Healthcare applications and software product development for patients and healthcare providers highlight the need for secure and efficient solutions. This elevated during the pandemic and post-COVID.
This blog post delves into the insights encountered in developing healthcare software products. We have identified seven key concerns: challenges in creating patient-centric platforms, UX/UI design, mobility and scalability, security and privacy issues, specific customization, compliance and regulations, and interoperability in healthcare software development.
With our extensive expertise in the healthcare sector, including web apps and mobile applications, for the American and European markets, we defined key issues with healthcare software products. Among the challenges is meeting patients' and healthcare providers' needs. It requires software that can work across devices, intuitive UI/UX, and ensuring the system is secure. Below, we will show practical healthcare software product development solutions based on our case studies.
#1. Create Patient-Centric Platforms
Challenge
The challenge is designing patient-centered platforms that efficiently manage, track, and improve individual well-being. While opening substantial business opportunities, this medical care transformation requires an innovative solution that can balance personalization and usability with strong data security.
Patient-driven platforms offer digital healthcare solutions to enhance patient engagement. According to a BCG report, telehealth usage has grown 11 times higher than pre-pandemic levels. A key strategy is user journeys that take platform users at the center of interactions.
Solution
Users like direct communication with medical professionals, coaches, and wellness experts. They can get valuable health-related information through engaging visuals. This approach recognizes the societal shift towards personal responsibility for health.
By working with the IsDocin project, we solve this challenge by building patient-centric platforms and creating user journeys with users at the heart of each interaction. This provides a smooth, intuitive, personalized experience tailored to their needs.
IsDocIn
With detailed user stories from the client, we started developing the interface prototype. Regular consultations with medical expert clients ensured a smooth patient experience. The challenge was to adhere to all procedures while maintaining clarity and user-friendliness. The IsDocIn mobile app project aimed to develop an intuitive application. It has to simplify appointment scheduling with doctors. The app allows doctors to establish profiles and receive notifications.
We designed an app for iOS and Android, so we opted for a universal in-app navigation solution.
We choose tabs to keep essential navigation elements accessible to users. We hide the tab bar when users need to focus on crucial screens, such as during appointment creation or editing. Our team designed the UI for the mobile app, creating both iOS and Android versions. Based on the designed user interface, we implemented the native apps.
Read the full case study
Ivanna
Client Manager
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Get a Free Consultation#2 Intuitive UI/UX Design
Challenge
Developing applications for healthcare providers and patients is a reasonable challenge. Creating an intuitive UI/UX design requires a user-centric approach. This method includes comprehensive information architecture, consistent design, accessibility, and clear workflows. There must be a visual hierarchy, mobile responsiveness, and ongoing usability testing. Healthcare apps must address patients' needs and preferences and deliver appealing interfaces.
Solution
To overcome this challenge, healthcare app developers should integrate several interactive tools. They will enhance collaboration between patients and therapists.
- Patients. The interface should be intuitive and accessible for all ages. It must have custom options for a personalized experience. Clear communication and mobile responsiveness are essential.
- Doctors and therapists. Efficient workflows and clear, relevant data presentation are essential. The app must integrate with other systems, offering intuitive interfaces and necessary support.
- Healthcare Organizations. The application should be complient with regulations, secure and scalable. It must support feature customization, integrate with existing systems, and include admin tools.
Healthcare UI/UX design based on user feedback ensures that apps are engaging.
One of our case studies - Chronic Sinusitis - included developing a UI/UX design for a website that shares patients' experiences. The main goal was to make such a design that would bring trust, confidence, and reliability among users.
Chronic Sinusitis
The platform should offer information on alternative treatments for chronic sinusitis, personalized recommendations, details on side effects, and a community for individuals. Additionally, transparency in advertising builds patient trust.
To ensure a great user experience, the designer mapped out the client's journey using a (CJM). This guided precise design implementation to meet user needs. We conducted UI and UX research, using Figma to create modern, appealing designs. The result is a functional website with intuitive navigation and an admin panel.
Read the full case study
#3 Mobility and Scalability
Challenge
Change to the expectations of patients and healthcare professionals is a significant challenge. Patients want access to information and services anytime and on any device. Medical professionals need software that works across different devices and platforms.
Meeting demands requires precise consideration of UI, performance optimization, and compatibility. Testing across platforms shows if the chosen system can handle loads.
Solution
To resolve this challenge, developers focus on cross-platform apps and adopt PWAs. PWAs ensure a consistent UX across different devices and platforms. Cross-platform applications offer scalability and broad compatibility.
Cloud computing helps store and manage large amounts of data, like patient records. Doctors and therapists can have access to essential patient information, leading to more accurate diagnoses. Cloud healthcare software solutions also make sharing medical data between facilities easier.
