Category: Telemedicine

Mental and Behavioural Healthcare

How Telemedicine Bridges the Gap in Mental and Behavioural Healthcare

Posted on | by Ami Kothari

In recent years, telemedicine has emerged as a game-changer in the healthcare industry, offering patients and providers a new way to interact with each other. This was especially evident during the Covid-19 pandemic when the usage of telemedicine services spiked. 

In particular, telemedicine has made a significant impact on the field of mental and behavioural healthcare. Mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse are prevalent worldwide, yet access to care can be challenging due to stigma, cost, and limited resources. Telemedicine online platform development has provided a means of addressing these barriers and improving access to care for needy patients.

In this article, we will explore how telemedicine is bridging the gap in mental and behavioural healthcare and the benefits it offers to both patients and providers.

5 Major Challenges in Traditional Mental and Behavioural Healthcare

5 Major Challenges in Traditional Mental and Behavioural Healthcare

Challenges in traditional mental and behavioural healthcare can be numerous and complex. These range from social issues to technical and accessibility issues. Here are some of the major challenges that traditional mental and behavioural healthcare faces:

Limited access

One of the biggest challenges in traditional mental and behavioural healthcare is limited access to care. People living in rural or remote areas may not have access to mental healthcare services or may have to travel long distances to receive care. This can be particularly difficult for those who have mobility or transportation issues.

Stigma

Another major challenge in traditional mental and behavioural healthcare is mental illness stigma. Many people feel ashamed or embarrassed to seek help for their mental health issues or may fear being judged by others. This can prevent them from seeking the care they need.

High costs

Traditional mental and behavioural healthcare can also be costly, particularly for those without insurance or limited financial resources. This can create a significant barrier to accessing care for those who need it.

Provider shortages

There is a shortage of mental health providers in many areas, making it difficult for individuals to receive timely and effective treatment. This is particularly true in rural areas, where the number of mental health providers is often lower than in urban areas.

Time constraints

Traditional mental and behavioural healthcare also faces time constraints, particularly in scheduling appointments and providing follow-up care. This can make it difficult for individuals to receive the ongoing care they need to manage their mental health issues.

Bridging the Gap Between Telemedicine in Mental and Behavioral Healthcare: 4 Steps

Mental health is crucial to overall well-being, yet it is often neglected or stigmatized. The World Health Organization reports that one in four people globally will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point. Unfortunately, mental health care is still not easily accessible to all individuals due to various factors such as social stigma, lack of healthcare professionals, and limited access to healthcare facilities, particularly in rural areas.

However, telemedicine has brought about significant improvements in the mental healthcare system. Telemedicine for mental health has become a vital tool in bridging the gap between patients and healthcare providers. It has revolutionised mental healthcare delivery by providing a way to reach and treat patients who otherwise would not have access to care.

Bridging the Gap Between Telemedicine in Mental and Behavioral Healthcare_ 4 Steps

Here are some changes that remote access telemedicine software can bring to providing mental health treatment.

1. Overcoming Stigma and Improving Access to Treatment

Telemedicine for mental health has the potential to break down the stigma surrounding mental illnesses and make it easier for people to access proper treatment. By providing care remotely, patients can receive treatment from the comfort and privacy of their homes without worrying about being seen going to a mental health clinic.

2. Addressing Substance Abuse and Encouraging Addiction Treatment Reform

Telemedicine for mental health is also effective in addressing the opioid epidemic and the substance abuse that it entails, thus encouraging reform in addiction treatment. Telepsychiatry allows for easier access to medication-assisted treatment, which has been shown to be effective in treating opioid addiction. It also enables patients to access care more frequently, improving outcomes.

3. Reducing the Shortage of Mental Healthcare Experts

Telepsychiatry can help alleviate the shortage of mental healthcare experts. It allows healthcare providers to reach patients in remote or underserved areas, increasing access to care for those who may not have otherwise been able to receive it. This can also help reduce appointment wait times and improve overall patient outcomes.

4. Convenience and Accessibility for Patients

Finally, telemedicine for mental health is more convenient and easily accessible for people struggling with mental illnesses. It eliminates the need for patients to travel to a physical clinic, which can be difficult for those with limited mobility or transportation options. This can make it easier for patients to stick to their treatment plans and receive the care they need on a regular basis.

Challenges and Future of Telemedicine in Mental and Behavioural Healthcare

Despite the numerous benefits of telemedicine in mental and behavioural healthcare, it also faces several challenges that hinder its effectiveness. One major challenge is the difficulty in assessing nonverbal cues and body language through video consultations. The inability to perform physical exams or tests remotely also gets in the way, as some conditions require one-on-one physical tests. 

Another challenge is the digital divide. Some patients may not have access to the internet or a smartphone, which makes it impossible for them to use telemedicine services. Moreover, some patients may not be comfortable with technology, which can make it challenging for them to receive treatment through telemedicine. There is also the issue of privacy and security. Though there are some challenges in implementing Telemental Health, we can overcome them by using the latest healthcare technologies. Mental health professionals have to ensure that the patient’s data is secure and that there is no breach of confidentiality during the telemedicine session.

What is the Future Hold for Telemedicine in Mental and behavioural health?

The future of telemedicine in mental and behavioural healthcare looks promising. With the increasing demand for mental health services, telemedicine provides a viable solution for reaching more patients and providing timely treatment. Telemedicine also allows mental health professionals to monitor patient’s progress and adjust their treatment plans accordingly.

Technology advancements are also improving telemedicine’s effectiveness in mental and behavioural healthcare. For example, virtual reality therapy is becoming more prevalent in treating anxiety and phobias. Moreover, artificial intelligence is being used to detect early signs of mental illness and provide personalised treatment plans. Here is how you can implement Telehealth & Telemedicine in your hospital & clinic.

Summing Up 

Telemedicine has revolutionised the delivery of mental and behavioural healthcare, making it more accessible. This has broken down the stigma surrounding mental illnesses and made it easier for people to access proper treatment. Telemedicine has also allowed easier access to medication-assisted treatment and reduced the shortage of mental healthcare experts. Challenges in traditional mental and behavioural healthcare include limited access, stigma, high costs, provider shortages, and time constraints. However, the future of telemedicine in mental and behavioural healthcare is bright, with potential for further development and expansion. 

To benefit from telemedicine apps and websites for your mental and behavioural healthcare needs, contact us at EMed HealthTech, a leading telemedicine app development company. We provide customised telemedicine app development services that suit your particular needs. Our client-centric approach ensures all your needs are met through the custom healthcare app we create. Mark your presence in the mental healthcare industry with a sturdy telemedicine app to cover your technical needs. 

Telemedicine Application for the US

Key Considerations for Developing a Customized Telemedicine App

Posted on | by Ami Kothari

Telemedicine is a blessing for the modern world. It opens up opportunities that we did not have. With it, patients have remote access to healthcare services. They can have remote doctor visits and get diagnoses and treatment plans. 

Telemedicine is famous for patients since the pandemic. It was popular in the US too. With this technology, patients could stay in the safety of their homes and get healthcare services. 

Its traction will increase in the coming years as well. Healthcare providers need to prepare for the future. They should understand everything that goes into making such an app.  

Our experts have listed the key points for developing a customized Telemedicine app. Save this list to make sure your app stands out from your competitors.

1. Keeping the Telemedicine App User-Friendly

User interface design is what a patient sees when using your app. This interface must be simple, intuitive, and user-friendly. Only then can a patient find what they are looking for. Navigation is important for retention as well. 

It should have an optimized interface design for different devices. This way patients can use the app from smartphones, tablets, and desktops. A well-designed app encourages patients to use the app. The result is better patient engagement and improved health outcomes. 

2. Ensuring the Essential Feature Set of Telemedicine

Creating a custom telemedicine app requires choosing its features. The must-haves are video calls and messaging. Other facilities include appointment booking, and managing patient records. There should be the option to customize features for different medical fields. Customization lets healthcare providers adapt the app to their specialty. 

3. Hiring Experienced Telemedicine App Developers 

Building a top-notch telemedicine app does not happen overnight. It is the hard work of experts. You must hire experienced telemedicine app developers. They know the ins and outs of app development. Their experience can make sure it’s trustworthy, safe, and easy to use. 

