This is not something that you can do with a simple click of the finger. As a healthcare provider entering the mHealth market, you must adhere to healthcare app development standards, which have been discussed here. This will help your app to be successful.
Healthcare App Development Market Analysis
A report states that 350,000 mobile health applications are available in different app stores. Statista reports that there are also around 54,546 medical and healthcare apps available in the Google Play Store and 41,517 medical and healthcare apps available in the Apple App Store.
In the report, it is also stated that 350,000 applications in the mHealth category are divided up into medical, health, and fitness apps. The healthcare market will also continue to grow in the coming years. This is the benchmark: the mHealth Market size in 2022 was USD 63.88 Billion, and it's expected to grow at a rate of 18.2% between 2023-2030.
Apps for health have indeed played a significant role in encouraging people to lead healthier lives. According to the Statista report, 86.3 million users rely heavily on health or fitness apps to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The COVID-19 pandemic, at its peak, has affected healthcare industries in a significant way, leading to the adoption of healthcare software development solutions.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare IT Investment
- A survey in 2021 found that around 1800 Americans (or 26% of all participants) responded positively to the increased access to healthcare since the outbreak of the flu pandemic.
- The US telemedicine market is estimated to be worth USD 25,88 billion by 2027, with a 15.8% CAGR.
- By 2023, approximately 78% of physicians in offices and 96% of hospitals will have licensed the EHR. This allows for better patient records to be kept with ease of access.
- By 2023, 32% of all patients will consult doctors using the app. This is up from 11% of people in 2020.
You can start by analyzing the adoption statistics of healthcare apps, but to make progress, you need to understand healthcare app trends in 2023.
Top Healthcare App Development Trends To Rule In 2023
If these statistics are encouraging, and you plan to create a health app, it is essential to not only implement the most recent features but also to keep up with the current trends to be at the forefront of the market.
1. Blockchain Technology and Healthcare Industries
We may have heard of blockchain technology and its connection to cryptocurrency, specifically Bitcoin. It is interesting to know how this technology will be used in healthcare. Blockchain will play a significant role in ensuring that patient data is recorded and preserved with maximum data encryption. The deployment of blockchain technology will make it easier to accomplish what is currently a challenging task.
One of the main reasons that most health apps failed to retain customers was that they didn't provide a safe environment for data. Blockchain technology is an excellent option to use for security in healthcare applications because it provides a decentralized, transparent, and incorruptible log of all medical records. According to a study, the global blockchain market in healthcare is expected to reach USD 4.46 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 38.1% over the forecast period 2023-2026.
2. Artificial Intelligence Will Dominate Healthcare
Artificial Intelligence, a modern technology, has revolutionized many industries, including healthcare. AI will revolutionize the healthcare technology industry between 2023 and 2028. Its proposals include natural language processing, robotics, process automation, clinical trial participant identification, etc.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) can improve the accuracy of medical examinations and be a great help when immediate treatment is needed.
- Advanced AI will enable computers to make decisions on their own, even when medical personnel are not available.
- Medical bills will be cheaper because patients won't have to go back and forth between clinics or hospitals.
- Artificial Intelligence will reduce human error rates. Even doctors can make mistakes when diagnosing patients or treating them.
- AI can make life-threatening and complex surgeries simpler and help patients recover faster.
- A robotics process automation (RPA) solution can streamline the processes of healthcare bodies, such as health payments, diagnostics early, analytics of patient data, data entry, and so on.
- AI chatbots can be used to collect initial data on health and analyze symptoms to set up an appointment with your doctor.
AI/ML healthcare IT is available from top-tier tech companies, such as Microsoft, IBM, and, CISIN, AWS. We haveexplain that AI can offer a great deal to the Healthcare Industry.
3. Telemedicine Services Will Get a Huge Boost
Telemedicine is, without a doubt, a revolution that has impacted the health sector. Telemedicine can be a valuable tool in areas with limited medical services. It is also cost-effective. The telemedicine app brings the concept of consulting doctors/physicians/psychologists/lactation consultants, on-demand online consultation slot booking, video conferencing-based consultation, e-prescription generation, and many other things.
A pharma company collected data from patients who used telemedicine for applications such as:
- 69% for the illness/infection-related consultation.
