Healthcare apps have taken over accessibility and data traffic in the healthcare sector and have added value and efficiency to the connection between patients, doctors, laboratories, and pharmaceutical companies.
The exponential growth of information technologies and the widespread evolution of digital trends have forced several service providers and business sectors to implement mobile solutions for themselves and their users.
As one of the most globally used service sectors, healthcare has reaped the benefits of mobile technologies since the onset of app usage. Considering that approximately 3.4 billion people use smartphones and tablets worldwide, it’s no wonder that an industry that handles such enormous amounts of data has benefited so much from digital platforms.
The Modern Digital-Healthcare Environment
The digital transformation of the healthcare industry has been accelerating rapidly for the past few years. But in COVID times, the need for having access to remote and safe health services is more relevant than ever. In fact, recent research has shown an increase of 64% in mobile healthcare demand due to the pandemic and a projected sevenfold increase in that number by the year 2025.
The increasing demand for mobile-health solutions has skyrocketed the popularity of apps for both physicians and patients alike. Studies have shown that by the end of this year, there will be around 43,285 healthcare mobile apps on Google PlayStore and 48,608 in Apple’s app store.
Hospitals, insurance providers, laboratories, universities, and research groups have all relied on apps to promote the services they provide and enhance their user experience. Pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer have also used mobile healthcare to provide a platform for physicians and users to get medical content, diagnoses, articles, etc.
The app development industry—especially companies like Foonkie Monkey that specialize in healthcare apps—takes the cake when it comes to introducing the world to the boom of healthcare apps. In only five years, the global mobile healthcare market has grown exponentially, with experts predicting it to reach $100 billion by 2021 and $500 billion by 2025; this is a staggering growth considering the 2016 market size being around $20 billion.
The positive behavior of healthcare apps in the past five years is setting the ground for projections and trends that help in trying to predict the scope of digital healthcare for the next decade. Let’s look at some of the top trends for healthcare apps in 2020.
5 Healthcare App Trends in 2020
1. Telemedicine
The leading trend in mobile healthcare, telemedicine apps involve the use of smartphones or computers to exchange medical information and data. Physicians can remotely monitor and assist patients. Patients can have access to high-quality medical assistance, diagnoses, and treatments without ever leaving their homes. Hospitals can transfer data between staff members, departments, and other facilities. Pharmacies and labs can exchange patient information and prescriptions faster, while pharmaceutical companies can consult, research, and train remotely.
The growth of the global telemedicine market is proof of its importance. It reached an estimate of $41.4 billion in 2019 after only being $25 billion in 2018. Projections say the industry will reach $113 billion by 2025.
2. Artificial Intelligence and bots
Trends in the development of healthcare apps aren’t complete without talking about Artificial Intelligence. The processing of enormous amounts of data is inherent to the healthcare industry, which is why the implementation of mobile apps is so crucial. AI-powered apps and bots can promote safe collaboration, appointment scheduling, chat support, and traffic of patient health information between parties.
AI bots can also assist in the interpretation of medical data, drug testing, imaging, training, treating, and bridging gaps between different practices, pharmaceutical companies, and hospitals. AI-driven apps in the healthcare market could reach $36 billion in 2025.
3. Augmented Reality (AR)
AR creates an interactive, real-world experience that provides groundbreaking benefits for medical professionals, pharmaceutical companies, and patients alike. AR is increasingly used in healthcare software and apps for training, visualizing information, imaging, and diagnosing in real-time, thus promoting priceless knowledge and skills.
Healthcare-based AR will likely become a $5.1 billion market by 2025.
4. Blockchain
The usefulness of Blockchain for healthcare apps is priceless. It acts as an online ledger that facilitates the safe transfer of data and information between professionals, patients, companies, hospitals, labs, and researchers. Blockchain also encrypts and protects the information that is being stored and prevents it from being accessed by unauthorized parties.
Pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and laboratories can request the information and have safe access to it at any time.
5. Communication
The improvement of communication channels is crucial for streamlining the workflow and feedback between users and apps. Patients, physicians, labs, pharmaceutical companies, and pharmacies need to have clear communication channels so that the flow of information is successful. Mobile chats, video chats, chatbots, AI-powered booking systems, voice assistants, and automated emergency calling are some of the features paramount for healthcare apps to have effective communication channels.
What’s next for healthcare apps
As experts on the subject, we have created software and app solutions for several pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, and we keep thriving to provide innovative, groundbreaking solutions for the industry. At Foonkie Monkey, we believe that the future of healthcare apps relies on AI and its deployment in various environments related to the field.
Studies show a mind-blowing increase in the use of mobile healthcare solutions, which indicates a rise in the popularity of said apps and software. Information will be stored safely and can be easily accessed, hospitals will be less crowded, and medical professionals will have less workload. Pharmaceutical companies will have easier access to training programs, drug testing, drug distribution, and patient information for clinical studies and analysis.
Revolutionary changes in the industry are already taking place, and a whole new digital world is being born outside the traditional healthcare environment. New challenges and adaptability issues will come, but with companies like us in the mix, the transition to an app-powered healthcare system will be seamless.
Are you looking for a new healthcare app? With more than ten years of experience, we understand the requirements of a successful healthcare app better than anyone else! Contact us today!