The healthcare industry in America has never had so many challenges and solutions available on the market as it does today, and the interest and investment in this field is at an all-time high. It’s the perfect time to jump into the MedTech app development game, and you should know about the newest trends and features that are currently disrupting the healthcare app world now. Here’s a short list of a few trends that you should be focused on as you head into development.
Data Privacy
Listen, if you want your MedTech mobile app to be viable, you need to take user data very seriously; it’s a necessity because the federal government says so. If you don’t know about HIPAA, it’s probably time to learn more about it here, and if you do, you know how serious keeping medical data private really is. Installing features like secure text and email exchanges, two-end encryption for any data transmission, or comprehensive security training measures for users and developers makes your app that much more attractive to future users and professional organizations. Again, you’ll want to invest heavily in the early stages of development in order to make it scalable and compliant to present and future regulations, as trying to update and scale after your app has hit the market can be costly in downtime and uninstalls due to disruption in service.
Telehealth
Now more than ever, technology has a chance to make a real difference in people’s everyday lives. Telehealth is a perfect example of how this works. The ability to consult and check in with doctors via remote devices is a game changer for multiple markets, from rural patients with limited access to care to lower-income people who can’t afford the transportation or time off from work for a basic follow up visit. The biggest employers in the country are adopting this technology as an affordable and convenient way for their employees to stay healthy, and some seem to struggle to get their workers to actually participate in telehealth. Developing an app that facilitates this valuable interaction and focuses on solving its pain points (such as simpler steps or interactive settings) gives you a leg up on all of the existing competition.
Tracking Sensors
Like we just mentioned, MedTech mobile apps have the ability to save lives. In a country where chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease are more pervasive than ever, high-tech sensors that can keep track of vital signs and can transmit data to doctors that are monitoring them are rapidly becoming essential tools in healthcare. There are many sensors already on the market that measure blood sugar levels and heart rates, but there are always emerging conditions and technologies that need attention. Conditions like epilepsy, sleep apnea, or complicated pregnancies can be monitored by wearable sensors, and they all need an app to make the data readable and transmittable. Look into lesser served conditions and the newer technology that can track them, or research existing sensor-enabled apps to see what issues users may have with them. This is an area with countless niches and innovations, so be diligent in your research and explore every corner.
Physician-Facing Apps
With so many healthcare apps geared towards patients and their needs, one can often miss out on a very needy market. Doctors need to keep track of massive amounts of data, records, and patient information, and, like any other business, will use any means necessary to make their incredibly important job a little easier. There are a few apps on the market that help doctors and nurses review disease information, track and identify medication side effects and contraindications, and securely transmit records between colleagues. Big boosts in diagnostic and body-mapping technologies change the ways doctors approach the care of the patient, also. Do some research and learn about what doctors and nurses like about their most-used apps, and what is lacking. Even mundane tasks like scheduling and secure messaging have an opportunity for growth and innovation, so try to address a basic issue that has been overlooked.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The development and advancement of AI in all sectors of mobile apps is accelerating rapidly, and the healthcare sector is no exception. This powerful tool can help crunch massive amounts of data without manual entry, analyze and predict potential issues, and enable surgical robots to do the incredibly precise work they do. Companies like Babylon are using AI to identify, analyze, and potentially destroy viruses and diseases, and even use its predictive capability to map out likely spreads of diseases among a certain population or area. This is a good field to explore other sectors, such as medical device development, health insurance administration, and pharmaceutical discovery, and there are many more. Investment in AI is huge and growing, and it’s a great time to get involved in the hottest sector in mobile app development. Realize that developing AI takes massive technical prowess, so prepare to hire several talented coders and developers to implement this in your app.
Outside the Box
Finally, you should be going through all the multiple fields of the healthcare industry, so you can truly realize how many markets your app can serve. Even just focusing on all the inner workings of a hospital can illustrate this point; when you exclude doctors, nurses, and patients, you’ve got so many other opportunities, like eye and ear care, pharmacies, maintenance, scheduling, meal programs, and more. And once you think outside the hospital genre, you include manufacturers, health insurers, payment portal solutions, and university researchers. Medical students and faculties use apps to prepare and study, and this represents a massive population of potential users that need solutions. Here’s a list that the federal government has compiled to give you an idea of how large healthcare really is. Exhaustive research and thinking outside the box will present more opportunities than you might initially think.
As always, keep your ear to the ground when considering MedTech mobile app development. Things change quickly and thinking big from the start with room to adjust and grow. Consult with a business analyst with your app development partner, and run through the viability and potential of your idea. Knowing what’s hot and what’s not is the best way to correctly anticipate app success.
Do you have an idea for a MedTech app and want to see if it’s viable? Check out some of our work in the MedTech space and don’t hesitate to reach out for a free consultation!
