Must-Have Features in Healthcare Apps for Patients

Healthcare apps have been growing in demand since the pandemic. People have learned to use digital technology and increasingly prefer getting things done from the comfort of their homes.

In fact, over three-fourths of millennials are likely to choose these apps over in-person care wherever possible. If you want to build a healthcare app for patients, you’ll need to know its essential features, so keep reading.

We will discuss a list of these and why they are important before going over the most popular types of healthcare apps today.

6 Essential Features In Medical Apps for Patients

Easy-to-Use Interface

Healthcare apps cater to users with varying levels of technological exposure. Therefore, you must design a user-friendly interface for your app with easily accessible features during healthcare app development. Make it as simple to navigate and use as possible, offering clear, concise instructions on how to access the features you are including.

Adding intuitive menus, basic icons, and simple language will help patients understand and use the app well.

Appointment Reminders

Your app can save patients time and hassle through automated reminders of upcoming appointments. Patients will appreciate this way of keeping track of their healthcare schedule and avoiding missed appointments. This feature may also include instructions or preparation tips that may be required.

Virtual Consultations

Healthcare app users find the telemedicine functionality quite useful as it lets them easily communicate with their healthcare providers from the comfort of their homes. It’s a great alternative to physical visits, especially for minor illnesses and routine check-ups. Telemedicine saves patients time and effort by serving as the link between them and professional medical advice.

Compatibility With Wearable Health Devices

Patients who use wearable devices or other health monitoring tools will need a means to share the results with their healthcare providers. An app that’s compatible with wearable devices will help provide a fuller picture of patient health. This includes a range of tracking metrics, such as heart rate, physical activity levels, and sleep patterns.

Prescription Management

This is a feature that lets patients manage their medications and set up reminders for each dose. They should be able to perform different tasks, such as tracking their medication schedule and sending requests for prescription refills.

In short, the Prescription Management feature will enable patients to stay on top of their medication regimen. No more missed doses!

Health History

Your healthcare app should be able to provide a complete overview of the user’s (patient) medical history. The data must include any allergies, past surgeries, and chronic conditions. This information is essential and will be easier to share with healthcare providers if it’s present in one place.

With their health history more accessible, patients can make more informed decisions regarding healthcare, while healthcare providers can avoid potential medical errors.

Common Types of Healthcare Apps Available Today

Healthy Lifestyle Apps

These provide users with the information and tools they need to maintain a healthy lifestyle through nutrition, exercise, and stress management. Users can set goals, track progress, and opt for customized recommendations in support of their health goals.

Examples: Noom, HeadSpace

Monitoring Apps

Patients can use these apps to track their symptoms and health over time. Such apps are especially useful for patients with chronic conditions like heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes.

Examples: Cardiogram, Omron

Mental Health Apps

Users can look after their mental health and well-being using the various features of such apps. For instance, they can track mood, apply coping mechanisms, and get in touch with mental health professionals through a mental health application.

Examples: BetterHelp, TalkSpace

Women’s Health Apps

Such apps help women track their menstrual cycle and all the symptoms they face. They can also monitor fertility and manage pregnancy.

Examples: Ovia, Flo

Diagnosis Apps

A diagnosis app helps patients identify potential health issues for preventive purposes. It’s useful because it can help catch diseases in time before they become serious problems.

Examples: Ada, Babylon

Conclusion

These are the must-have features you cannot ignore when building a healthcare app for patients. It might be a good idea to take the assistance of experienced medical app development services if you lack experience in developing such an app.