A good app should be able to integrate with other healthcare systems. Always choose a team with a good history in custom telemedicine app development. This can save you time and money. 

4. Managing Costs and Timeline for Development

Developing a telemedicine app involves significant costs. Without careful thought, it can end up in losses. Careful management of the budget and timeline is essential. The budget should include development expenses, platform fees, framework costs, and ongoing maintenance. 

A budget allows healthcare providers to understand the financial implications and plan accordingly. Setting up a clear development timeline helps ensure the project stays on track and within budget. Consider all the costs before you get down to developing. This way you can ensure your investment pays off. 

5. Seamless Integration with Third-Party Systems

For custom telemedicine apps, connecting with other systems is vital.  Developers do this by integrating APIs. It can communicate and coordinate with other essential services. eg:  With API integrations, you get all that you need in one interface. Some of the common integrations are:

The developer you choose has to be an expert in API integration. This will give you peace of mind regarding privacy and security. A smooth API integration means that your app works smoothly.

6. Prioritizing Data Security and Privacy

A customized telemedicine app deals with a lot of information. This is sensitive information. Handling and storing them come under legal scrutiny. In the US there are regulations like the HIPAA. It ensures that patient data are private and safe. 

The app has to comply with the regulations of the region. This will help prevent unauthorized access or leak of data. The app should be well protected with necessary security measures. Some of them are 

  • end-to-end encryption
  • regular security audits
  • secure user authentication

7. Healthcare Regulatory and Security Compliance

As discussed above, regulatory bodies have strict rules to bind medical practices. Here are some aspects, eg: Medical malpractice, privacy, billing and coding, and prescription drug regulation.

These strict measures promote transparency and accountability. HIPAA is one such regulation enforced in the United States. Other countries have different compliance such as PDP, PIPEDA, GDPR, and HL7/FHIR. Here is the healthcare regulatory compliance to follow while developing an application. All of these are in place to promote ethics in the industry.

8. Custom Telemedicine App Development for Specialty Care

Every area of medical/healthcare is different. The kind of healthcare app development services provided varies from one to the other. The apps that cater to this department are bound to be different. Telemedicine app development services should be flexible. They should be able to create custom apps for these different departments. 

A telemedicine app development company is building an app for mental health, neurology, and more. The interface for each of these areas would be different. The mental health app would have mood trackers, virtual therapy sessions, etc. The pediatrics app would have vaccination schedules and growth trackers. 

 9. Uninterrupted Care Delivery with Telemedicine

Uninterrupted care is vital for app users. Having 24/7 customer support is a must for healthcare providers and patients. If there’s a technical problem or any issue, support is required. Choose the telemedicine app development company that provides 24/7 SLA support. 

With round-the-clock support, they can give support at all times. This ensures continuous care. This reduces the chances of treatment interruptions and keeps patients happy. Efficient support lets healthcare providers catch and fix problems early. This way you can prevent bigger issues down the road.

10. Enhancing User Experience with Additional Features

Including the main features, custom Telemedicine apps can have extra features like push notifications and chatbots. They give users quick and easy access to information. Automated appointment reminders decrease no-shows and keep patients engaged. They may be designed to make the user experience better. These are what sets an ordinary app from a good one. Multi-language support feature helps reach a diverse patient group. 

Having these features makes the app more appealing to both parties. It’s a great way to improve the experience and satisfaction of users.

Summing Up 

The concept of Telemedicine is growing. It is making healthcare easy to access and affordable. But it takes a lot of work and effort to make it happen. It takes the well-thought-out planning of a provider and the skill of a developer. If skill, planning, and implementation come in the right proportion, it makes a great app.

Are you looking for custom telemedicine app development services? EMed HealthTech will be the best choice. Make sure you keep all of the above tips in mind. 

By prioritizing these factors, healthcare providers can create great apps. These apps can deliver patients safe, effective, and personalized care.

At EMed HealthTech, we understand the challenges in delivering virtual services. And we explained, how to get the benefits of Telemedicine in Virtual care. That’s why we offer custom telemedicine app development services that cater to different needs. 

We have a team of expert developers having vast experience in developing telemedicine apps for a long list of clients. We ensure compliance, ease of use and provide 24/7 SLA support. 

Contact us today to learn more about customized Telemedicine application development by EMed HealthTech.  We can help you deliver the best care possible to your patients.

Telemedicine Safeguards Women's Health In Rural Areas

How Telemedicine Safeguards Women’s Health In Rural Areas?

Posted on | by Ami Kothari

Access to healthcare is a basic human right, yet it can be a significant challenge for many women living in rural areas. Rural areas are often far from hospitals and clinics, and transportation can be a major hurdle. This can make it difficult for women to get the care they need, particularly those living with chronic conditions or undergoing pregnancy. 

However, telemedicine app is changing the game by bringing healthcare to the patient’s doorstep. In this article, we’ll explore how telemedicine empowers women in rural areas by making healthcare accessible, affordable, and convenient. We’ll also discuss how telemedicine is used to safeguard women’s health in rural areas.

4 Major Challenges in Women’s Healthcare in Rural Areas

Living in a rural area can present unique challenges when it comes to accessing healthcare, particularly for women. This is a universal phenomenon due to dominant social and cultural norms which put women at a disadvantage. 

While urban areas have many healthcare facilities and specialists, those living in rural areas may not have the same level of access. As a result, women in rural areas often face various challenges when it comes to maintaining good health.

1. Lack of Healthcare Facilities

One of the most significant challenges women face in rural areas is the lack of healthcare facilities. Many rural areas have a limited number of hospitals, clinics, and medical centers, making it difficult for women to access healthcare services. This can be particularly challenging for women who require specialized care, such as obstetricians and gynecologists.

2. Shortage of Healthcare Professionals

Another challenge in rural areas is the shortage of healthcare professionals. Many healthcare professionals choose to work in urban areas, leaving rural areas with few doctors and nurses. This can make it difficult for women in rural areas to find healthcare providers who specialize in women’s health.

3. Limited Access to Specialized Care

In addition to the shortage of healthcare professionals, women in rural areas may have limited access to specialized care. For example, women who require advanced diagnostic testing for specialized surgery may need to travel long distances to access these services. This can be particularly challenging for women who do not have access to reliable transportation or who cannot afford to travel.

4. Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Women’s Health

Finally, socio-economic factors can also impact women’s health in rural areas. Women in rural areas may be more likely to live in poverty, making it difficult to access healthcare services. Additionally, women in rural areas may have limited access to healthy food options or safe places to exercise, contributing to various health issues.

4 Key Benefits of Telemedicine in Women’s Healthcare

Benefits of Telemedicine in Women's Healthcare

Telemedicine has revolutionized healthcare delivery, especially in rural areas where accessing quality healthcare services has always been challenging. It plays a crucial role in improving the overall health and well-being of rural women. There are some significant benefits of telemedicine in virtual healthcare. Here are some of them: 

1. Improved access to healthcare services

Telemedicine improves access to healthcare services that’s why it is a must for quality healthcare. Women living in rural areas often lack access to primary care physicians, let alone specialists, due to a shortage of healthcare facilities and professionals. Telemedicine eliminates this barrier by providing remote access to healthcare services, enabling women to consult doctors and specialists regardless of location.

2. Reduced travel time and costs

Women in rural areas often travel long distances to access healthcare services, which can be costly and time-consuming. With telemedicine, patients can access care from the comfort of their homes, eliminating the need for travel and reducing costs associated with transportation, accommodation, and other related expenses.

3. Increased availability of specialized care

Another benefit of telemedicine is that it increases the availability of specialized care. Rural areas often lack specialized healthcare services due to a shortage of trained professionals. With telemedicine, women can access specialized care from remote locations, receiving timely and effective treatment for conditions that would otherwise go untreated.

4. Improved patient outcomes

By providing remote access to healthcare services, women living in rural areas can receive timely and effective care for a wide range of conditions, including chronic diseases, mental health issues, and maternal and child health. Telemedicine allows healthcare providers to monitor patients’ health status remotely, enabling them to detect and address health issues before they become severe.

Few Examples of Telemedicine in Women’s Healthcare

Examples of Telemedicine in Women's Healthcare

As Teleconsultation is shaping the future of healthcare, we can expect much from Telemedicine and Telehealth in 2023 and beyond. Here are some examples of telemedicine making an impact on the health of rural women. 

