How can app development empower the healthcare industry in the coming future

How can app development empower the healthcare industry in the coming future
healthcare app development services
The WHO defines health as not just a condition with no diseases. It is about the overall well-being, including mental, physical and social aspects. Nowadays, people are becoming health-conscious, and technology is supporting these people in various ways. We all live in this era of smartphones and tablets, where apps are used for almost everything.
The majority of industries have launched their mobile apps for their customers. The Healthcare industry is no exception, and several health-related apps are present today. If you look at the Healthcare app development in the USA, they are making life easier for patients and doctors. Let’s see how this mobile app development supports the healthcare industry.

Mobile Apps for Healthcare Industry

With the revolution in the mobile industry, the healthcare sector has received huge benefits. Hospitals and Clinics that are leveraging the digital technology in their operations are able to provide enhanced experience to their patients.

Role of Mobile Apps for Doctors

The medical staff and doctors consider these mobile apps a boon. Updating patients’ health conditions is an essential task of doctors, which is made easy by these apps. The majority of doctors are using these healthcare apps for patient care. Most of these healthcare professionals believe that this technology can help improve patient health.
Some mobile apps for doctors are professional networking apps for medical consultation, fixing appointments, and tracking health. The prescriptions and test reports can be shared through these apps quickly. Doctors can treat their patients with a customized approach through these mobile apps.

Role of Mobile Apps for Patients

Healthcare mobile apps provide several benefits for patients. These apps play a vital role in empowering patients. They allow patients to find specialist doctors, fix an appointment with them, and purchase prescribed medicines. Patients can also view their lab test reports and share them with doctors through these apps. Many apps provide the facility of having a video chat with healthcare experts to discuss health problems.
Some mobile apps for patients are dieting apps, useful lifestyle apps, apps for monitoring health, and healthcare education apps. Patients can communicate the dosage and timings of medicines with doctors through these apps. Patients can also be in touch with dieticians and nutritionists through these apps to maintain a healthy diet.

Challenges in the Development of Healthcare Apps

healthcare app development
There are a few challenges that the healthcare app developers face

Keeping Data Confidential

Whenever you download and install any application on your mobile, it starts collecting some data from your phone. And when it comes to a healthcare application, the collected data is always more sensitive than other applications. These apps manage the information related to the diagnosis, your health readings, and further details monitored through the app. Such apps must keep your data confidential and safe.

Management of Big Data

Improving the quality of life and predicting epidemics are possible with big data. You can also introduce some medicines for treating diseases. Currently, there are some great applications for managing big data in the healthcare sector. These applications use artificial intelligence (AI) for sorting big data and providing specific treatments. Even though artificial intelligence successfully manages Big Data, there are some limitations. Artificial intelligence’s reliability and accuracy cannot match that of human intelligence.

Fluctuating Market Trends

Every year, we can see emerging trends that are fluctuating in the healthcare industry. The reason behind this volatility is the variation in people’s living habits. Another reason for these fluctuations can be technological interference in healthcare. Building an app to suit the current trend is quite challenging for investors because of the changes in the healthcare industry. Even though the investors try to adopt the trends, not many companies can accurately integrate these technologies.

Recent Trends in Healthcare App Development

Here are some trends that will completely transform the healthcare app development industry
1.Telehealth & Telemedicine Apps
These apps are experiencing an increasing demand due to the COVID pandemic. Earlier, the industry was not focused on patients, but the pandemic has highlighted the necessity for patient-centred healthcare. The telemedicine segment is rapidly growing and is expected to grow further at a rate of 120%. The healthcare organizations serving patients who cannot visit the hospital regularly require Telehealth solutions.
2.Apps for Booking Ambulance
The patients that require emergency medical services fail to receive them because of the unavailability of ambulances. The well-equipped ambulances can save patients in need of emergency medical services. In many countries, booking an ambulance in an emergency is still difficult. At this point, the need arises for an app for booking an ambulance. This kind of app will be beneficial for both the patients and hospitals.
3.Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)
Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) refers to the Medical Devices connected to support proactive healthcare for patients at home. The body vitals such as pulse, glucose, and temperature can be easily monitored with the IoMT wearables. A report says the IoT business will gross $6.2 trillion by 2025.
4.Smart Chatbot: AI-Enabled Solution
Most healthcare facilities are trying to integrate chatbot technology to make their work easier. This AI-enabled chatbot can check patients’ symptoms and diagnose their health conditions. It also offers options for treatment and fixes an appointment with a doctor through video or voice calls.
5.Blockchain Technology for Healthcare
The healthcare industry is facing an issue of partial and improper medical records. Manually entering the data of each patient in the system is difficult for hospital staff. Blockchain technology can transform this industry with complete safety and privacy of medical data. Some recent statistics say that Blockchain technology for healthcare will reach $890.5 million by 2023.
If you want to opt for healthcare application development services, keep in mind the ongoing trends.

Conclusion

Being advantageous for doctors and patients, mobile apps are the future of the healthcare industry. You can develop these apps by considering the current trends in the industry.

