Medical software allows you to receive medical assistance remotely, simplifies life, and helps you monitor your health more effectively. Today this is relevant, so if you want to start a business in this area, it’s time to start. According to a recent report by Frost & Sullivan, the global digital health market will reach $234 billion by 2023, up from $147 billion in 2019, of which the medical IT services sub-segment will hold the largest market share. Medical software development requires a detailed analysis of ideas, trends, and stages of development. The article will discuss the most important nuances that will help make the path shorter and more straightforward.

Healthcare and medical software development trends in 2023

It is necessary to monitor trends in this area and implement them to create the most effective application in the healthcare field. Keeping up with the times, you can offer users an up-to-date product for an extended period.

Data analysis. An extensive array of data that the application can analyze is a definite plus. The analysis allows specialists to predict how much medicine and equipment they need to purchase, and the availability of statistical data will enable them to find new ways to improve the current health situation.

5G support. A high-speed connection is essential for medical software development today, especially in health and life-related applications. The 5G standard is already available in many countries, so you should consider using this technology in your application.

Telemedicine. The use of computer and telecommunication technologies for remote communication between a doctor and a patient is in high demand today. Online contact with a specialist can help in answering many questions.

Solutions based on artificial intelligence. Many modern applications use artificial intelligence. It allows you to analyze and process a massive amount of data, in many cases, facilitates the decision-making process. AI calculations help doctors make more accurate diagnoses and prescribe the proper treatment faster. The possibilities of AI are endless, and its use in a mobile application should become almost mandatory, especially if you want to stay ahead of the competition.

Blockchain. A relatively new cloud technology divides stored information into secure blocks that unauthorized persons cannot access. Cloud solutions allow physicians to access patient information 24/7 while patients know their data is securely protected.

What are the healthcare software regulations?

In the European Union, medical software, depending on its purpose and functionality, may be subject to two EU Regulations: Regulation 2017/745 or EU Regulation 2017/746. In the United States, the FDA identifies three types of software: Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), Software in a Medical Device, and Software used to manufacture products for medical purposes.

Medical software development ideas and opportunities

In addition to the trends to follow to offer a relevant and in-demand product, you need to determine what type of medical software you will create. There are several options for medical applications, including some pretty simple ones that many people use daily. Before starting medical software development, choosing what your market and target audience lack would be best.

Doctor on demand. Such applications offer a list of certified doctors to whom you can make an appointment. Using filters, users can choose a suitable specialist not only by his specialization but also by location, time and cost of admission, user rating, etc.

Doctors can add their profiles on their own, but in this case, the application must contain a medical license verification algorithm to exclude the registration of fraudsters.

Doctor appointment application. The difference between this application and the previous one is that you can make an appointment with a personal doctor, choose the right time and hold a meeting online here. Patients do not need to go anywhere. It is true both during a pandemic and when they feel unwell. Of course, the doctor will not be able to conduct a complete examination, but it is easy to give the necessary recommendations and draw up a further action plan.

Reminder app. The purpose of this app is simple: it reminds people to take their medications or perform specific medical tasks (testing, dental appointments, etc.). This feature can significantly add to the “doctor’s appointment” application.

Application for monitoring chronic diseases. A vital app for people with chronic illnesses. It must be constantly monitored and work stably. The patient enters health data daily, and family doctors monitor them and, if necessary, make recommendations.

Fitness applications. Applications for those who lead a healthy lifestyle and monitor their health. With their help, you can track the number of calories consumed and burned, keep a weight tracker, and heart rate level. These apps work best when paired with wearable devices such as fitness bands.

Benefits of medical software for patients and doctors

Why are some medical applications popular with patients and doctors, while others are not? The point is that the best products include all the features users need. Let’s look at what makes products of medical software development popular.

Improving patient care. Mobile applications allow doctors to monitor patients’ health, even if they are far away (for example, when going on a business trip, you will still be in touch with the doctor). Doctors can help patients without a personal visit, which saves time and allows patients not to spend energy on visiting the clinic but to focus on recovery.

Accelerated diagnostics. Thanks to the many different sensors on today’s smartphones and wearables, patients can share health-related data with doctors, making diagnosis more accessible, faster, and more accurate.

Convenient data processing. Maintaining patient records in an electronic form simplifies the work with patient data and allows, if necessary, to exchange information with other attending physicians.

Remote treatment of patients. Social distancing became very important in 2020-2021 when humanity faced a new virus. Remote care allows you to see patients faster while avoiding queues and unnecessary social contacts.

If you add all these features to the application, it will be in demand for a long time.

Challenges: why your project might fail

Naturally, not all startups succeed and become famous. According to Failory, a community of failed startup owners, 90% of all startups (not just medical ones) fail. Let’s talk about the reasons.

Bad trade offer. Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) should be well thought. When you promote your app, more is needed to say it’s better than others. It would be best if you backed it up with facts and showed that it’s competitive and vital.

The product has been out of sight for a long time. You can release the application as soon as possible, but haste will lead to things that could be better. You should remind people about your application and say it is in the development process and will be released soon. Make sure all steps to create and promote the product are completed on time according to the plan. Stay in the shadows for a short time.

Overly complex application. A medical application should improve and simplify the processes associated with patients’ health, not vice versa. So make sure that patients know how to use it.

Lack of a good business model. Profit is the first thing startup owners think about. If this is the first startup you plan to launch, consider partnering with a successful medical company.

Weak development team. Please leave it to professionals. Cooperation with the medical software development company guarantees the safety of your idea since you sign a non-disclosure agreement for all information related to the project.

Launching a healthcare startup

When creating a mobile application, it is crucial to consider many nuances. We have compiled a list of essential steps to help you go the right way and avoid mistakes.

• Determine the tasks that the application will solve. Highlight the application’s primary purpose, conduct a market analysis, and see which niches need mobile products most. Determine what problems the application will solve and why it will be helpful.
• Remember that creating a clone of an existing application is a road to nowhere. Therefore, it is essential that your product stands out from the competition and provides some new opportunities.
• Define the target audience. Understanding who you are building the app for is an equally important step. When analyzing the market of a region, it is essential to consider its geographical features, identify demographic segments and understand the preferences and problems of potential users. The application must cover the target audience’s needs; otherwise, it will fail.
• Select an application type. Marketing research will help you determine which application will be in the most demand in a particular region. Pay attention to market research. Analyzing it will ensure you know what users need, and you can create an application that will not be in demand.
• Creation of a business plan. If you want to reduce risks and get more chances to attract investments, you need to draw up a business plan. Include all the vital information: USP, problem analysis and market analysis, marketing strategy, and financial part (startup costs, revenue model).
• Consider UI/UX design. An attractive design is essential for any application, but the visual part is one of many things to consider. A stylish user interface must be combined with functionality and ease of use to provide a good user experience.
• Application design should be consistent and intuitive; its purpose is to smoothly lead the user to the endpoint. The design should be user-friendly; the fewer interaction points, the more quality the experience users will get.
• Start developing the application. All the critical points have been taken into account and worked out, and now you can start creating. We recommend starting with an MVP. It will contain only the main features, but you will evaluate the product’s viability with minimal investment.

Conclusion

Medical software development is a process in which many specialists are involved. It is not only a development team but also business consultants, medical professionals, and marketers. Only joint work and understanding of the goal to be achieved will help create a high-quality and sought-after product.

We will help you develop a first-class medical application that will attract the attention of both doctors and patients. We need a detailed list of requirements and your willingness to cooperate to complete this task.