Teleconsultations for gynecological and obstetric care

– Teleconsultations allow women in rural areas to consult with gynecologists and obstetricians without traveling, saving them time and money.

– With telemedicine, healthcare professionals can diagnose and treat various conditions such as irregular menstrual cycles, urinary tract infections, and abnormal Pap test results.

– Women can also receive guidance on family planning, pregnancy-related issues, and menopause through teleconsultations.

Remote monitoring of high-risk pregnancies

– Telemedicine helps pregnant women in remote areas receive timely and appropriate care, reducing the risk of complications.

– Healthcare professionals can monitor vital signs, fetal development, and other parameters through remote monitoring devices.

– Women can also receive guidance on proper prenatal care and nutrition through telemedicine.

Telemedicine for mental health services

Though there are some challenges in Telemental health, they can be overcome.

– Telemedicine helps women in rural areas access mental health services without needing travel, which can be especially beneficial for those with limited mobility or transportation.

– Women can receive counseling for various mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and postpartum depression.

– Healthcare professionals can also provide support for coping with domestic violence, sexual abuse, and other traumatic experiences.

Telemedicine for preventive care

– Telemedicine enables women to receive regular preventive care services such as mammograms, Pap tests, and STD screenings without traveling long distances to a healthcare facility.

– Healthcare professionals can also provide guidance on healthy lifestyle choices, such as proper nutrition and exercise.

– This service helps women in rural areas stay proactive about their health, reducing the risk of developing serious health conditions.

Challenges in Telemedicine Implementation

Telemedicine sounds like the ideal solution. However, it is plagued by obstacles that prevent its effective implementation.

In rural areas, the lack of infrastructure and technology can create obstacles to providing telemedicine services. Additionally, limited healthcare resources, including trained healthcare professionals, equipment, and medication, can make it difficult to implement telemedicine successfully. There is a need for policy changes and regulations to ensure that telemedicine is integrated into the healthcare system in rural areas, providing reliable and accessible healthcare services to women. By addressing these challenges, telemedicine can play a crucial role in safeguarding women’s health in rural areas, particularly those who face difficulties in accessing healthcare services.

Summing Up 

Telemedicine is a promising solution to improve healthcare access and quality for women in rural areas. It offers a solution to bring in much-needed access to healthcare for women and thereby uplift society as a whole. Despite the challenges that pave the way, telehealth stands as a beacon of hope for rural women. 

If you want to integrate telemedicine into your healthcare practice, EMed HealthTech provides custom telehealth app development services that can help you provide remote care to your patients. With our expertise in developing HIPAA-compliant telemedicine apps, we can create a personalized telehealth solution for your practice to ensure that you can offer high-quality care to your patients, no matter where they are located.

Telehealth-and-Telemedicine-in-2023-and-Beyond

What to Expect From Telehealth and Telemedicine in 2023 and Beyond?

Posted on | by Ami Kothari

Telehealth and telemedicine have been growing in popularity in recent years, but the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of these technologies. With the ability to provide medical care remotely, telehealth services and telemedicine have become essential tools for maintaining access to healthcare during the pandemic and beyond.

With technology advancing rapidly, one can also expect this to be reflected in telehealth and telemedicine platforms in many ways. In this article, we will explore what to expect from telehealth and telemedicine in 2023 and beyond, including predictions for the future of the field and the value of virtual care beyond telehealth.

Telehealth and Telemedicine: The Journey So Far

The healthcare industry is constantly evolving, and telehealth and telemedicine are no exceptions. These technologies have grown exponentially in recent years, and this trend is expected to continue. From its inception to where it is today, there have been tremendous changes in telehealth and telemedicine, altering how we perceive healthcare services.

Where is it headed?

The healthcare industry saw an unprecedented surge in telehealth services during the pandemic period. Now that things are back to normal and the sense of urgency that ruled the time has died down, there has been a systematic and sure shift to virtual healthcare services. This aligns with various studies that predict the surge in the use of telehealth services. A study by McKinsey shows that almost $250 billion could be shifted in the US alone for virtual healthcare. A quick look at the current usage stats also confirms the inevitable rise of telehealth.

What are the Usage Stats of Telehealth?

A recent HIMSS report shows that more than 70% of Gen Z, millennials, and Gen X want the convenience of telehealth and go as far as to choose another provider if it is not an option. According to a September 2022 AMA study, there has been a significant increase in physicians using remote monitoring devices, as the percentage grew from 12% in 2016 to 30% in 2022. The main reasons for this adoption are improved clinical outcomes and efficiency. Find the top 10 reasons to build Telemedicine app. Improvement in usability and culture is also seen as a major factor that can raise it to a 50% to 70% rate in the next five years.

What are the components involved in Telemedicine?

One of the most crucial aspects enabling telemedicine is Remote patient monitoring (RPM) It uses connected medical devices and sensors, mobile devices, cloud platforms, and software to analyze and store data. While personal wearable devices such as Jawbone, Fitbit, and Apple Watches were popular a decade ago, they do not provide medical-grade information. Medical-grade devices are necessary for significant progress. As patients become accustomed to utilizing devices, sensors will become more compact and efficient.

Bringing a greater value beyond the obvious

Beyond the obvious benefits of telehealth and telemedicine, such as increased access to healthcare and reduced costs, virtual care can potentially improve patient care quality. Virtual care can also help to reduce the spread of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, by reducing the number of in-person visits to healthcare facilities. Read more about 10 Benefits of Telemedicine Apps in Virtual Healthcare.

The Future of Telehealth and Telemedicine: 2023 in a Glance

Get Ready for Tech giant takeovers

Tech giants like Google and Amazon are taking notice of telehealth’s potential and making strategic acquisitions and investments to expand their offerings in the healthcare space. Google has made direct investments in telehealth providers, while Amazon has acquired One Medical, a telehealth-powered primary care provider, for close to $4 billion and launched Amazon Clinic, a marketplace for third-party telehealth providers. With the potential to apply new technologies in telehealth, we can expect to see more tech giant acquisitions in the coming years.

Bring Home the Hospital

During the pandemic, home healthcare saw a rapid scaling up due to the deployment of cutting-edge technologies. However, as things have normalized, the urgency to address healthcare challenges has decreased. Caregivers are now working to refine and expand subscription-based home healthcare services. We can expect a significant increase in subscription-based home healthcare services in the coming years, as corporate healthcare programs integrate preventive approaches to reduce healthcare expenditure.

Behavioral and holistic health

Integrating behavioral insights to create a holistic care environment that integrates physical, social, and mental health is a growing trend in healthcare. This approach, which tech giants are embracing, goes beyond monitoring patients’ vitals and providing remote diagnostics. It creates a sense of community and belonging for patients. This shift towards behavioral and holistic health promises to enhance patients’ overall well-being.

Better Usability

Telehealth technology is advancing rapidly, focusing on making it more user-friendly for patients and physicians. The usability of telehealth services will continue to improve to make them more accessible to everyone. This includes simplifying the process of accessing telehealth services, improving the user interface, and making it more intuitive. Additionally, the increasing demand for telehealth services will drive further technological developments to make it more convenient for patients and physicians to access and utilize these services.

Evolving into an All-in-one technology

The technology industry is moving towards a more consolidated approach with the development of all-in-one solutions. This means that instead of using multiple tools to achieve a certain task, users can access everything they need from a single platform. This will reflect in telemedicine in the form of technologies that will provide different services in a single platform.

Comprehensive changes in Chronic disease management

One advantage of telemedicine is how it will help in chronic disease management. It cuts down on hospital visits and helps healthcare providers give their services at home in a consistent manner. With video appointments, follow-ups, and therapy, patients can find relief within their homes.

Government funding and regulation for telehealth

With telehealth providing a more democratic approach to healthcare services, governments will receive greater funding to make it available to the general public at a subsidized cost. There will also be greater regulations in place to ensure there are no fraudulent practices.

More capital will flow to innovators in the digital healthcare arena.

Telehealth services will also attract many investors owing to their predicted growth and popular appeal. The involvement of tech giants is also proof that the future of telehealth will see a flurry of growth. Here is why Telemedicine/Telehealth is a must for digital healthcare.

