Are Mobile Apps Changing Healthcare?

Female hand holding a smartphone with online healthcare concept

Even though in many regards, innovation related to healthcare offers some of the most incredible life-saving technologies, medicines, and therapies, the healthcare industry as a whole – especially hospitals and doctors offices – can be known to move slowly at adopting new technologies. 

Over the years, the healthcare industry – specifically hospitals and doctor’s offices – has become known for exhibiting challenges in record management, transferring sensitive data between entities, and limiting the exposure of sensitive patient health information that is required to comply with HIPAA. This fascinating juxtaposition between accelerated innovation, on one hand, paired with technological challenges seen in some pockets of healthcare makes for incredible opportunities for innovative solutions to help address some of these challenges.

To combat this challenge we’re finding a unique response from organizations in their emphasis on mobile app development – or mHealth app development – and bringing new innovative solutions into the healthcare space through the development of mobile apps. Today, just as everybody knows, there’s been a worldwide adoption of mobile devices such as mobile phones, pads, and other mobile electronics. This statement may seem trivial, but when you consider that 5.11 billion people around the world use mobile devices, and 2.71 billion of those users use smartphones, you can begin to understand the implications of health-related mobile apps. 

Consider for a moment the reach that mHealth develops have as they look to design new life-saving or life-improving solutions that are mobile. With the use of mobile smartphones, organizations can provide a service for users that are on the go, or more importantly users that don’t have easy access to a computer or local healthcare services. And particularly for Dogtown Media, we’ve seen many organizations offering a mobile solution. The adoption of mobile development into the healthcare community simply means easier access to health-related services and care for people of all demographics and financial status and in doing so has opened new avenues for mHealth app development.

A Deeper Look at mHealth

Connected health concept on mobile phone

Since mHealth app development is a newly developing field, let’s take some time to look at some key examples of success in the mHealth field and how organizations have innovated to provide unique solutions for users. 

Apple Health

For all of those iPhone users out there, the Apple Health app may be one of your most helpful apps for improving the health of users. From counting steps, tracking activity, and even reminding you to follow your activity goals, the Apple Health app is turning a user’s iPhone into a mobile health coach. Apple has taken this health initiative and treated Apple Health much like an umbrella platform to promote many other 3rd-party services such as Calm, Medisafe, Dexcom G6, Lose it! And Zova. All of these apps offering a different mHealth-related value to users. This wide adoption for many various health-related apps shows Apple’s commitment not only to mHelath but the growth of the mHealth iOS ecosystem.

My mHealth

Aside from the likes of the tech giant Apple, many other organizations are making big waves in the world of mHealth. My mHealth offers an innovative mobile app called myHeart that offers mobile support for patients with heart disease or those recovering from cardiac surgery. From tracking lab diagnostics (such as EKGs and ECHO cardiograms) to offering health recovery programs, and educational courses; myHeart is paving the way for patients to stay educated, informed, and recover faster. 

MDLIVE

Lastly, another area of major growth related to mHealth is telemedicine and telehealth. For instance, MDLIVE allows patients to connect with medical doctors gain access to behavioral health therapy services, and even connect with therapists via their smartphone apps. This incredible offering is making it easier for patients to get access to the health-related services they deserve. And this is only the beginning. Telehealth is set to exhibit a five-year compound annual growth rate of 38.2% between today and 2025.

Moving Forward

A little girl at the dentist getting a explanation with a Tablet PC.

By this point, it’s fair to say that mHealth app development and the adoption of health services into the work of mobile apps are here to stay. As organizations look to extend their service offering, capture new customers and bring their unique solutions and services to users around the world, mobile app development is a phenomenal way to do so. 

Are you considering developing a mHealth app? Let us know more about your considerations around mobile app development in the comments section below!