- 65% for consultations with physicians afterward.
- The psychological therapy sessions are available at a discounted rate of 49%.
- The Chronic Condition Health Assessment Management is 44%.
According to the report, "the global telehealth industry size is estimated at USD 83.5 Billion in 2023, and it will grow at a 24% CAGR during the forecasted period 2023-2030."
Even medical professionals are convinced that telemedicine offers faster and better treatment. The services have led to a reduction in readmissions in hospitals, which has made people more satisfied.
4. The Internet of Things in Healthcare
The Internet of Things, or virtual connected technology on the Internet, is having a significant impact on several industries. The healthcare sector is taking similar steps to adopt IoT solutions. According to a report, global adoption of IoT in the Healthcare Industry is expected to reach USD 253.7 Billion by 2026 with a 20.5% CAGR.
Health apps that are linked to IoT can provide comprehensive healthcare for patients and ensure their comfort. It will help access valuable information about the patient and track his progress. This solution is also known as Remote Patient Monitoring. The solution can be very beneficial for patients who are dealing with chronic diseases and receiving remote treatment.
After COVID-19, the use of RPM has reached a new high. According to Forrester, the size of the market is expected to reach USD 175.2 billion (which was estimated at USD 53.66 billion last year) by 2027.
Connecting the Internet of Things to medical devices and highly sophisticated equipment can help improve treatment. It will also provide more precise and refined insights into the reports. Top IoT Healthcare Solutions that will be adopted include ECG monitoring, Body Vitals Monitoring, Rehabilitation Systems, and more.
5. The Data Generated By Wearables About Patient Health Is Now Personalized
Essential fitness and health tracking apps now use regular updates of your activity data from connected wearables to create your personal dashboard and diet/workout plans. Popular fitness trackers like Samsung Health and Google Fit offer personalized health/fitness services.
It is a wise investment to build wearable healthcare apps that enable data personalization, as the expenditure on wearables has risen dramatically since COVID-19. Gartner estimates that in 2023, global wearables spending will total 92.5 billion USD.
6. Cloud Computing Is Gaining Traction In The Healthcare Sector
Ask any health professional, and they will tell you that storing patient data is one of their most difficult tasks. Cloud-based software simplifies many of these processes. The Electronic Health Records of patients can be stored and accessed 24 hours a day; according to the data shared by DataDynamics Inc.
The healthcare industry is expected to store around 30% of digital records globally. This contribution will reach 36% in 2025. That's 6-11% more than the manufacturing, financial, media, and entertainment industries.
Cloud computing is the only solution that can effectively meet healthcare data's computation, management, storage, and allocation needs. Cloud-based technology is not only beneficial to hospitals but also to insurance companies.
Cloud-based technologies allow them to store important data such as the policy number and healthcare premium of every patient. We can confidently say that 83% of healthcare data (structured and unstructured) is stored on cloud platforms for improved availability, management, and security.
7. The Big Data Analytics of Healthcare
The healthcare industry has seen a rise in the popularity of big data analytics since its introduction. The rapid growth of the data industry makes it necessary to integrate big data analytics into your healthcare application.
This valuable asset falls into three categories:
- It is firstly related to resource management: The use of big data in the management of hospital sources has been very beneficial. For example, keeping track of hospital personnel, doctors, nurses, and medical professionals. The data can also be used to determine which patients require emergency care and what staff will help them. It is helpful to know the number of beds available so patients can be admitted quickly.
- Electronic Health Records are an excellent find for mobile health apps: They allow patients to save their records digitally. This would cover everything from the patient's weight and height to their medical history, medications they take, blood sugar levels, etc. You can now skip the medical history section of your next visit to the doctor. EHRs can handle almost everything: medications, patient histories, prescriptions from doctors, and more.
- Predictive analytics is a combination of Big Data with EHRs: This document contains massive amounts of data that can accurately predict the best treatment for a patient based on the diagnoses. You can also get an idea of the time it will take to recover for a patient.
Research also forecasts that the adoption of big data analytics in the healthcare industry will reach USD 67.82 billion by 2025. The report states that big data analytics is used in healthcare for clinical, financial, and operational solutions. Clinical analysis is the highest-paying solution.
