine apps are convenient for patients and doctors because they allow patients to receive medical care remotely. Here are a few benefits of telemedicine application for both patients and doctors;
1. Receive Consultation in the Comfort of Your Home
Telemedicine allows patients to receive treatment without having to go through the hassle of scheduling appointments and waiting at their doctors’ offices. Instead, they can use their phone or computer while on the go. This allows them more time with their families, friends, and loved ones instead of sitting in an office waiting room for hours before seeing a doctor who may only spend five minutes with them at most before sending them home again.
2. Ease for People Living in Rural Areas
Telemedicine applications are especially useful for people living in rural areas where there aren’t any nearby medical facilities available like urban areas tend to have (like hospitals). Doctors will be able to consult patients remotely using video conferencing technology similar.
3. Convenience
The best thing about telehealth mobile apps is that they can be used by anyone, regardless of age or location. This makes them very appealing to both patients and medical professionals alike. Telemedicine apps provide a way for healthcare providers to connect with their patients remotely, saving time and money and increasing convenience.
4. Cost Effectiveness for Doctors
The cost savings of using telemedicine technologies also make them appealing to healthcare providers, who need to cut costs if they want to stay competitive in today’s world of medicine.
Using telemedicine, doctors can save between $19 and $121 per telemedicine consultation.
5. Flexible Timetable for Doctors
Doctors have a limited time, and providing an exact timetable of their availability is essential. When doctors enter their practices online, they can open time slots whenever available, improving their work-life balance and reducing their stress levels.
Limitations of Telemedicine Application
Telemedicine applications are a great way to reach people who would otherwise be unable to access medical care, but they also have several limitations.
1. The Essence of Human Touch
Telemedicine applications are not a substitute for in-person doctor visits; they cannot replace the human touch.
2. Specialized Equipment
AI can identify brain chemistry-related mental health concerns. Dementia. Alzheimer’s inhibits thinking memory and communication. These diseases may develop for years undiagnosed. Early detection is one of the most successful dementia treatments.
Telehealth is also expensive because of the specialized equipment needed to implement it and the coordination required between providers and patients.
3. Communication Issues
Telemedicine services may not always be available or reliable in remote areas with poor infrastructure or technical difficulties that make communication difficult between providers and patients.
Must-Have Features of a Telemedicine Application
While developing a mobile telemedicine application, you need to consider the following things into consideration before going live with your app;
Security
The app should be secure for users and have a robust security system in place. It must protect patient information and data from unauthorized access or misuse.
Ease of Use
The user interface (UI) is the most important aspect of any mobile application because it affects the overall user experience. Making sure that your UI is easy to use will help you retain more users who may otherwise drop off after trying an app that is difficult to understand, navigate or operate.
Availability on Multiple Platforms
Your telemedicine application should be available on all major operating systems, such as iOS, Android, Windows Phone, etc., so people can use them on whichever device they own.
Tips to Follow for Building a Telemedicine Application
If you follow these tips, you can take advantage of telehealth technology effectively and also can outperform your competitors in this space.
- Hire skilled and experienced developers for your project.
- Have a clear idea about the services that you want to offer through your application.
- Consider the cost of developing an application before making any decision.
- Consider the time it will take to develop an application and its maintenance requirements in the future, as well as other factors like security, scalability, etc., while planning to build a telemedicine app.
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Planning Phase of Development
- Before selecting a programming language, you need to understand what type of services you want to offer through your app.
- Before you can start building a telemedicine application, you need to choose a programming language that is best suited for your app. You need to know the type of services you want to offer through your app and who you would like to attract to your app.
For example, suppose your application needs to be accessible to older adults who have not used technology much before. In that case, it makes sense for them to use a simple interface and an easy-to-use programming language such as Ruby on Rails or Python.
However, suppose most of your clients are tech-savvy millennials who are comfortable using smartphones as well as other gadgets like VR headsets or smartwatches. In that case, it would be more suitable for you to use something more advanced such as AngularJS or React Native.
Telemedicine Application development
As soon as you’ve determined what your app will accomplish and how it will work, we can begin developing and launching it.
1. Software Architecture and Business Analysis
This may involve supplemental services such as research on the market and its competitors. The creation of a product backlog that includes a detailed explanation of the app’s functionality, the system logic, and the project architecture is a necessary aspect of this stage.
2. User Interface
App designs are developed based on a backlog and the concept of a telemedicine app.
3. Coding
When it comes to the telemedicine application development, this step is when your preferred programming language comes into play. An app’s initial release may focus on fundamental functionality to get it into the hands of consumers as soon as possible and then iterate from there. Alternatively, a full-featured telemedicine platform can be implemented all at once.
Conclusion
According to a survey, with telemedicine services, 85% of patients are satisfied. So, it is definitely a good idea to enter into this business. If you are thinking about developing a mobile telemedicine application, then you should hire skilled and experienced developers. You can also outsource your project to a development company with rich experience in this field.
