There has been much to talk about within healthcare this year considering the events of a global pandemic that has shaken the world. For the last quarter of the year in particular, it’s likely to be a groundbreaking year for the industry. It’s suggested that the mobile healthcare industry has increased by 41% as a whole, with investment continuing to grow.
In the digital world we now live in, it’s understandable that more and more medical professionals rely on technology for diagnostics and data for care. It helps to simplify and streamline processes such as research, monitoring and appointment scheduling etc. Essentially, the introduction of mobile in the healthcare industry has changed the way healthcare is delivered to its users.
Here we look at the possible development trends that will be expected by health app developers for 2021 as it’s likely to be a big year for the industry, whether it be for dental professionals or surgeons that specialise in rhinoplasty Manchester-based.
Table of Contents
Cloud-Based Health Applications
Electronic health records have been a big hit in the healthcare industry, streamlining processes and ensuring that service can be provided efficiently. Considering the success of the approach, we’d expect in 2021 that the health smart phone device applications will work on a cloud-based technology for the future.
This will be crucial for healthcare providers to exchange and store patient data for secure, easy access for their patients. This can save patients having to physically go to their local practice and fill out details or provide information and they can be sure that it has been received through regular updates directly to their phone within processes.
Monitoring Health in General
2020 has been the year for looking after both physical and mental health and there have been many resources and applications that have been created to help this. Thankfully, for our mobile devices and their access to information such as podcasts and health-related applications, it’s helped many people get through the tough times of the coronavirus pandemic.
Health care in real-time can be tracked by users of mobile technologies. However, healthcare applications now go beyond simply tracking your heart rate in real-time. There are now many start-up businesses and companies that are utilising the technology to improve wellbeing, for example. This has been one of the highlights of 2020 in terms of helping those that need it most. Without the influx of more wellbeing and mental health apps, it’s possible that many would have struggled to cope the way they did during the pandemic.
Payment Frameworks for Health Bills
It’s fair to say that healthcare bills can be relatively expensive in nature. For some patients, it can be difficult to provide money up front or in a process that allows them to do so efficiently. The ability to pay for your healthcare bills efficiently via a mobile app would be a stress-free, effective solution to ensure payments are made and patients have convenience with their healthcare services.
Telemedicine
The recent pandemic has highlighted the success and effectiveness of visual communications for users. Companies such as “Zoom” and “Microsoft Teams” have seen a large influx of users as we’ve aimed to keep connected to our loved ones during this difficult time. Therefore, telemedicine has been one of the most talked about trends in healthcare this year.
The use of teleconferencing and moving towards a mobile device strategy ensures patients and consults can keep in touch and work effectively with one another. This can be particularly useful for patients that live in secluded or rural areas where healthcare may not be as effective. This can be an affordable and efficient solution for patients.
Further use of Augmented and Virtual Reality
It’s predicted that by 2025, augmented and virtual reality in healthcare is likely to become a multi-million dollar sector as it’s use continues to be utilised. It’s played a key role in the development of mobile applications in various areas within healthcare.
There have been various examples of how augmented reality has influenced the healthcare sector in general. Whether it’s through medical education, helping students to understand how to perform tummy tuck Manchester-based surgery to helping regain sight through VR applications, it’s been extremely beneficial for the sector.
Big brands including Google and Apple have also provided their developments in technology within their smartphones, highlighting how AR and VR technology will be influencing their latest developments.
Beacon Technologies
Geo-location has been an influential technology within the mobile app development sector, providing companies with the ability to target their app users within a specific radius of certain beacons, directly to their phone. This has been relatively common for businesses that regularly sell products and services that have a brick and mortar business close by.
Beacon technology uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to help connect to nearby smartphones, potentially providing amazing benefits for healthcare providers. For example, dentists can utilise the technology to remind patients of their appointments if they ever come within close vicinity of the practice. Not only this, but it can also provide patients with up-to-date information about the practice itself or treatment care that they might be interested in.
Technology and its Influence on the Healthcare Sector
It’s fair to say that technology within the healthcare sector has been revolutionary over the past few years. With society now shifting to a digital world for our products and services, we see many of us now opting for online pharmacy services and utilising healthcare apps for our medical needs. This has been the crucial element for healthcare providers as they look to cater to their audiences and ensure their patients can get the services that they need, efficiently.
For app developers, it needs to be recognised that technology is helping to cater to audiences and their needs. It’s assisting the customer in accessing the right information at a given time and providing them with the appropriate knowledge that they need, when they need it.
For 2021, we’re likely to see many of these technologies come to the forefront within healthcare applications as app developers plan to achieve exactly this. It can bridge the gap between consultant and patient relationships and provide efficient services for all as the medical process continues to adapt and progress.