These technologies make customized healthcare software solutions accessible, responsive, and scalable. A single codebase for many platforms can streamline development, saving time and costs.
In the Vethem project, we successfully used a single codebase across multiple platforms, streamlining development processes and significantly reducing time and costs.
Vethem
The challenge was developing a comprehensive app for booking veterinary appointments and online consultations. It also must include a web gallery of profiles of veterinary physicians. The ability to perform seamless video calls for consultations and features to enable online examinations when necessary. The solution should be intuitive, reliable, and meet the unique needs of both pet owners and veterinarians.
The Vethem application was developed using the cross-platform approach to save time while maintaining consistency in both Android and iOS. In the case of Android, we used Kotlin with Clean Architecture and MVVM through Android Architecture Components for flexible development, easy updates to design, or business logic.
Read the full case study
In the case of iOS, it was developed with Swift and MVVM architecture that allows changes in design without affecting business logic and protocol-oriented programming for enhanced performance. That ensured seamless, reliable user experiences on each platform.
#4 Security and Privacy
Challenge
Preserving medical data security is crucial due to its sensitivity. Cyber threats, such as breaches and unauthorized access, risk data integrity, confidentiality, and availability.
Solution
Healthcare IT experts introduce technological security measures from the interface to deeper layers. This includes utilizing multi-factor authentication, automatic log-offs, and data encryption. Integration with HIS, RIS, and PACS makes secure medical data access. The best are HIPAA, GDPR, and compliance with ISO 27001. They enhance the security and trustworthiness of medical software.
To meet compliance, Stfalcon has undertaken several strategic initiatives. We develop healthcare apps according to ISO 27001. It is an international standard that describes best practices for information security management systems. It covers information security, including risk management, security policies, and controls.
The app must respond to the following:
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Provides guidelines and best practices for managing and reducing cybersecurity risks. It helps organizations build a comprehensive security program.
- PCI DSS. A set of standards for organizations processing credit card transactions. It focuses on securing card data and preventing breaches.
- CIS Controls. Offers a prioritized set of security measures to protect against common cyber attacks.
- CSA STAR. A registry that allows cloud service providers to show their compliance to customers.
To develop STRONGMom, we follow ISO 27001 standards, which outline best practices for information security management systems. Every healthcare app we create is built with ISO 27001 standards, guaranteeing robust security throughout development.
STRONGMom
Clients approached us with their outdated admin panel. Users don’t like logic and platform functions. We conducted a thorough audit and assessed costs. We rebuilt the project by implementing a new design and modern technologies to ensure security.
The main business logic is in the backend, which sets up the REST API for mobile apps. Meanwhile, an admin panel was developed with Symfony and EasyAdminBundle. It lets users add exercises, create programs, and manage the system. We chose Vimeo to protect customers' unique videos. These should not be available for all. Tracking users' actions in such systems is crucial, so we added Firebase analytics.
We used the Stevia library to create efficient UI elements. It facilitates the rapid realization of the designer's vision within the application. We built a consent platform where users can create personalized programs and track progress. Additionally, the client obtained a well-monetized system with a flexible subscription model.
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In another project, our client wanted a mobile system for employee communication within patient-linked groups. It provides robust data security for file sharing, task assignment, and patient interactions. Goals include reducing patient waiting times, improving emergency response, and automating staff tasks. Also, providing an easy-to-use interface like a messenger.
HospApp
We developed an Android application with key features tailored for hospital staff. The Stfalcon team provided UI design, Android development, manual testing, and quality assurance. Our focus was on specific screens, including:
- Messages
- Chat room/group
- Tasks encompassing essential features for both chatting and task management.
We've contributed to medical software development for hospital staff communication. It categorizes groups like patients, cleaning, food, doctors, and medical records.
Members can exchange messages, convert speech to text, and share photos and files. They can also make calls, create tasks, and mark them complete. On the Tasks screen, the user can filter and track by status. Our focus is on streamlining task management and communication within healthcare settings.
Read the full case study
#5 Specific Customization for Healthcare Software
Challenge
Each medical provider has unique requirements and standard software. Healthcare providers operate with different workflows, processes, policies, and preferences.
Standard software may need to help accommodate these specific needs, leading to dissatisfaction.
Solution
Software developers should partner with skilled business analysts to resolve this challenge. This partnership helps tailor software solutions to meet each healthcare provider's requirements.
Customized healthcare management solutions improve functionality, usability, performance, and compatibility. They offer providers a competitive advantage and unique value.