FAQs
How much does it cost to build a telemedicine app? ›
The telemedicine app development cost varies from $75,000 to $250,000. The price depends on a number of factors including the type of application, its complexity, the kind of team, its technical level, and location.
What would make a successful telehealth app? ›- Artificial Intelligence. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is disrupting a lot of markets, and telemedicine is no exemption. ...
- Internet of Things. ...
- Remote Patient Monitoring. ...
- Cloud Storage of Patient Data. ...
- Blockchain. ...
- Data analytics.
Electronic medical records software (EMR), often used interchangeably with electronic health records software (EHR), is a collection of features and tools that allows a healthcare provider to create, store, and update patients' digital health records easily and more securely than paper charts.
How do you create a mobile health app? ›- Step 1 – Do Market Analysis. As clear as it is, your healthcare app will be a waste of time if it is not valuable. ...
- Step 2 – Study Your Audience. ...
- Step 3 – Choose App Type. ...
- Step 4 – Create Design. ...
- Step 5 - Make it HIPAA Compliant. ...
- Step 6 – Build MVP.
Telemedicine carts usually come equipped with computers, monitors, keyboards, cameras, and mobile medical devices, like digital scopes and wearable monitors. Hospitals are also increasingly using technology like interactive patient engagement systems to improve patient education and streamline workflows.
How do healthcare apps make money? ›Digital health companies make money from their apps by requesting users to apply for the subscription model whereby users can access the most advanced features that are unavailable for free users. Some applications must be purchased before the user can download it on their mobile device.
What are some of the barriers to implementation of telehealth? ›Lack of insurer coverage of telehealth services (76 percent) Low or no reimbursement (64 percent) Technology challenges for my patient population (54 percent) Licensure in additional states (40 percent)
What factors should keep in mind while developing a telemedicine app like doctor on demand? ›Advancing technology can take telemedicine app development to a new level. However, the feature should have additional security because these data have sensitive information about patients. The integration of features and development time are two major factors to determine the cost of telemedicine app.
Why is telemedicine app important? ›A telemedicine app solution allows clinicians to expand their medical expertise to locations with no or limited access to physicians and adequate medical treatment, hence encouraging broad medical care.
How do I build a successful healthcare app? ›- Identify the Target Audience and Their Needs. The mobile healthcare app industry is already saturated as is. ...
- Pre-Development. ...
- Step 3. Development. ...
- Quality Assurance. ...
- Product Release and Continuous Support.
Why do healthcare apps fail? ›
Many health apps fail because they don't understand their target market. However, often, the cause runs deeper. Usually, these companies don't include people who have the right knowledge or information to ensure the tech works as it should.
Are medical apps profitable? ›Not only can medical app development improve healthcare but it can be profitable for the app owner.
What's the difference between telemedicine and telehealth? ›While telemedicine refers specifically to remote clinical services, telehealth can refer to remote non-clinical services, such as provider training, administrative meetings, and continuing medical education, in addition to clinical services.
What hardware and software is used for telemedicine? ›In many circumstances, the only hardware required to adopt telemedicine is the laptops, cellphones, and tablets that your clinic and your patients already own. For example, tablets can be used as a digital clipboard to keep thorough notes on patients' health that can be readily uploaded to EHR systems.
What is the technology behind telemedicine? ›Telehealth Technology
Several technologies are being deployed for telehealth including mHealth (or mobile health), video and audio technologies, digital photography, remote patient monitoring (RPM), and store and forward technologies.
- Store-and-Forward Telemedicine. ...
- Remote Patient Monitoring. ...
- Real-time telemedicine.
The cost of quality, FDA-registered medical devices for basic primary care services can range from $500 to $5,000, and this would include devices such as examination cameras, ENT scopes, ECGs, and digital stethoscopes.
What is telemedicine kiosk? ›Medical Kiosk is an Interactive Health Monitoring device with user friendly applications. Medical kiosk is designed using advanced telemedicine technology and high end software programs. The device puts people in greater control of their own health, promoting a more proactive approach to health and wellness.
How do you monetize a mobile app? ›The most common way to monetize mobile apps is by running in-app ads. In fact, 50% of mobile gamers prefer free ad based games. This method offers a valuable source of revenue for apps that want to remain free in the app store. Providing content and ad formats relevant to your users can create a great user experience.
How do free mental health apps make money? ›How do Mental Health Apps Make Money? Some of the common monetization procedures of mental health apps are listed below: Pay to download: Users will have to pay to download and use the app. In-app purchases: Users can download the app free of cost but have to pay for certain features.
How do I monetize my mental health App? ›
...
There are several ways to make this money:
- From your related business activities.
- Government funding.
- Donations.
- Funding from professional investors.
- ROI from the app itself.
We'll look at four major obstacles that telemedicine will need to overcome in order to be fully and completely embraced by healthcare providers, policymakers, and the public: Defining what telemedicine means. Unraveling the insurance benefit and cost conundrum. Addressing rural internet bandwidth concerns.