8. Healthcare IT Solutions To The Future: Augmented Reality
Our previous article discussed the impact of Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain on the Healthcare sector. Now, let's bring Augmented Reality to the forefront and examine its impact on the healthcare industry.
AR is a beautiful addition to training. The AR also improves doctors' knowledge and skills when they diagnose the patient. The training will be available to a more significant number of people in a shorter time period, while the information provided to medical professionals can help them improve their knowledge. According to a survey, AR/VR adoption in the healthcare industry is expected to reach USD 19.6 billion by 2030.
The revolutionary Augmented Reality apps in the medical and healthcare sector include:
- Apps that show nearby defibrillators and AEDs to help with the quick primary diagnosis. The AED4EU App is an excellent example.
- Google Glasses can help mothers who are struggling to breastfeed.
- AR Apps for Symptoms Examination, especially Ophthalmology
- Vein Finding AR solutions;
- Information on pharmaceutical drugs showing the application to enable patients to view how they work in three dimensions;
- AR Apps to assist surgeons during surgery - AR-based X-Ray Vision App Concept; For example, to locate a tumor in the liver.
- Hololens help in studying human anatomy.
9. Apps for Mental Health
According to WHO, one in eight people around the globe has a mental disorder. These include thinking, emotions, and regulation disorders, as well as depression, anxiety, stress, or sleep. During COVID-19, anxiety disorder and depressive disorder rates have both increased.
There are many ways to treat mental disorders. You can either take therapy from a psychiatrist or use apps that encourage mindfulness. According to Research, the market for mental health apps is predicted to grow from USD 21.2 billion in 2030, with an 18.06% CAGR during the forecasted period 2023-2030.
Other mental exercise apps can be used to help people heal mental disorders such as stress. The concept of this app can help users improve their cognitive abilities and increase their IQ. A mood-tracking app concept has also become popular with people who are concerned about their mental health.
10. The Medication Reminder & Tracker Apps on a Roll
This medication tracking and reminder app is one of the many concepts in healthcare apps that are gaining popularity among patients. The app allows users to schedule reminders and add information about the pills they take each day. They can then take their medicines at the right time.
Some apps have also integrated with third-party pharmacies so that the refills of the medicines they take can be automatically ordered or manually if it runs out of stock. A study found that patients with Alzheimer's, in particular, often forget to take their pills. This can have a severe impact on the health of these patients. In a survey in 2017, more than 65-70 percent of adult respondents in the US forgot to track their medications.
The global market for medication trackers is also expected to increase at a rate of CAGR 11.2% between 2023-2030. It was valued last year at USD 2.3 Billion in 2022.
11. Apps for Women's Wellness Imposing Needed Care
According to a survey, half of the global users of healthcare apps are women. They are more likely than 75% to use healthcare apps. Why not create a segmented app for them? The FemTech Market is predicted to reach USD 50 billion in 2025.
Women of today need to find modern ways to manage their health and well-being. Apps could have features such as a customized dietary plan and exercise routine, the tracking of the cycle and ovulation, along with many other things to help women during their critical times, like the menstruation period, pregnancy, or post-labor. Women's health apps can make a positive impact on society.
12. Gamification in the Healthcare Apps - Energizing Patients' Excitement
Gamification can be used to keep users engaged and encourage them to stay longer on apps that offer wellness services. The use of game psychology can motivate patients to record their daily activities. You could offer rewards to users who log into the app and add health records. In 2022, the Healthcare Gamification Market was estimated at USD 10 Billion. It is forecast to grow by 10.5% CAGR over the next five years.
It would help if you designed gamification for the health app in this way:
- Set clear objectives to keep users engaged and continue using the app;
- Motivational visualization for users;
- Reward strategy;
- Users are encouraged to download the app by receiving push notifications that include marketing copy.
Gamification is a critical element of popular healthcare apps like MyFitnessPal and PACT. Users are more likely to use these apps daily because of the gamification.
13. Metaverse for Healthcare Apps
Metaverse is a critical player in the healthcare industry for patients as well as doctors. Metaverse uses Web 3.0 and emerging technologies such as AI, AR VR, 5G, and other technologies to provide cost-effective treatments.
