In the midst of current world events, it is evident that telemedicine is more important to the healthcare industry than ever. The ability to safely and remotely deliver care to patients from all walks of life is paramount in maintaining patient health without compromising wellness. In some forms, telemedicine has existed for years, yet newer technologies are allowing the field of telemedicine to grow like never before. Are you considering building a telehealth platform? Here are 5 key things to consider while developing your telehealth app or platform.
What is Telemedicine?
As the name implies, telemedicine is a means of delivering remote healthcare. Doctors can connect with patients via video conferencing, chat, or phone call, without the patient ever having to step foot inside of a medical facility. Telemedicine was originally reserved for those who lived in far-flung regions that didn’t boast access to medical practices or hospitals. Today, telemedicine allows anyone to connect with a doctor or specialist from the comfort of their home. Most healthcare providers have even begun to offer telemedicine websites and dedicated mobile applications.
What To Consider While Developing A Telemedicine Platform
Wondering how to build a telemedicine platform, well, there are a few things you’ll want to consider before getting started. Developing a telemedicine platform is a great responsibility as it can directly affect people’s health and well-being. Whether you want to make a telemedicine app with video chat, audio call, chatbox, or real-time consultations, there are five important things to keep in mind.
1. The Usefulness Of Your Idea
Telemedicine is becoming a rather competitive field, which means only the most useful and in-demand ideas will flourish. Take a good hard look at the usefulness of your ideas regarding the app and evaluate whether your app works with current market conditions. To ensure that your app or platform idea is viable, you have to know why you want to develop an app and specifically why you want to embark on telemedicine. To evaluate the usefulness of your idea, you can:
- Conduct a deep business analysis
- Research the market
- Define the value proposition
- Create a prototype/conduct testing
- Research key marketing channels
2. Laws Regarding Telemedicine
Too many people strive to create their own telemedicine platform without considering the law. There are many US laws that have been written with the goal of furthering telemedicine. Abiding by these laws is key if you want your platform to flourish. If you’re not sure where to start regarding laws with telemedicine, start by following guidelines put forth by the American Telemedicine Association. They can brief you on key laws including the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015.
3. Trends In Telemedicine
Crafting a great telemedicine platform means knowing global telemedicine market trends. According to Zion Market Research, revenue in this industry will grow to 38 billion by 2022. To be a part of the burgeoning telehealth market, you’ll want to build a quality platform that will achieve great success. Trends change, so it is important to delve into aspects of telemedicine such as artificial intelligence, big data, and data security.
4. Functionality and Key Features
A telehealth app or platform is only as good as the useful features it presents to patients. The app must prove a quality alternative to visiting an actual physician in person. Focus on key features such as medication advice, prescription renewals, photo-based consultations, and real-time consultations. Surveyed patients stated that in order to substitute an in-persno examination, these things must be present on a telemedicine platform.
5. Cost of Development
Finally, you have to consider the overall cost of developing a telemedicine platform. Consider aspects of cost such as business analysis, design, development, support, and marketing. A great app designer will need to design both the user interface and user experience, this can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $8,000 over the course of two months.
The Takeaway
Developing a telemedicine platform can prove quite profitable and fulfilling, but you must consider the series of factors that go into developing such an app before you dive right in and get started.