What are the challenges of telemedicine? ›Some of the challenges impeding the application of telemedicine in developing countries include little or no connectivity in rural areas, slow growth and usage of telemedicine and requirement of additional training [21] . Lack of basic amenities in some countries is also a hindrance. ...
What are the limitations of telemedicine services? ›It isn't possible to do every type of visit remotely. You still have to go into the office for things like imaging tests and blood work, as well as for diagnoses that require a more hands-on approach. The security of personal health data transmitted electronically is a concern.
What is Doctor On Demand app? ›Doctor On Demand by Included Health lets you avoid the hassle, wait and cost of a walk in clinic, urgent care or ER. You can chat virtually through video with a doctor 365 days a year–weekends and holidays included. Below are some frequently asked questions about our app: When are doctors available?
How do I start telemedicine in my practice? ›- Familiarize yourself with telemedicine laws in your state. ...
- Decide how to utilize telemedicine in your practice. ...
- Involve your staff. ...
- Find the right technology partner. ...
- Prepare for telemedicine startup costs. ...
- Measure your success.
- Control of Infectious Illness. ...
- Better Assessment. ...
- Family Connections. ...
- Primary Care and Chronic Condition Management.
What is Advance Telemedicine? We are a telemedicine provider that allows you to speak with one of our providers at the comfort of your own home through your smart phone or computer.
Is telemedicine expensive? ›Anyone who's gotten an expensive bill after visiting the doctor's office might wonder, “Are telehealth visits cheaper?” A telehealth consultation with a doctor is typically less expensive than an in-person visit to a doctor's office. It's a great way to reduce your healthcare costs.
How does telemedicine reduce costs? ›Savings through substitutions
A 2017 study found that telehealth visits cost patients an average of $79, compared to $146 for an office visit. That is in addition to savings associated with time and travel costs, estimated to total $89 billion a year in lost time.
Is telehealth cost effective for patients? ›
Telehealth realizes $361 in savings per patient or $8566 total service cost savings compared with traditional in-home care program over 6-months (~$13,713 per annum).
Why is telemedicine app important? ›A telemedicine app solution allows clinicians to expand their medical expertise to locations with no or limited access to physicians and adequate medical treatment, hence encouraging broad medical care.
What are three different types of telemedicine? ›- Store-and-Forward Telemedicine. ...
- Remote Patient Monitoring. ...
- Real-time telemedicine.
Disadvantages of Telemedicine for Patients
From a patient's perspective, there are a few drawbacks. If you require urgent or emergency care, telemedicine may delay your treatment. While doctors can provide information over a video call or an exchange of text messages, they cannot directly administer care.
Some of the challenges impeding the application of telemedicine in developing countries include little or no connectivity in rural areas, slow growth and usage of telemedicine and requirement of additional training [21] . Lack of basic amenities in some countries is also a hindrance. ...
Can telemedicine save hospitals money? ›A specialist visit via telehealth was $120 less than an in-person visit, and a virtual urgent care appointment was $141 less than going to an urgent care clinic. Additionally, utilizing virtual visits for urgent care reduced the use of unnecessary lab tests, which led to an average savings of $118 per episode of care.
How does telemedicine help in rural areas? ›One of the primary benefits of telehealth in rural areas is that it can help rural Americans overcome significant barriers to care, such as: Geographic distance from specialists and treatment centers. Minimal public transportation. Health care provider shortages.
How does telehealth impact the economy? ›Telehealth could save hospitals in rural parts of the country an average of $81,000 annually. But that economic impact would likely spread throughout the community, cutting down on travel costs for patients and boosting revenues for other healthcare providers.
Who developed a telemedicine system for use in combat zones and emergencies? ›NATO has developed a multinational telemedicine system, enabling medical specialists to provide real-time recommendations to first responders at emergency scenes or in combat zones.
What is telemedicine in healthcare? ›What does telehealth mean? Telehealth — sometimes called telemedicine — lets your health care provider provide care for you without an in-person office visit. Telehealth is done primarily online with internet access on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
What does cost effective mean? ›
adjective. Britannica Dictionary definition of COST–EFFECTIVE. [more cost–effective; most cost–effective] : producing good results without costing a lot of money.
What is the difference between telehealth and telemedicine? ›While telemedicine refers specifically to remote clinical services, telehealth can refer to remote non-clinical services, such as provider training, administrative meetings, and continuing medical education, in addition to clinical services.
How do I start telemedicine in my practice? ›- Familiarize yourself with telemedicine laws in your state. ...
- Decide how to utilize telemedicine in your practice. ...
- Involve your staff. ...
- Find the right technology partner. ...
- Prepare for telemedicine startup costs. ...
- Measure your success.
- Control of Infectious Illness. ...
- Better Assessment. ...
- Family Connections. ...
- Primary Care and Chronic Condition Management.