According to a market research, the metaverse is projected to reach USD 5.373 million by 2030, at a 48.3% CAGR. By analyzing the compatibility between the metaverse and the healthcare industry, the area of clinical care, well-being, collaboration, education, monetization, etc; can all be improved.
Metaverse solutions in healthcare include Digbi Health (formerly XRHealth), NeuroTrainer, and others. These are transforming the healthcare industry, unlocking new opportunities, as well as redefining healthcare.
14. There Is A Pressing Need For Cyber Security
Many healthcare organizations rely on software to save digital data and make it accessible for life. Software systems are used in healthcare for EHR, ePrescribing, pathology records, radiology information, and more. This ease is not without its challenges. Organizations must maintain confidentiality and integrity along with availability.
According to the HIPAA Journal's analysis, approximately 20.2 million healthcare records were compromised in the US during the first half of 2022.
Healthcare organizations that use software to store records are in urgent need of a secure facility. This means implementing a highly encrypted cybersecurity package. To avoid being a victim of these cybersecurity incidents and having to pay fines of $100 up to $50,000 plus more, it is essential to follow the HIPAA rules strictly.
Types of Healthcare Apps
There are many applications in the area of well-being and health. Healthcare app ideas do not need the approval of a doctor. You can start a company instead by creating software for health enthusiasts, gym goers, or exercise fans. Many healthcare apps are categorized into two categories.
1. App for Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare applications can help doctors, physicians, nurses, and other medical personnel to provide better care for their patients. To avoid data breaches, it is essential to check HIPAA Compliance Checklists when developing an application.
2. App for Medical Record
The medical records of a patient will be part of the application. The information included in the medical record application includes, for example, blood pressure readings, A&E appointments, medications, and blood markers. Medical practitioners can update medical records using the software.
3. Apps For Clinical And Diagnostic Diagnosis
These mobile apps make it easier to communicate with the clinical staff at a hospital and make decisions. Some of the options available include voice and message chats, file-sharing, and electronic medical record systems.
Doctors prefer using clinical and diagnosis software to deal with a large amount of data. These apps can be used by patients to receive reminders for upcoming appointments and book apps, as well as keep track of medical histories.
4. Medical Database Applications
The software can help doctors keep track of all their patients' medical data in one place. As part of the complete solution for healthcare app development, a secure application that integrates patient symptoms, prescriptions, and drugs is included.
5. Telehealth
Thanks to healthcare app development, patients can now receive online therapy and communicate with specialists in mental health from their homes. Cutting-edge telemedicine technology apps are responsible for this.
6. For Patients
These smartphone apps are the best healthcare applications for both patients and general users who want to lead a healthier lifestyle. These apps are designed to improve health, user satisfaction, loyalty, and overall well-being.
7. Apps for Fitness
You can use various fitness programs to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. BetterMe MyFitnessPal and Digifit, to name a few, are well-known services for developing health and fitness apps.
They are perfect for beginners who want to find a way to keep fit. The healthcare industry is dominated by self-directed fitness goals apps.
8. Appointment Scheduling App
Both patients and doctors can use the apps for making appointments, keeping track of their patients remotely, and communicating with them. For example, a patient could use an app for medical purposes to schedule an appointment and then postpone that appointment. The clinical team is informed of any changes.
9. Diet and Nutrition App
There are many diet and nutrition apps available, including Fooducate and Lifesum. The apps encourage users to maintain a regular, well-balanced diet and keep track of their habits.
Your health and fitness app development should include features such as meal planners, reminders, calorie counters, databases of food and nutrition, etc. This will all provide users with value and make them want to come back for more.
Conclusion
The healthcare industry has been making progress in the direction of a digital environment that allows for advanced treatments to be provided at a cost-effective price. Despite this progress, healthcare must still adhere to HIPAA regulations for cybersecurity. These trends in healthcare app development will make mobile applications more innovative and more efficient, which can lead to better business prospects as well as promote health. Cyber Infrastructure Inc. can help you meet your healthcare software requirements. We are always on the cutting edge of technology, will keep up with market trends, and will provide innovative solutions to improve your digital health experience.
