When starting a healthcare software project, managers weigh the pros and cons. They try to calculate the return on investment and predict how the new technology will affect the quality of medical services. But there is one more thing that defines the success of a medical IT project. It is planning. In this article, we’ll consider how to organize doctor appointment application development so that it brings the maximum benefit to your business.
Step 1. Prepare a doctor database
A doctor appointment app is like a marketplace where doctors are the main product. Therefore, before you “build” a place for communication with patients, make sure that your company has a database of healthcare professionals. It is necessary to consider which clinics will be represented on the platform and set up an API to access their databases.
Step 2. Research the target audience
A doctor appointment application is developed primarily for patients of a medical institution. It is worth conducting a study to understand what problems they have. It is important to create a portrait of the target audience including the following information:
- age, sex;
- beliefs and values;
- interests, hobbies;
- profession;
- marital status, children;
- income;
- environment;
- place of residence;
- health status (physical fitness, chronic diseases, mental disorders).
The information will help to understand user preferences. It will allow the developers to include the necessary features in the app. For example, if 40% of patients cannot visit the clinic (people with locomotor disorders or those living in remote areas), it makes sense to set up telemedicine features. It is worth customizing the design for the visually or hearing-impaired and other user groups.
Step 3. Plan the application functionality
When the problems and needs of the target audience become clear, it is necessary to define the number of functions to be implemented in the application. As a rule, nine basic functions are required:
- appointment form with an integrated calendar;
- patient’s account;
- doctor directory;
- feedback;
- reminders and notifications;
- rating of doctors;
- online payments;
- telemedicine features (chats, video conferencing);
- integration with EHRs/EMRs.
Some of these functions can be included in a minimum viable product (MVP). Users will work with a starter version of the software and leave feedback on what they would like to see improved in the program. The feedback will help to improve the doctor appointment app by gradually adding the necessary features.
Step 4. Create UX/UI design
The design of a medical application is especially important because such apps are often used by people with disabilities. The platform must solve the problems of any patients, including those who have poor eyesight due to old age or the visually impaired from birth. Patients need to use the platform the way they are able to.
After researching the target audience, it will become clear how to create UX / UI design for a doctor appointment app so that the users can easily navigate the system. It will ensure simple and comfortable interaction with the platform.
Step 5. Choose the tech stack
To choose the right tech stack, one should consult with a healthcare software development company. A team of experts will evaluate the architecture of the software solutions already available in the clinic and offer technologies that need to be included in the doctor appointment application. It will allow seamless integration of the new software with the old systems and ensure its scalability on demand.
The measures listed above will help to prepare for doctor appointment mobile app development and implement a most useful product for both doctors and patients. However, if it is difficult to collect information on your own, an IT partner will help with this during the discovery phase.
Difficulties in developing doctor appointment apps
Medical software is a complex product because it includes personal, medical, and financial information about patients. The customer should guarantee users that:
-
- Confidential information is securely protected and complies with GDPR, PIPA, HL7, HIPAA, or other industry laws. Legal acts ensure the secure transfer of patient data between applications or clinics.
- The program is easy and convenient to use for people of different age groups and with different technical backgrounds. A patient has no time to study long complicated instructions. S/he needs to quickly make an appointment with a doctor before another person takes over the slot.
- A patient can easily use the integrated systems of a clinic. A doctor appointment app is useful if it is integrated with other platforms such as EHRs, e-Prescribing (eRx), CRM, or insurance platforms. Such an environment allows the patient to solve all the problems (to have an online consultation, pay for it, and receive an electronic prescription).
A healthcare software solutions company experienced in medical app development can deal with possible difficulties. It will provide certified engineers with expertise in HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO.
Conclusion
According to Forbes experts, lack of planning and poor teamwork are among the main reasons for project failures. The above-mentioned steps will help to prevent problems before developing a doctor appointment application. But the most important decision is to engage an experienced healthcare software development company in the project. A team of IT experts will help to plan the work, appoint the right specialists, and choose the necessary tech stack. The software provider will also ensure that the project meets the deadline and will be successfully implemented.