 

Summing Up

Telehealth has seen one of the most astonishing growth in recent times, especially during the COVID pandemic. It brought about revolutionary new changes in the field of healthcare services. New technologies add to their facets, making it a constantly evolving field. All of the compasses point to great growth in the telehealth sector. It is wise to opt for digital healthcare options like a telemedicine app to give the best possible services for patients, especially the convenient ones they are looking for.

EMed HealthTech – a custom healthcare software development company is here for you if you need a reliable digital healthcare services provider. We provide custom telehealth software solutions and healthcare services that can be tweaked to fit your needs. With all the best telemedicine software options available, we help our healthcare industry clients gain a digital advantage in an era of evolution and growth. We can do the same for you. To know more, get in touch with us today!

 

 

Telemedicine-in-Virtual-Healthcare

10 Benefits of Telemedicine App in Virtual Healthcare

Posted on | by Ami Kothari

Telemedicine, telehealth, virtual care, and m-health are all similar terms used to denote medical care delivered from a distance. Doctors provide their medical services using technology like video conferencing and phone calls, compared to traditional face-to-face appointments. This is neither a new concept nor an unknown one. Telemedicine platform has been practiced since there was phone service, and doctors have been giving consultations via phone. It later developed into video conferencing as technology evolved, giving doctors more access to information to make better diagnoses and give better medical advice.

However, with the advent of mobile phones and the plethora of options, like tracking heartbeat, pressure, and other vitals via wearables, virtual care took a whole new turn, making it as efficient as traditional consultations, maybe even more efficient and accurate. While telehealth was an option people could choose, the COVID pandemic brought it to the forefront, forcing people to choose it and recognize its immense benefits. This article looks at the 10 various benefits telemedicine has in virtual healthcare.

What is Telemedicine App & Virtual Healthcare?

Telemedicine and virtual healthcare are similar in that both involve imparting healthcare services without the doctor or patient being present at the same place. Let us take a look at both to understand how they differ.

Telemedicine means medical practitioners can provide medical advice without meeting the patient in person. They may examine medical reports transmitted electronically or visual aspects of the condition via video conferencing. Audio and messaging are also used in the process. Doctors can work from their offices, while patients can be in the comfort of their homes. It can be accessed through their mobile, tablet, or computer and is effective in managing chronic conditions, common illnesses, or even follow-up. There is a lot of telemedicine that can cover.

On the other hand, virtual care refers to a comprehensive concept that includes the way healthcare provides interaction with patients. It may be consultation with a doctor, follow-up calls from medical staff, post-operative guidance and monitoring, pharmaceutical services, laboratory services, etc. All of these are enabled by digital tools like apps developed by telemedicine app development services.

Top Ten Benefits of Telemedicine App

Telemedicine is software that functions as a platform to avail various healthcare services. Please find the top 10 benefits of the Telemedicine platform:

Ten Benefits of Telemedicine

 

1. No Need for Commutes and Long Waits

Traditional consultation with a doctor requires reaching the doctor’s office and waiting in line, among others, for your turn. Patients cannot easily commute to the doctor’s office with their discomfort. They may be physically unfit, and there are expenses involved. Waiting at the doctor’s office with others also poses the risk of communicable diseases spreading.

2. Save Expenses

With telemedicine, there are a lot of expenses saved for the patient as well as the doctor. As for the patient, the expenses of traveling from their home, taking leave from work, finding replacements or babysitters, and car parking. All these lead to additional expenses on top of the doctor’s fees. Unexpected delays may happen on the way or at the doctor’s office. All of these inconveniences and expenses are taken care of with telemedicine.

3. More Efficient Appointments

Telemedicine makes the whole deal of making appointments a lot more efficient than it was before. For instance, making an appointment with telemedicine means finding an open slot for the doctor you prefer from your telemedicine app. You can also cancel appointments within that time. There is also the means to keep the appointment even if you are too unwell, as you can consult from the comfort of your home. Hence, appointments are better kept and more efficient.

4. Account for the Physical Health of the Patient

One of the major aspects overlooked in traditional appointments is the patient’s physical health. They may be sick to the bone with a high fever and unable to afford to call a doctor home. Even in such uncomfortable cases, patients must drag themselves to the doctor’s office to get a medical consultation. With telemedicine, they can do this from home and keep the appointment even if they are too unwell.

5. Better Access to Healthcare

One of the stellar reasons why telemedicine is such a hit is that it makes healthcare accessible to people. Instances, where the doctor you wanted to meet was too far away, were no longer an issue. With telemedicine, you can see doctors miles apart, no matter how remote you are, making healthcare more accessible to all.

6. Maintain Social Distance

Social distance was crucial during the COVID pandemic and brought to our attention how important it was in every other setting. It helped reduce the spread of communicable diseases, the common cold, or COVID. Telemedicine ensures social distancing from other patients as well as the doctor.

7. Access to Specialised Care

With telemedicine, another major advantage is access to specialized doctors. There might not be a doctor with a particular specialization in your nearby hospitals. You can save traveling for a consultation and instead choose to do it virtually, saving you money and time.

8. Beat Social Stigma:

People may avoid seeking medical help due to fear of social stigma. For instance, mental illnesses are widespread, but getting medical attention is not as easy as many social obstacles are yet to change. Telemedicine gives you privacy and security in such instances.

9. Better Medical Adherence

Telemedicine allows doctors, healthcare providers, and patients to keep in touch more. Patients may fall back on medications and the treatment may not be successful. With telemedicine, healthcare providers can check up on patients, prompt them to adhere to their regimens, and take better care of themselves.

10. Shorter Hospital Stay

Patients need not stay longer at the hospital when they need rest. If the observation required is minimal, the patients can be discharged to their homes, and healthcare providers can monitor them from afar. This makes the healing process more comfortable.

The fundamental of telemedicine apps has been around for a long time. Find out the top 10 reasons – why you need to develop a Telemedicine app.

Telemedicine App is a Necessity, not an Option. Why?

Telemedicine has become so popular, especially during the COVID pandemic, that it can no longer be considered an option instead that doctors can consider, rather a necessity for every medical facility to keep up with the demands of the changing times as well as for the many benefits we have listed above.

The COVID pandemic saw a sharp rise in the usage of telemedicine services. McKinsey.com says the study proved the rise in usage up to a staggering 38 times that before in April 2020. This spike was up to 32%, stabilizing at 13-17%.

Hospitals and clinics actively opt for telehealth services using advanced technology and software. The quality and features of a telemedicine application depend entirely on the expertise of the telemedicine app developers. You must choose the best telemedicine app development company to build your custom telemedicine app. Their expertise, experience, and access to resources determine the success of your venture into virtual healthcare.

With the success of telemedicine services in the last two years, the Indian government is sparing no means to develop Telemedicine further. Here you can find what did the Union Budget say about Telemedicine and Digital Health?

Why Choose EMed HealhtTech as Your Telemedicine App Development Partner?

EMed HealthTech is a custom healthcare software development company, that has developed successful telemedicine apps and websites. With over 560+ satisfied clients, they have built an impressive portfolio that proves their merit. Choose EMed HealthTech to know excellence first-hand. Reach out today to get a free estimate.

 

Experts-Tips-and-Tricks-of-Doctor-Appointment-Booking-App-by-EMed-HealthTech

Experts Tips and Tricks of Doctor Appointment Booking App by EMed HealthTech

Posted on | by site_admin

The COVID pandemic was our first brush with being forced to stay indoors due to health hazards. As a response, the health tech industry pushed solutions like mHealth and online consultations to the forefront to improve people’s access to safe and effective medical care. And the result has been eye-opening in how investment in digital health and virtual healthcare business models has skyrocketed.

In this post-pandemic period, we see healthcare practitioners implementing virtual healthcare services, like mobile health apps for booking doctors’ appointments. Healthcare facilities have recognized the upward trend and are developing their apps like doctors’ appointment booking apps, hospital management apps, pharmacy apps, etc.

This article delves into how a doctor appointment booking app can be developed and what you need to keep in mind. We also share tips and tricks from our experts for developing your doctor’s appointment app.

 

Digital Healthcare Market & Trends

The pandemic saw a sharp spike in the utilization of telehealth services. It was reported to be 38 times higher than pre-pandemic times. The spike to 32% has stabilized at 13-17% across all specialties.