8 Best Mental Health Apps For Daily Use

8 Best Mental Health Apps For Daily Use
mental health apps
Technology has allowed us to explore mental health in new paradigms using science and data collection technologies. Remote devices such as mobile phones and tablets are now effectively used in attaining better mental health. Extremely sophisticated mental well-being apps have made their way into the market. These apps detect behavior changes, draw patterns and highlight any crisis in mental well-being. The self-management of mental health has increased the demand for these mental health apps. In these apps, many techniques based on CBT and mindfulness are applied to develop sessions, courses, and activities to promote positive thinking. Many apps have partnered with mental health professionals to make their services more authentic.
Today, there are thousands of apps for managing mental health. Healthcare app development services have made app development very easy. Companies are even hiring individual healthcare app developers to create healthcare apps. With growing awareness regarding mental health and easy healthcare application development, the market is only expected to flood with mental health apps. Choosing one app can be difficult since every app is going to offer a plethora of options. Decision-making is important in this case.

Criteria to Select Mental Health Apps

Mapping every mental health app on some selection criteria can be a productive way of evaluating all the apps in consideration. Here are some of the criteria that can be used for evaluation:
1. Effectiveness: The apps should have some scientific basis to prove their effectiveness.
2. Target audience: You should ensure that you are amongst the target audience. For instance, if you have no idea about mental well-being and meditation then you can choose an app that has some light sessions and activities for beginners.
3. Privacy: Mental health apps get access to your sensitive personal information. The app should be legitimate with a strict policy for the privacy of information.
4. Personalized approach: The apps should have a personalized approach to fit into your lifestyle. You should be able to take up the sessions and activities even in your busy work schedule.
5. Good review: Always head out for the reviews before subscribing to any mental health app. Any good app will have several reviews online on different sites.

Top 8 Mental Health Apps available in iOS and Android

mental health apps

Calm

This app has been developed to promote mindfulness, calmness, and better sleep. The application comes with various options for sleep, work, and meditation. A series of audio recordings help the users relax and meditate. There are breathing programs, relaxing sounds, and music. The app is great for every age and comes with separate recordings for beginners. Sleep stories and lullabies act as an advantage for users as they can introduce their kids to mental health with relaxation.
Free Trial: 7 days
Subscription: Starts at $69.99 per year

Talkspace

Talkspace is a unique mental health app that can directly connect you with a mental health professional. You can have a mental health checkup and stress check report. The app allows you to undergo an assessment to assess your mental health, diagnose the issues, and connect with the right professional. There are different options for individuals, couples, and teens. Talkspace will not only help you let go of the stress but also help you clinically. You can find 24X7 support using chats and live videos. There is a con to this app which is its high cost but it is worth considering owing to its benefits.
Subscription: Starts at $69 per week

MindDoc

MindDoc helps diagnose mental health issues and provide treatment for it. It offers a personalized experience with daily questions and 70-plus courses and exercises for improving mental health. The application identifies your feelings, detects patterns to get an insight into your mental health, and then helps you set goals to take care of your mental health. The users get access to strategies to deal with phobias, depression, insomnia, burnout, and eating disorder.
Free trial: 7 days
Subscription: $7 per month

Headspace

Headspace app provides breathing exercises and meditation sessions to improve calmness, self-worth, and sleep. There are specific meditation techniques for beginners. Then there are sessions for deep meditation. The app has exercises and yoga that help in strengthening mental as well as physical health. It is one app that equally stresses on meditation and mindfulness to change stressful lifestyles and habits. This is a great option to relax and unwind with relaxing sound and music.
Free trial: 14 days
Subscription: $18 per year

Thrive

Thrive is a mental wellbeing app recommended by NHS. It helps you manage anxiety and stress with 24X7 mental health support. It provides you with screening tools to detect mental health conditions and work on them. The mindfulness techniques equip you with the tools to deal with anxiety and stress. The powerful reporting insights keep you updated on your progress. The great part is that the Thrive app can be integrated with your well-being services. You get in touch with verified therapists who create engagement strategies according to your work schedule. Thrive is a wonderful app for receiving mental health therapies.
Free trial: Book a free demo

Sanvello

Sanvello is going to help you in four different ways. You will get self-care, peer support, coaching, and therapy. All of these options have different costs. It has partnered with many professionals such as authors and gymnasts to offer the best support and guidance. The best part is that you can avail a lot of features free of cost. From finding tools to assessing issues, getting community support to explore solutions, to getting therapy from experts, Sanvello offers you everything for mental health support.
Subscription: $3.99 per month (charges based on options chosen)

Happify

Happify has been developed to help you counter negative thoughts, stress, and life’s challenges by breaking old patterns and forming new habits. You get access to tools and processes that help you overcome sadness, stress, or anxiousness. The app allows you to control your emotions using engaging games and activities. You keep a happiness score to self-assess your improvement with the activities. Happify is a fun app that empowers you to develop positive psychology using science-based activities that reduce stress and promote positivity. CBT, mindfulness, and positive psychology are going to be the tools that you are going to deal with.
Subscription: $14.99 per month

MoodKit

MoodKit comes with effective strategies to identify and change unhealthy thinking. The app provides you with a mood chart time-to-time to promote well-being. The app is principally built on Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). Science-based MoodKit activities guide you towards steps and activities which can improve your mood. You get a variety of things including a mood tracker, Thought checker, and mood journal to self-assess your improvement and work on it.
Subscription cost: $6.99

Conclusion

Self-management is the primary advantage offered by these mental health apps built for mental health. The busy lifestyle and taboo around visiting a psychologist have pushed us towards these apps. All of the listed apps are great for managing stress and developing positive psychology. However, these apps may not be capable of replacing a certified healthcare professional completely. If the mental health issues persist then visit a medical healthcare professional in person.