A guide to start developing a mobile health app

The rise of mobile applications is mainly due to the increasing adoption of smartphones and mobile devices around the world. Over time, smartphones have become more advanced and accessible, allowing mobile applications to become an essential part of everyday life.

Mobile apps offer a wide range of benefits to users, such as ease of use, accessibility, portability, and customization. Mobile apps are also an important tool for businesses, allowing them to reach their target audience more effectively and deliver high-quality, personalized experiences.

Furthermore, the use of mobile applications has increased significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as many people have had to work, study and socialize from home. Mobile apps have provided an easy and convenient way to do these activities from the comfort of your own home.

"More than 90,000 new digital health applications (apps) were added to application stores in 2020, which represents an average of more than 250 new applications per day", they reported in a Deloitte article, which shows the importance of that class of mobile applications today.

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Use of mobile applications in the health area

Mobile apps are having a significant impact on the healthcare industry as they are enabling patients to have greater control over their health and become more connected with their healthcare providers.

Among the use cases of mobile health apps are:

Health monitoring

Mobile apps allow patients to monitor their levels of physical activity, sleep, eating, glucose levels, blood pressure, and other important health factors.

“These applications have allowed citizens to interact with doctors through virtual visits, keep track of their general health metrics, and monitor and manage their health condition or symptoms remotely,” they added in the same Deloitte article.

Medication reminders

Mobile apps can send reminders to patients to take their medication at the right dose and frequency.

Access to medical information

Mobile apps can provide patients with up-to-date and easily accessible medical information, including symptoms, illnesses, treatments, medications, and medical test results.

Telemedicine

Mobile apps allow patients to conduct medical consultations online with their healthcare providers, reducing the need for in-person clinic visits.

Appointment management

Mobile apps allow patients to schedule and manage their medical appointments conveniently and efficiently.

 Most Popular Types of Mobile Health Apps

According to Digital Health Buzz magazine, these are the most popular app categories in the health area:

• Remote monitoring
• Diagnosis
• Management of health conditions
• Online consultations
• Fitness tracking
• Nutrition and weight loss
• Reminders and alerts
• Patient Health Records
• Fitness apps
• Pregnancy monitoring

Steps to start developing a mobile health application

First of all, apply these steps:

• Analyze the type of application you want or need to develop, such as the ones just described above.
• Evaluate technological trends in the area of mobile health apps.
• Determine the needs of your users to define the functionalities of the mobile app.
• Evaluate the design of the mobile app to offer the best experience to patients.
• Look for an experienced technology partner, preferably with experience in the healthcare industry.

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Then, you must go through the following phases:

Define the objectives and characteristics of the application

Start by defining your application goals and the features you want to include. Will the app be for health tracking, medical appointment management, or reporting on specific illnesses? Make sure you understand the needs and expectations of the users and how the application can meet them.

Research regulations and safety requirements

The healthcare industry is highly regulated and it is important to understand the regulations and security requirements before beginning development. Make sure you comply with applicable rules and regulations, such as HIPAA.

Plan application architecture and design

The application architecture must be carefully planned to ensure that security and privacy requirements are met. Also, it is important to have an attractive and intuitive design that is easy for users to use.

Select technology and platforms

Select the technology and platforms for app development, such as iOS, Android, or hybrid. Also consider integration with other healthcare systems, such as patient record systems.

Develop and test the application

Application development must follow best practices and software quality standards. Also, the app must be rigorously tested on different platforms and mobile devices to ensure quality and compatibility.

Implement security measures

Implement additional security measures to ensure the protection of user data, such as authentication, data encryption, and permission management.

Launch and maintain the application

After launch, it's important to keep the app up to date and fix any issues that may arise. Also consider implementing a user feedback process to improve the user experience and overall app quality.

Do you need to develop a mobile health app for your company? At Rootstack, we have +10 years of experience supporting companies in their digital transformation. Contact us!

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