An extensively digitalized healthcare alongside with COVID-19 consequences has accelerated not just the growth of the mobile device sector alone. The entire healthcare industry is bustling.
Improving the quality of health services, healthcare mobile platforms have gained even more popularity among smartphone holders.
The mHealth apps, which were available in the Google Play Store in December 2021, reached a total of 53,054 items. The Apple App Store showed nearly the same 53,979 applications ready to be downloaded to the customers’ portable devices.
The competition is tough and, therefore, new apps should have a competitive edge to stand out.
In this article, we will give a brief overview of the mobile medical app industry. We will also define the latest trends in healthcare mobile app development.
On top of that, we are going to take a closer look at the Vinci Labs platform – a company that implements medical device integration software.
We will also describe how TBR Group partners up with the Vinci Labs medical device integration software platform.
Top 5 trends in healthcare mobile app development
In the app stores, you are expected to discover a great variety of healthcare applications.
Some mobile medical applications are particularly designed for medical professionals. Others aimed to meet the patients’ needs.
Here come a few examples of the medical workers’ apps:
- a medical networking app Daily Rounds App Store / Google Play;
- a telehealth app Doctor On Demand App Store / Google Play;
- a medical records app RXNT App Store / Google Play;
The patient-oriented apps:
- a health monitoring WebMD App Store / Google Play;
- a medical education app Medscape App Store / Google Play;
- a medication tracker ScriptSave WellRx Rx Discounts App Store / Google Play;
- a dieting app Fooducate App Store / Google Play;
- a healthy lifestyle app Remente App Store / Google Play.
It is required to consider law regulations as well.
An indispensable condition for releasing a healthcare mobile app in the USA, Canada, and across the countries of the European Union is its law regulations observance.
Thus, legal compliance with the HIPAA act, FDA control, and the data protection services CCPA and GDPR should undoubtedly be taken on board.
Concerning the structure of the healthcare mobile platform, two variants of mobile medical applications are usually available. Each contains a bit different set of functionalities.
The admin panel version can be available as well. In this case, the system admin can supervise the working process on the whole and ensure its correct performance.
Which trends are now shaping up the mobile healthcare industry?
#1 Trend – Artificial Intelligence
As an integral part of the entire healthcare system, Artificial intelligence is revamping the way physicians practice medicine.
AI helps doctors:
- diagnose multiple diseases;
- define a set of necessary treatment methods;
- predict better medication results for the patients;
- much else.
Integrated into the healthcare mobile applications, artificial intelligence technologies facilitate users’ obtaining and managing health-related data.
AI technology offers a scope of valuable opportunities. Such as:
- symptom checking apps can help users get an initial diagnosis;
- health checkers help patients decide whether there is a necessity to see a specialist, and if so which doctor to refer to;
- intelligent chatbots are helpful to answer various patients’ queries;
- AI app programmes can assist in receiving valuable health data to be further properly stored, etc.
BasicAI is a data collection AI and ML mobile application.
BasicAI mobile app – “Submit task” and “Task detail application” pages.
#2 Trend – Virtual reality
Both augmented reality and virtual reality are considered to deliver real-life experiences.
In the healthcare area, they assist in teaching a trainee on getting through different medical tasks having no actual human body around.
The technology proves to be indispensable in tackling various pains, especially while laboring. It can also be used by stroke victims to efficiently regain their mobility.
The VR and AR technologies can be implemented in a variety of applications for mobile phones. This allows to investigate and examine new options when socializing with users.
Complete Anatomy mobile application 2024 App Store / Google Play is a complete anatomy reference book with creative tools including virtual dissection.
Complete Anatomy app – “Groundbreaking Female Model” and “Simulate Cadaveric Dissection” pages.
#3 Trend – Telemedicine
Telemedicine turned out to be a much-needed tool, gaining popularity as an ultimate option used by both patients and doctors.
Telemedicine apps have boosted sharing the online data between them.
Addressing common health issues, patients can be advised by doctors and medically prescribed out of a clinic. It ensures immediate contactless attention.
This tool saves a ton of a patient’s time, while doctors can keep to the daily routine much more efficiently.
Seeking a professional consultation, healthcare experts and specialists can be reached at any time.
Telemedicine apps have come into widespread use, providing easy access for doctors of different specialities.
AMBOSS App Store / Google Play app is an AI knowledge base. The application allows users to get answers to various medical inquiries and perform prior diagnostics.
AMBOSS mobile app – “Master every speciality” and “Explore content seamlessly” pages.
#4 Trend – Blockchain
Blockchain in healthcare has drastically moved forward in the area.
Following this tendency, applications have proved to be more secured, with online transactions becoming much quicker and safer.