A significant factor driving the trend has been the increased confidence of patients in digital healthcare. According to McKinsey, nearly 40% of consumers in their survey said they “believe they will continue to use telehealth going forward—up from 11 percent of consumers using telehealth before COVID-19.”

The better prospects in digital health have also increased investment in digital health. Innovation picked up speed with venture capitalist digital health investment in June 2020 tripled by June 2021, according to rockehealth.com.

Studies show that the global market for such healthcare apps is growing, with an estimated market value of USD 189 billion by 2025. Another study shows that 90% of physicians use smartphones for schedule management, EHR access, communication with the team, or reference information. From the patient’s perspective, there is high engagement with mobile health technology. A study by Boston Tech Corporation showed that 74% of patients use wearables and other mHealth tools to help them manage and cope with their health conditions. The recently presented Union Budget 2022-2023 strongly indicates that Telemedicine is a Must for Digital Health.

All studies and trends show positive growth for electronic health apps like those for booking doctor appointments. It also has many benefits that make patients want to have it. Let us take a quick look at the benefits of a doctor appointment booking app.

 

Challenges Faced Within the Industry

The healthcare industry faces certain challenges that stand in the way of providing proper healthcare. Doctors and healthcare providers are sometimes helpless due to barriers preventing patients from receiving timely attention and treatment. Here is a quick look at them.

Challenges-Faced-Within-the-Industry

1. Face-to-face meetings

Not every doctor’s consultation has to be faced with this. Certain illnesses and follow-up meetings could be done over the phone or virtually. With no such provision, the number of patients blocks up an entire day’s worth of appointments.

2. Time restraint

Doctors find it difficult to manage time if they have to attend to patients and clinics at different places. A lot of time is wasted traveling.

3. Access

Healthcare providers may find themselves wanted in places they may not have easy access. This may prevent timely healthcare from being provided.

4. Better appointment management

The lack of a proper system can make the consulting process tedious. Doctors’ offices are clogged with a lack of appointment booking systems.

 

Challenges Associated with Traditional Methods of Taking Doctor Appointments

The traditional mode of consulting a doctor is a long procedure. And we can all agree that many challenges in it make us begrudge the system. A doctor’s appointment app directly addresses these issues. Let us look at some of the challenges within the traditional method of taking appointments.

Challenges-Associated-with-Traditional-Methods-of-Taking-Appointments

 

  1. Long waiting periods: Say you are suffering from chronic joint pain. Only one ortho specialist in your nearby hospital is available for consultation only on certain days. These days will naturally have a lot of traffic too. Getting an appointment, braving the long queue, and finally seeing the doctor can be strenuous.
  2. Travel expenses: It is difficult to find doctors specializing in certain niches. You might have to travel long distances to get a consultation, which can be expensive, depending on the distance you have to cover.
  3. Skipped Appointments: There are several reasons one might skip an appointment with a doctor. Some patients may forget or skip appointments due to poor health or expenses.
  4. Safety from infectious pathogens: This is perhaps why telehealth solutions gained popularity during the pandemic. The need to be in a room full of ill people increases the chances of catching it.
    Consult from home for chronically ill: Patients who are not well enough to travel can find it even more challenging to make it to appointments. Without virtual consulting, they might choose to skip appointments.

 

Advantages of Developing a Doctor Appointment Booking App

A doctor appointment booking app has a lot of advantages, making it highly sought after by medical professionals for their clinics and healthcare facilities. Patients use it to get the best medical services, and there are plenty of options in the market. Healthcare facilities are competing to be the best on the scene.

Both healthcare providers and patients can benefit from a doctor consultation app.

Benefits to the hospital/clinic/healthcare provider include:

  1. Manage appointments via online channels.
  2. Avoid overbooking by accurately calculating and managing time slots.
  3. Lessen skipped appointments as the hassles and expenses of physical travel are some of the primary reasons patients skip.
  4. Streamline processes of the clinic/hospital, and increase efficiency.
  5. Automate administrative tasks and free up more time for staff for productive work.
  6. eHealthcare reports to analyze performance and make relevant adjustments to make improvements.
  7. Reduce chances of errors that may occur due to human causes.

Benefits to the patients include:

  1. Patient’s can book an appointment anytime from the comfort of their home.
  2. They can use the services of the app 24/7.
  3. Pay medical bills, and access medical records from a single app.
  4. Communicate with the healthcare providers in real time.

Three Tips for Successful Implementation of Doctors Appointment app

Now that you know the advantages of the doctor appointment app development, you may not have any doubt as to whether or not you need the app. As much as the app is helpful, it takes a careful approach to make it truly work. Many different apps launch and then fizzle out due to small mistakes or because they overlooked one or the other thing.
Here are some tips you can keep in mind, so you do not have to make the same mistakes as others.

Take Wearables into Account

Wearables have an immense market. People from all age groups increasingly use them. It is also easily accessible and affordable. The amount of data a wearable health tech generates is immense. It is also a great way to monitor patients who are under chronic illnesses.

Compliance and Regulations

This is perhaps the trickiest part of a doctor’s appointment app. Since it is relatively new, few users know the privacy policies, how the information is used, and more. Regulatory bodies also keep a tight leash on companies for collecting, storing, and processing patient data. These regulations change over time and may prove hard to keep up. You must make sure your app is compliant and follows all regulations.

Managing Doctors Listing

The doctor’s appointment app will require a doctor’s listing. You can manage the doctor listing on your own via an admin panel. Or you can use a second app for doctors where they can edit details on their own and manage their appointments.

When doctors have an app, they can manage it themselves, taking a load off your head. Patients can also get accurate data directly from doctors.

Development Tips: Features You’ll Find in a Great Doctor’s Appointment App

A well-developed on-demand doctor app is marked by the features it has. Here are some features you need to include in a doctor’s appointment app.

  1. Customization: Each healthcare facility has its own needs. A good app is marked by its ability to be customized to the client’s needs.
  2. Video consultation: A doctor appointment app has the primary facility to conduct a virtual consultation, which will significantly organize a doctor’s office.
  3. Multi-Language patient app: Considering the patients and doctors of various ethnicities using the app, the app should support English and other regional languages.
  4. Separate Mobile App for Patients and Doctors: Ideally, a doctor’s appointment app will have separate apps, one for the patient to make appointments, make virtual consolation, etc. The doctor’s app will have provisions to schedule visits, access EHR, organize consultations, etc.
  5. Own payment gateway: The app should provide the convenience of a payment gateway so that patients can make secure payments.
  6. Professional Profile: Doctors should be able to maintain a professional profile, which the patients can look up before choosing to consult them.
  7. Patient History and Electronic Medical Records: The app should integrate the patient history and previous medical records so that doctors and patients can easily access and manage them.
  8. Appointment Management: The star feature of an appointment management app is this feature. It enables patients to easily make appointments with the doctor they need according to their availability, and doctors can manage appointments and schedule their work around it.
  9. Digital Medicine order: Doctors can make digital medicine orders within the app so that the patient gets it on their profile. There is no mix-up or confusion, they simply have to show it to the pharmacy.
  10. Home Delivery of Medicines Based on Medicine order: Patients can also order medicines online, which will be delivered to their homes if they use the online pharmacy module.
  11. Peer-to-peer support: Patients can find support groups and communities to discuss their treatment journey. The feature to make communities makes the patients connect to the app intimately.
  12. 3rd Party software integrations: The app should be enabled with 3rd party software integration to enable different services. Accessing EHR, maps, calendars, etc., requires provisions to integrate.

Plan Your Budget: What Is The Cost To Make A Doctor’s Appointment App?

A doctor appointment app might cost between $40,000 and $50,000 to develop on average. The price range for adding sophisticated features like artificial intelligence is between $100,000 and $150,000.
Additional factors like the features and functionalities, app categories, UI and design, and development time also vary the cost of developing an app. The company you choose to develop your app also decides how much you will have to spend on the app.

Instead of spending money on developing a highly advanced full-fledged doctor appointment booking app, we advise starting with an MVP to gauge market acceptance before expanding to include other healthcare app features. By doing this, you could avoid giving users everything upfront and having the same medical app features for all time, ensuring that you are constantly adding value to their lives.

Our Top Tech Tricks to Remember While Developing the Doctor Consultation App

There are several ways in which you can make your doctor app or Telemedicine app development process easier. Since other products are already on the market, you can thoroughly research and find the shortcuts and tricks to improve your app.