In our portfolio, we have a custom project under NDA for a medical center in Sweden. It involves developing an online appointment system to schedule appointments with doctors, creating a landing page that supports the registration of new patients, doctor selection, and multilingual support. Also, it should provide services such as interpreter selection, flexible payment options, and adaptability for different devices.
An online booking system under NDA
Stfalcon provided full-cycle development, including business analysis, UX/UI design, front-end and back-end development, testing, and implementation. That included close collaboration with a client in the definition of user flows for different variations of booking, which ensured profound detailing of requirements and precise project estimation at the same level.
Read the full case study
From logging in securely to choosing a doctor or interpreter options and making the payment, the booking system was designed to be user-friendly. A design team created a flexible system that quickly adapted mobile, tablet, and desktop screens to maintain consistency and efficiency across all platforms.
#6 Compliance and Regulations
Challenge
A huge challenge in healthcare software development is the regulation and compliance. For instance, every region has laws and standards governing medical data, privacy, and security. The US adheres to the (HIPAA), while the EU follows the (GDPR). If organizations don’t follow these regulations, it can lead to fines, legal consequences, and damage.
Addressing this challenge requires continuous learning by the healthcare software development team. They need to keep up with evolving regulations and best practices. Collaboration with experts in medical application categories and regional requirements is essential.
Adopting standards such as HL7, FHIR, and DICOM becomes crucial. These standards establish a common framework for exchanging, storing, and processing healthcare information. Healthcare software development teams grapple with the complexity of these regulatory compliances.
Solution
Overcoming these regulatory compliances in healthcare software development can be achieved by continuously learning about the regulations at the front, including HIPAA and GDPR. Regular training and audits can guarantee adherence to the evolved laws. Collaboration with legal experts on healthcare laws and regulations is necessary to avoid mistakes and ensure regional compliance. A reliable healthcare software product development company can help you adopt HL7 FHIR by guiding you through the implementation process. Also, ongoing support is a must to help you stay updated. It will ensure continuous optimization of your healthcare processes.
#7 Interoperability in Healthcare Software Development
Challenge
Interoperability remains a crucial challenge in medical care software development. Federal mandates require organizations to manage patient data securely.
HIMSS defines healthcare interoperability as using data across boundaries to optimize health globally. It involves different systems, devices, and applications.
Organizations must enable the flawless exchange of patient information worldwide. EHR interoperability is a standard in care delivery and extends beyond hospital systems.
Resolving interoperability issues includes standardized data formats. The following approaches exist: communication methods and tools like HIEs, and APIs. To ensure regulatory compliance, and educate users, interoperability platforms must involve stakeholders.
Solution
Tackling interoperability requires a multifaceted approach. HL7 and FHIR are standardized and ensure data exchange between systems. These standards introduce better communication and patient information exchange across platforms. Tools and expert interoperability platforms improve flawless data exchange and allow healthcare providers to access and use patient information.
Collaboration between stakeholders, including healthcare organizations, software developers, and regulators, is also essential. The partnership proves that interoperability solutions completed to industry standards and regulations ensure that the education of users, healthcare providers, and IT staff is highly important. It helps to provide improved patient care based on health regulations.
Conclusion
Navigating the complexities of medical software product development in the healthcare industry presents several challenges. With the guidance of an experienced team, you can resolve these issues.
For a more seamless process, consider enlisting the expertise of a dedicated team. Stfalcon is a prominent healthcare software development partner for organizations and startups. We can bring your software product to production. Contact us today to discuss your project!
Now that you know the main challenges, let's delve into the FAQ section.
FAQs about Key Challenges and Solutions in Healthcare Software Development?
What is the most significant technology challenge facing healthcare today?
Compliance with government regulations is essential for all healthcare applications. Non-compliance can lead to fines for hospitals and providers. A single data breach could result in damages reaching millions. These regulations include strict guidelines for the handling, transmitting, and preserving of data. Modern IT architectures on modular, microservices-based foundations.
How does following ISO 27001 standards enhance the security of healthcare apps?
Following the standards of ISO 27001 enhances the security of healthcare apps through this structured framework that secures sensitive data. ISO 27001 ensures systematic consideration of all aspects of information security, including risk management, access controls, encryption, and data integrity. This minimizes the risks of vulnerabilities and guarantees secure storage, processing, and transmission of patient data.
How to overcome the challenge of integrating diverse healthcare systems and data?
Healthcare software developers can address the challenge of integrating diverse systems and data using standardized data formats, APIs, and interoperability frameworks such as HL7 or FHIR. These tools ensure seamless communication among different systems. Additionally, adopting modular and scalable architectures allows for easier integration and future updates, while strong data security measures protect sensitive patient information during the integration process.
