When we are talking about tech solutions developed for the healthcare industry, it is important to understand that it is vital to take into account not only the financial benefits that their creators and medical institutions can get but also the advantages that patients and their relatives will be able to enjoy.
The introduction of such solutions should be always aimed at improving the quality of healthcare services and enhancing the effectiveness of treatment.
However, it is impossible not to mention that such projects can still be a very good idea for businesses.
In 2023, the revenue in the digital health industry is around $170 billion worldwide while in 2028 it is expected to hit the mark of $275 billion.
It means that the CAGR for the period under consideration will be over 10%.
If you are thinking about the launch of such a solution for the needs of healthcare providers and patients, we recommend you start with a deep analysis of all the advantages and possible difficulties of such projects and also find a reliable team that will provide you with healthcare software development services.
Let’s start with an overview of the key trends that are shaping the digital health market.
Digital Health Trends
First of all, it is important to highlight that today’s digital health market has a very precise focus on mobile solutions.
Though web apps are still being used and they can be very convenient for medical centers, the majority of apps that are targeted at patients have their mobile versions. Why is it so?
The answer is very simple. Such apps are convenient to use as the majority of patients always have a smartphone at hand.
On-demand Services
Such solutions presuppose using medical services online.
This group of services typically includes not only such simple processes as getting laboratory test results or booking an appointment but also having consultations with doctors in a remote format.
The demand for such services skyrocketed amid the coronavirus pandemic but today we can say that the growth trends are still here.
Virtual Reality
Though VR is widely associated with games and other types of entertainment, this technology can also make a huge contribution to the healthcare industry.
VR solutions can be applied to help people deal with pain and different mental health problems like anxiety.
Another use case of VR in the healthcare industry is the organization of professional training for doctors.
Artificial Intelligence
It may seem that AI solutions are already everywhere around us. And in this context, the healthcare industry is not an exception.
There are several possible applications of AI in the medical sphere that are already adopted today.
First of all, medical centers and hospitals can use AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants that can cope with standard inquiries and provide all the required information for patients and their families.
Secondly, AI can help experts in such spheres as drug research, precision medicine, and medical imaging.
AI can process huge volumes of data, detect patterns and deviations, as well as make predictions.
What Are The Key Benefits Of The Implementation Of Digital Health Solutions?
The implementation of digital health apps has a row of advantages for all the participants of the industry.
- Increased quality of services;
- Higher patient satisfaction;
- Lower workload for medical staff and doctors which allows them to concentrate on the most complex cases that require their attention;
- Remote patient state monitoring;
- Higher precision of diagnostics;
- Optimized workflows;
- Optimized labor costs;
- Transparency and visibility of internal processes;
- Higher profits for medical centers;
- Access to medical services for a wilder group of potential patients.
Challenges Of The Introduction Of Digital Health Apps And Platforms
If you are planning to launch a solution for the healthcare industry, you should stay aware of all the possible pitfalls that you can face at all stages of your project realization.
Let us concentrate at least on the most important ones.
Regulation
The healthcare industry is one of the most strictly regulated spheres. You need to make sure that your app will be fully compliant with all the rules and laws that are currently in force.
First of all, you will need to pay attention to those rules that are related to processing sensitive data of patients.
Data Security And Protection
As medical apps deal with a lot of highly sensitive data, they always attract hackers. You should think about the ways to protect your app.
We highly recommend you consider the introduction of two-factor identification and tools for access control.
Interoperability
In the ideal case, all healthcare apps should be united into one huge network that will allow hospitals and medical centers to easily share data and ensure seamless experiences for patients who interact with different doctors.
However, the reality is rather tough. Quite often even apps used at one organization may be not fully compatible with each other.
That’s why you need to pay attention to how different apps will operate together, exchange data, etc.
Instead Of A final world
The digital health industry is a very promising one. Though already today there are quite a lot of advanced solutions for patients and doctors, there is still a lot of free space for innovations.
However, it doesn’t mean that absolutely any solution will succeed. It is highly important to study the needs of potential users and offer a solution that will address them.