There are several APIs that are extremely useful. You can use them to make your app much more polished and feature-rich. Here is a quick look at some of them.

  1. Manage and maintain booking via 10to8’s API. It is a great tool that saves you a lot of time developing from scratch.
  2. Symptom Checker API has a repository of symptoms by which the patients can be allocated to the doctor most apt to treat those symptoms.
  3. BetterDoctor API shows data about doctors, helping you find the best doctor for your needs.
  4. SimplyBook.me API can be used to schedule appointments with the doctor of your choice.
  5. Doctoralia API has a detailed listing of doctors with reviews from other patients so that patients can make better bookings.
  6. Payment portals like Stripe and Braintree SDKs are a necessity for managing payments.
  7. Third-party integrations to make your app packed with features like Twilio for video calling, Tawk.to for chatting, etc. Payment integration for national and international payments like Paytm, PayPal, and Razorpay.

The Perfect Monetisation Strategy for your App

There are many ways to monetize an app and create a paying customer out of your users. Some of these strategies offer the user to experience your services, evaluate them, and then buy a paid service. Others utilize traditional methods of monetization, like advertisements. Let us look into it.

  1. Freemium: This strategy utilizes two versions of the same app. A free version of the app has limited functionalities, while the premium version requires you to pay an amount to unlock all the services. Your users will likely shift to premium to enjoy the advanced functions.
  2. Commission-based model: This model is where you provide a platform for the doctors and patients to interact to make appointments. You can get a fee from the doctors to display their availability.
  3. Local Ads: Healthcare brands often show interest in placing advertisements in your apps. Keeping the relevant ads adds value to your customer’s experience.
  4. Paid Listing: This is another way to earn revenue from doctors. In this way, you offer the doctors more visibility and patients by placing them higher on the list of doctors for a fee.
  5. In-app purchases: This offers the patients to buy services through your app. The app is free, but you earn a commission when the patient pays for medicines, services, and visits through your app.

Building the App with Experts

A doctor consultation app is a great way to improve the patient inflow for hospitals and clinics. Its features and advantages give apps an upper hand over traditional methods. Ultimately it comes down to the quality of your app and how well it is built. A doctor appointment booking app development can be the most crucial step in your journey.

You should hire experts like EMed HealthTech for your app development. EMed HealthTech offers custom healthcare software development services at affordable prices. We use emerging technologies to make sure you get only the best. Our software is richly featured with a robust UI. We also have a healthcare-integrated platform for pharmacy, telemedicine, and lab. Reach out to us today to get an estimate. Our experts are happy to help you.

 

Medical-Care-Can-Be-Valuable

Medical Care Can Be Valuable: Why Healthcare Needs Telemedicine Technology?

Posted on | by Ami Kothari

Technology has enabled medical care to easily find a niche online. With platforms like the Telemedicine app, there is ease in conducting medical services that were not available before. Thanks to COVID, the masses have opened up to the possibility of digital healthcare services exponentially, thus making apparent its benefits. Let us take a detailed look at telemedicine and how it reshapes how we perceive medical care.

What is Telemedicine App Development?

Telemedicine, simply put, is the platform where a medical health care provider is connected to their patient via technology. It has been around since there were advanced means of communication. What started as medical advice via the radio evolved in time to become the full-fledged service portals we now know as telemedicine. Today’s technology has enabled a holistic approach to providing medical services. Its benefits are immense, and it is enjoyed by both the patient and the healthcare provider.

Despite its benefits, telemedicine did not enjoy the acceptance it has today as it did before the COVID pandemic. According to McKinsey.com, the onset of COVID saw a spike in telemedicine usage as high as 32%, which quickly stabilized to be at a rate that is 38 times higher than the pre-COVID period.

How is Telemedicine Used?

The telemedicine app offers a plethora of opportunities for medical staff as well as patients. For patients, the obvious advantage of telemedicine is medical help would be available even if it is remote. This allows a patient to save the resources used to reach the medical facility, and it gives the patient the option of discretion. Medicines could be prescribed online, and medicines can reach one’s home even by simply opting for delivery.

For medical care providers, telemedicine provides access to chronically ill or critically ill patients from their homes, access to more patients from remote areas, lower exposure to pathogens, consultation from home, etc.
Hospitals and clinics are increasingly adopting telemedicine technology and strategies to include virtual medical care in their services. The immense benefits it provides to the medical care facility regarding business cannot be ignored.

Let us now look at the benefits of telemedicine and what makes it an indispensable aspect of modern medicine.

The Benefits of Telemedicine

benefits-telemedicine

Low Cost

One of the biggest advantages of telemedicine is that it allows the patient to consult the doctor without spending the money and time to travel to the healthcare center. The patient will only have to remit the consultation charges.

Data Management Tools

Telemedicine app allows medical care providers and patients to update their data on a single platform. Medical facilities can store this data to maintain a comprehensive medical history of the patient. This will help provide treatment strategies and analytical insights from large amounts of data.

Remote Access

This is a matter of both access and comfort. Patients who do not have easy access to medical facilities as they live in remote areas can avail of telemedicine to meet their medical consultations. In other cases, patients might prefer the comfort of their homes to meeting the doctor online. This would give them the privacy a public place might not offer.

Access to Specialist Doctors

A patient seeking a specialist doctor may have to travel great distances to meet them. Since specialist doctors, especially those specializing in rare fields, are hard to come by. It can also be difficult to get appointments with them. With a doctor appointment booking app, all of it gets easier. Be it the distance, scheduling an appointment, or the cost of travel.

No More Queues

Another outstanding advantage of telemedicine is the dreaded wait in the waiting room. It is daunting enough to drag oneself out to meet a doctor but to wait in line till one’s turn can prove a little too much for a patient. With telemedicine, there is no need to wait in line and bear the discomfort. With telemedicine, one has to meet the doctor at the appointed time online, without the wait and queue.

Safety from Infectious Pathogens

This is another obvious benefit for both the doctor and the patient. Patients can save themselves from being in crowded rooms with many other sick patients, and the doctor need not meet every infected patient. This way, a lot of unnecessary exposure and risk can be minimized.

Scheduling Appointments and Follow Ups.

With telemedicine apps, making an appointment with a doctor is easy. One simply has to find the doctor, check their availability and make a booking. Telemedicine also enables easy follow-up for patients as they can talk to their doctor via video or call to give updates.

Flexibility

Working individuals and students need not take days off to consult a doctor. With telehealth facilities, they can simply schedule an appointment according to their convenience. This flexibility benefits the doctor too. Scheduling appointments via telemedicine allows the doctor to easily book and cancel appointments and even provide extended service hours.

Emergency Services

A significant benefit of telehealth is access to quality healthcare in cases of emergency. If a patient can access emergency doctors in the middle of the night or from a remote area for an emergency, they can provide valuable medical help to avoid bigger problems.

Overall Better Health

The biggest benefit and outcome of telemedicine is that it provides access to overall better health. When a person has access to quality healthcare services at any given time, with proper follow-up, at affordable rates, the chances of being healthy are higher.

Conclusion

The benefits of telemedicine are immense. It is no wonder that healthcare IT services are increasingly being adopted by hospitals and clinics. Be it a facility of any size, there is a telemedicine application that is built to suit its needs. Telemedicine apps may be custom-made for healthcare facilities with unique features that cater to the facility’s specific needs. It may also be generic and readymade software solutions that can cater to broad categories of healthcare facilities. Choosing one according to one’s needs and budget is what matters.

Also, check out The Seven Challenges of Telemental Health and How to Overcome Them.

However, the harder part is choosing the company for your telemedicine app development when they are available a dime a dozen, it is safe to stick to the well-established names in the industry. EMed HealthTech is a leading provider of healthcare IT solutions and services to leading healthcare facilities worldwide. With almost a decade of experience, we have a team of seasoned designers and developers who create applications that are a perfect fit for you. Reach out to EMed HealthTech today to get a free estimate for Telemedicine app!

Common-Challenges-of-Telemental-Health

The Seven Challenges of Telemental Health and How to Overcome Them?