This is likely to advance medical bill online payments, eliminating a physical queueing up.
A chance to pay online will facilitate the payment process and provide more security to it.
Blockchain technology will reduce unsolicited use of patients’ data kept in the application.
Exchange and storage of the medical data are readily available.
Accompanied by the possibility to make records, Blockchain technology helps to diminish blunders, forgery, stealing and losing the data.
Through Blockchain solutions, an extra tool has emerged to efficiently cope with healthcare problems, covering clinical trials, drug control, and keeping medical records.
Reply gives data concerning blockchain technology in healthcare mobile applications.
Reply project – “Healthcare Blockchain Applications” and “Blockchain Applications” sections.
#5 Trend – Integration with 3rd party devices
Third-party device and software integration means an extension of a device’s functionality by means of analyzing, processing, and storing the data with the help of existing software.
Through an application programming interface (API), the existing 3rd party device can be integrated into the software in question.
Any type of device can be connected to the software to obtain and process new data, automating the delivery and saving operational time.
These include, but not limited to pulse oximeter, weighing scale, digital stethoscope, portable ECG, spirometer, and B.P. monitor.
The above-mentioned devices are updated and patients’ EHR data is secured and stored, which is advantageous for both a patient and a doctor.
Hence, the users’ and clients’ demands define the trends and main tech and non-tech requirements for mobile apps.
Apple Watch app makes it possible to pair and sync a personal Apple Watch with the iPhone.
Apple Watch mobile app – “All watches” and “Add Watch Face” sections.
The Vinci Labs platform
Vinci Labs is a community of medical doctors, business people, and software engineers.
Vinci Labs company is focused on providing the API solution to get the 3rd party digital medical devices integrated into the standalone software product or service.
Vinci Labs offers users to choose either between the API’s option or go for an application variant.
Ensuring the correct performance of the medical device integration software, Vinci Labs handles the whole integration process. So, Vinci Labs:
- carries out the device updates;
- protects sensitive information;
- makes sure EHR data is stored highly secured.
The key features the Vinci Labs Platform offers:
- Native 3rd Party Device Integration;
- Modular API;
- Customized Standalone Application;
- EHR Data Storage and Analytics.
Vinci Labs platform – “Modular API’s” and “Native 3rd Party Device Integration” sections.
Vinci Labs platform – “EHR Data Storage and Analytics” and “Customized Standalone Application” sections.
By applying the above, the Vinci Labs platform makes it possible for healthcare organizations to ensure quality and seamless digital care accessible to their patients and customers through the use of technology.
Vinci Labs platform – “Enable Your Platform For Real Time Virtual Care” and “Perform Remote Patient Monitoring and Homecare” sections.
Currently, Vinci Labs is on its MVP stage, getting through a steady development process.
While the front-end was entirely accomplished by TBR Group, a third-party technical partner worked on the backend programming part.
Given this, on the backend, it was decided to implement an algorithm for scanning and analyzing data from the 3rd party devices.
The algorithm in question contributed to the subsequent creating of charts, diagrams, and other data storage modules.
Consequently, the implemented options referred to measuring the user’s temperature, blood pressure and pulse, as well as other health indicators.
Vinci Labs makes it possible to obtain a platform demo version.
The challenge & solution
The main goal of the project was to keep detailed statistics of the patient’s health indicators during treatment and provide an easy way for patients to enter medical data.
We have developed a mobile application that allows patients to enter data from devices without thinking about the meaning of certain indicators, since data can be uploaded simply by taking a photo of the device. Also application provides a way to interact with health indicators statistics by interactive charts. Charts support data scaling and different date ranges.
One of the challenges we faced while developing is to show on the charts measurements that was made outside healthy range. To achieve this, we added a custom coloring for line chart which depends on measurements data and health indicators ranges.
Summary
Actively expanding, the mobile healthcare industry has definitely established its presence in the market niche.
Hot trends like AI, telemedicine, and 3rd party device integration are outlining the basic technical requirements for a brand new mobile app to be delivered.
Respectively, mHealth has influenced the efficiency, communication options, costs, and even quality of healthcare services.
TBR Group IT Development company has already obtained vast experience in building complicated medical apps.
Solving technical challenges, TBR Group works out a general, step-by-step procedure to craft your unique healthcare or medical mobile app.
Depending on the technical specifications, our software engineers team tracks down and utilizes various frameworks and tools, as well as programming languages to efficiently carry out the project.
We make sure, that at each design stage, the communication between our development team and the client company remains stable and as if led nominally.
Feel free to contact us at any convenient time. Through get In touch form, you are most welcome to share your mobile app concept. And indeed, there is always a perfect way to start.