Posted on | by Ami Kothari

The mental health scenario in India is a bleak one, with one in every seven people suffering from a clinically diagnosable mental disorder, according to a study by Lancet Psychiatry. There is also a huge disparity in the doctor-patient ratio. The required ratio, according to WHO, stands at 3 psychiatrists per 100,000 population, but India has only 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000. This ratio is made taking into consideration that India is a low-income country.

However, with the entry of telemedicine into the mainstream, things are starting to look different. A virtual care system nullifies a lot of the geographical and physical barriers that keep a person from mental health services. With more access and awareness, the social stigma surrounding mental health issues also disperse. However, implementing a telemental health service has its challenges. We discuss some of the major challenges faced by Telemental Health and Telemedicine app development and how to overcome them.

 

Telemental Health Landscape in India

The telemental health landscape got a boost this year with the central government launching its National Tele-Mental Health Program (NTMPH).

The launch comes as a welcome change in the wake of the COVID pandemic. Having to withdraw from social circles, being forced into isolation, loss of loved ones, and threatened job security are post-COVID factors that have left a debilitating impact on mental health.

However, mental health issues are not just personal struggles. Studies show a deep connection between mental health crises and the economy of a nation. A simple explanation could be that poor mental health causes a loss of productivity, negatively affecting businesses and by extension, the whole economy. Not surprisingly, poor mental health is believed to have cost the world economy a whopping $2·5 trillion on average in 2010 — a number that’s about to rise to an unbelievable $6 trillion by 2030. India, alone, is estimated to face an economic loss of US$ 1.03 trillion due to mental health problems, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

While the new action plans and studies shed a ray of hope on the telemental health care scenario, it is not without its own set of challenges.

Challenges of Telemental Health

challenges

Privacy

One of the major challenges in making use of the telemental health care system would be privacy. While privacy is a must in every medical consultation, in the case of mental health issues, there is the weight of social stigma attached to it. If a person decides to reach out to a mental health professional for help, this is often done discreetly. The lack of a private space is also a concern given that most Indian households have joint family systems. A space that is private and safe is a must to ensure that patients can fully avail of telemental health services.

Preference for in-person care

Despite the availability of virtual care, some people prefer in-person care. This is because mental health issues are more sensitive. Being able to confide in the presence of another person provides the warmth of human contact while a virtual consultation might seem cold and distant. It is also important to consider that most people would be forced to stay in an environment that might be conducive to their mental health deterioration. In-person, care ensures that the patient is part of a support group and in an environment that acknowledges their issues.

This preference gets in the way of patients accessing mental health services as well as telemental health providers.

Digital Literacy and Networking Issues

Using telemental health applications means that the patient requires a certain amount of know-how about technology. India particularly faces a large demographic of digitally challenged people, which amounts to 80% of 1.4 billion people. Digital literacy gets in the way of the proper implementation of telemental health programs.

Another glaring issue is connectivity. While there is an equivalent of 81.3% of the total population, the internet penetration rate in India is still at 47% as of 2021. This means that more than half of the population does not have access to the Internet. Because most telemental health services take place over the internet, a large portion of the people is not able to access this due to low connectivity.

Strategies to Overcome the Challenges

The challenges faced by the telemedicine industry in implementing its services are often broad. Here are a few strategies we can adopt to battle the challenges.

Awareness and Education on mental health

A developing country like India has its own set of social stigmas when it comes to dealing with mental health issues. Myths and superstitions get in the way of proper diagnosis and treatment. Creating awareness through campaigns to all people of all ages, introducing mental health issue awareness in school curriculums, and breaking the myths surrounding mental health treatment can help tackle this challenge to a large extent.

Better connectivity

India is a developing country and is only slowly pacing towards a fully networked society. Creating better connections is a slow process, but one that can create significant changes. With better connectivity, mental health services can reach remote areas and persons with restrictions on mobility.

Digital literacy

India’s statistics on digital literacy, as mentioned above, are bleak. While there are a lot of mobile phone users as per the statistics, not many may be literate on anything beyond the basic functionalities. Inculcating proper digital literacy into the school curriculum, and through social channels to reach the older crowd can help better the digital literacy rate. Updating to smartphones is also important to avail advanced services of telemental health.

Telemedicine App Development for Telemental Health

Telemedicine applications are software built especially for dispersing virtual medical care. It is a multifaceted application that is intended for multiple types of users. It has particular interfaces for patients, doctors, healthcare staff, pharmaceuticals, and administrative staff. Each interface has its functionalities, all of which when working in tandem provide a seamless user experience.

The telemedicine app or doctor appointment booking app has features like AI-powered automation which enables chatbots and other day-to-day activities. Data analytics and business intelligence provide valuable insights that can help make informed decisions. ERP capabilities in the telemedicine app help with management and business activities. When built to the specific need of a healthcare facility, a telemedicine app can become a powerful platform for virtual medical care.

Final Words

Building a telemedicine app is a significant business step. The ideal telemedicine app development company will provide the necessary features for your specific need, 24*7 SLA customer support, and will have experience and proven mettle with a seasoned team of experts.

EMed HealthTech is a leading name in providing scalable, cost-effective, and customized telemedicine app development services for healthcare facilities of all sizes. Our healthcare apps have a proven track record of optimizing operations. Talk to us today about your telemedicine app development needs.

Top-5-Reasons-to-Develop-A-Telemedicine-App

Top 10 Reasons to Develop a Telemedicine App

Posted on | by Ami Kothari

The concept of telemedicine apps has been around for a long time. The COVID pandemic forced us to resort to telemedicine out of the restrictions imposed on movement. It has highlighted the need to integrate a functional telemedicine system that runs alongside regular healthcare.

Connecting patients and healthcare providers via technology are being increasingly implemented worldwide post COVID. The onset of COVID also warmed up the users to the benefits of telemedicine. Post-COVID, there has been a stark increase in the number of virtual consultations via doctor appointment booking apps. Studies show that there has been a triple increase in the investment made to telemedicine in 2020 than it had in 2017.

It is an area that has the potential to change the way we see medical care. Here is all you need to know about telemedicine, its implementation via telemedicine app, why you should invest in it, and the challenges faced in the process.

What is a Telemedicine App?

telemedicine

A telemedicine app is a software that functions as a platform to avail various healthcare services. It serves the patients to determine the nature of their ailment, find the apt healthcare provider, and provide virtual consultation, and follow-ups. It is also an avenue to cater to pharmaceutical needs, and avail services of testing and lab facilities.

Telemedicine apps also provide the platform for healthcare providers to connect to patients, organize data and schedules, manage visits, and more.

It is a holistic platform that has a wide range of functions. When developed properly, telemedicine software can create the ideal network of healthcare providers and patients. The healthcare industry is adopting this technology to enmesh its services with the needs of the day.

If COVID showed us telemedicine was indispensable, we are making a stronger case for it. Here are some very compelling reasons why you should be investing in a telemedicine app today

1. Better access to healthcare: Healthcare has often been inaccessible to people who live in rural areas. Sometimes a specialist we need is not available in a country. This challenge of distance and access is neutralized when there is a virtual set-up that enables the meeting of people from whichever corner of the world.

2. Maintain social distance: This is the first and foremost reason telemedicine was popular during the COVID pandemic. It serves the purpose later too, as contagious diseases will spread less when more and more people opt for virtual consultations.

3. Steady care for chronic health issues: Patients who battle chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart diseases, or lifestyle diseases need not travel to the doctor for every consultation. A virtual care system enables the patient to stay in the comfort of their home.

4. Reduces patient waiting time: Access to healthcare is hindered majorly by waiting time. The availability of doctors in a particular area, the number of patients seeking the same doctor, and the lack of a proper system in place contribute to the cause of the patient.

5. Lower treatment costs: The cost of the treatment is seen to be significantly lower when it comes to virtual care. This applies to both the hospital and the patient. The hospital could save up to $24 per patient and the patient saved an average of $50 in travel expenses, a study showed.

6. Gain an edge over competitors: The telemedicine system allows healthcare providers to have an advantage over their competitors who have not adopted the technology. It also gives them access to patients who would choose a remote consultation over being physically present for one.

7. Save infrastructure costs: The first advantage of a virtual care system is to be free of infrastructure costs. Compared to the hefty architectural investment required, a telemedicine app development costs significantly less. This automatically makes healthcare more affordable.

8. Balances the doctor-patient ratio: One of the biggest advantages of telemedicine is how it negates geographical barriers to bringing services to customers. While a particular place may be constrained due to the lack of doctors in proportion to patients, another place may have an abundance.

9. Access to healthcare during epidemics/disasters: Telemedicine proved to be the best option to cater to the healthcare industry during the COVID pandemic. If this proves anything, it is that telemedicine is the most effective form of providing medical service during times of such crisis.

10. The advantage of technology: A telemedicine system puts the doctor and patient in a position where they can use technology to their benefit. For example, the doctor can refer to biometric readings taken from wearable techs to monitor the health of the patient.

To know more about how to develop telemedicine apps check out this link.

Telemedicine App Development Challenges

The world of telemedicine is a sophisticated one that focuses on making accessibility easier. However, it is not one without challenges. It has its unique challenges. Here are some of them.

features-telemedicine

1. Glitch-free UI/UX: The healthcare industry has no room for error as it could prove even fatal. A telemedicine app has to remain glitch-free and very user-friendly. The patient and the doctor must be able to navigate the app with the least difficulty.

2. Two separate apps: A telemedicine app has two significant users – the doctors and the patients. Both users have different apps. These call for two separate fronts that are integrated seamlessly.

3. iOS and Android Native Apps: Telemedicine apps must be designed to be compatible with iOS and Android OSes. This requires a larger development team.

4. Data Security: The data shared via a telemedicine app is sensitive and confidential. It requires high-level security from being leaked by hackers.

Take Advantage of High-Quality Telemedicine App Development

Creating a telemedicine app has its benefits and small challenges. But in the end, it benefits all. It creates a world of equal access and opportunity. If you are convinced that you need to create an impeccably designed telemedicine app, look no further than EMed HealthTech.

At EMed HealthTech, we deliver quality healthcare software services and solutions to all your needs, garnering the trust of the healthcare industry. Choose EMed HealthTech for your telemedicine app development services. Reach out to us today for a custom quote.

 

Telemedicine App Development: How To Develop A Telemedicine App?

Telemedicine App Development: How To Develop A Telemedicine App?

Posted on | by Ami Kothari

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020 and the resulting lockdowns and restrictions brought in a new set of challenges for the healthcare sector. While several hospitals closed down altogether, in-person consultations became greatly restricted in others to prevent the spread of the virus. 

Many rightly termed telemedicine as the “silver lining of the pandemic” owing to its widespread acceptance as a means to continue the delivery of essential healthcare services around the globe. While digital health technologies have been gaining momentum over the past few years, they have become mainstream, with Telemedicine app development emerging as lifesavers to thousands of patients worldwide. Nowadays Telemedicine becomes a must for the digital healthcare ecosystem.

What is a Telemedicine App?

Telemedicine apps help patients to connect with healthcare professionals remotely with the help of advanced digital technologies. While you might think that these are useful only for remote consultations between a patient and their doctor, in reality, these applications can do a lot more. The wide range of services accessible from telemedicine apps includes virtual care and treatment, patient monitoring, remote counseling and therapy, follow-up, medicine order renewals, and so on.

Besides being more convenient for patients, health consultations done via telemedicine apps are much quicker. Patients do not have to travel long distances or wait for hours to meet their doctor — they can get expert medical advice and treatment right from the comfort of their homes.

 

Who Can Benefit from Telemedicine Apps?

Before you dive into Telemedicine application development, you need to first identify the different user categories of the application. With the adoption of Telemedicine applications, every healthcare user can have benefits. Within the telemedicine app platform, you have the following users:

Telemedicine for Patients – They are users with permission to book online consultations with a doctor.

Telemedicine for Doctors – Doctors should have the features available to view patients’ profiles, conduct online consultations with patients, schedule appointments, and request diagnostic reports.

Telemedicine for Lab Technicians – These users need permission to view and process lab test requests and share lab reports with doctors and patients. 

Telemedicine for Admin – These are users with permission to assign sub-admin roles, and security levels, and perform other administrative tasks within the app.

 

Types of Telemedicine Apps

Telemedicine apps can be of multiple types, each offering a select range of services. The major types of telemedicine apps offered by Telemedicine app developers include the following:

Remote monitoring Telemedicine apps: Remote monitoring telehealth apps are used to monitor the health of patients suffering from chronic diseases remotely. These have attained popularity due to several benefits like lower costs, continuous and efficient monitoring, and high patient satisfaction. Patient monitoring is usually done using smart devices such as health sensors and wearables.

Store-and-forward Telemedicine apps: Store-and-forward telemedicine apps deal with collecting and forwarding patient information to the required specialists. These apps enable medical practitioners to store patient data, including medical history, test reports, imagery, etc., and share them with other experts. Medical fields like radiology, pathology, dermatology, etc., usually engage in this practice.

Real-time Interaction Telemedicine apps: These telehealth apps enable patients and doctors to interact in real-time from remote locations. This can be achieved by functions like phone consultations or video calling facilities. Like face-to-face appointments, patients can inform the doctor about their medical history and symptoms, based on which the medical professional can guide them with the right advice.

 

Why Would You Want to Build a Telemedicine App? 

The adoption of telemedicine in India has exploded over the last two years of the pandemic. Telemedicine apps have seen a giant leap of 35% in monthly active users from 2019 to 2020. The telemedicine market is booming, and this trend is likely to continue. The global telemedicine market is expected to reach a value of 460 billion U.S. dollars by 2030. Also, the government of India makes efforts in promoting Telemedicine and set out the budget for Telemedicine in 2022-2023

If you run a healthcare business and aren’t using a telehealth app, you could be missing out on opportunities. Here are a few reasons you should opt for telemedicine application development:

It is convenient: Using a telemedicine app makes it easier for patients to schedule an appointment with a doctor without going through the hassle of visiting faraway hospitals and waiting long hours for their turn. Remote consultations are also quicker and, in most cases, just as effective as in-person consultations.

Saves time: Delays are inevitable when it comes to in-person appointments – the patient can get stuck in traffic, or the doctor may have an emergency case. Remote consulting via telemedicine apps save you from such unforeseen situations, thereby saving time on both ends.

Easier to maintain patient records: With telehealth apps, storing and viewing the medical records of patients becomes much easier. Doctors across different departments can quickly access the necessary documents and paperwork from the app, saving time and ensuring a better treatment process. Moreover, the app makes it easier for patients to upload and share their medical documents with their doctors without leaving their homes for an online doctor consultation app.

More economical: Telemedicine apps enable patients to avail treatment while avoiding transport and other associated costs. This makes remote consultations more cost-effective. Hospitals and independent medical professionals can also benefit by saving on service and maintenance costs.

 

Steps to Build a Telemedicine App

If you want to build a healthcare app, it’s best to reach out to a Telemedicine app development company with proven expertise. But before that, there are some steps you need to follow:

Step 1: Identify the target audience for your app

Step 2: Determine the type and purpose of the app

Step 3: Decide on the essential features and functionalities

Step 4: Calculate an estimated budget for your app

Step 5: Get the app developed by a team of professionals

The final development process is crucial — you need to have proper planning when it comes to the development platform, UX/UI design, programming language, etc. This will ensure you have a high-quality application.

 

Key Features That Your Telemedicine App Should Have 

All telemedicine apps need to have dedicated patient, doctor, and admin panels. Below are some standard features that you need to include to make your app successful.

User dashboard: Patients and doctors can view and update information and access all other features through the dashboard.

Instant notifications: Real-time notifications to inform users about upcoming appointments, as well as rescheduling and cancellations.

Video, chat, and voice communication: Multiple modes of communication, including voice, video, and chat, help make the consultation and follow-up process more efficient.

Appointment history: Users can view their appointment history as and when needed.

Electronic health records: This feature keeps all patient data organized, helping faster retrieval during treatment.

End-to-end encryption: End-to-end encryption ensures the safety of confidential patient records.

 

Final Words

A telemedicine app can make high-quality healthcare services accessible to patients residing in far-off locations. And for healthcare organizations, this can bring in better profits. But, as the success of your app depends on its quality, make sure you go for only the best Telemedicine app development services.

At EMed HealthTech, we provide best-in-class telemedicine app development solutions to healthcare businesses around the world. With a strong focus on quality, we design effective telehealth apps customized to your specific requirements. Want to build an efficient app to boost your healthcare business? Get in touch with us today!