Telehealth solutions allow healthcare professionals to deliver different health services, including remote consulting, education, and training. The entire treatment plan can be run through a telehealth application depending on the patient’s condition. That is why the market value and demand for telehealth and mobile health solutions have been steadily drawing more attention to the prospects of healthcare software development.
The vital role of telehealth solutions creates new capitalization opportunities for industry leaders and startups. But how do you initiate the healthcare software development process and build a minimum value product (MVP) for your telehealth solutions? See how SPsoft approaches this process by cutting off the redundancies and focusing on the essentials, helping you ensure the quality of life for your users.
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Lean Healthcare MVP Development: Build Fast with Business Goals in Mind
Before you go all-in and throw a considerable amount of resources into the development process, you need to test your hypotheses about the market needs and validate your product with the target audience. That is why you must first develop an MVP – a basic version of the product you can launch fast to observe its market performance.
The goal is to see whether your hypotheses for the end product are valid and whether the solution performs as intended. It is a relatively short process compared to full-cycle telehealth development, allowing you to quickly deliver a basic product to your clients. A typical MVP development process consists of six main steps, and healthcare applications are no exception.
Research and Discovery: Defining the Virtual Care Landscape and Regulatory Scope
Research is fundamental for building an MVP for healthcare software systems as it helps you understand the project goals. What are you trying to build and achieve? What do your potential users need? Will your solution make any difference? What unique value does it bring?
The project discovery phase is meant to answer many critical questions, particularly within the complex healthcare domain:
- Target Audience & Segmentation. Who is your target audience? Are they looking for everyday care, a specialist, or do they fall under a specific health plan? For example, is your target the general public or MVP members with a specific MVP medical plan? Understanding the audience dictates the feature set.
- Pain Points. Does your solution address any of the target audience’s pains, such as lack of access to behavioral health specialists or difficulty getting an appointment for urgent care?
- Competition & Differentiation. Who are your main competitors, and what makes your product stand out? Do they offer comprehensive virtual care services or limited telemedicine services?
- Validation. Is there a demand for the solutions you are trying to build? How often do people seek urgent care visits online versus in-person visits?
Figuring these out will help you validate product requirements – the next step of the process.
Requirement Elicitation and Compliance Roadmap: The BA’s Role
You need to have a clear vision of what your mHealth software will look like. Validating your ideas and requirements is essential before kicking the project off. This step defines the compliance roadmap, which is non-negotiable for an MVP health care launch.
During this step, you will have to make decisions regarding:
- Service Offering. Will you offer primary care services, access to a nutritionist or lactation consultants, or focus on niche specialty areas like behavioral health? Defining the service scope early on allows for precise legal and technical planning.
- Product Design. The app design must align with your business identity and facilitate seamless interaction between the provider and the patient anytime and anywhere.
- Monetization Strategy. Defining the payment model (subscription, pay-per-consult, insurance billing) impacts the technical complexity of payment gateway integration.
- Security & Compliance. That is where the Business Analyst (BA) documents all security and compliance requirements. For an MVP health care solution, this includes compliance with HIPAA (US), GDPR (EU), and other international data standards.
These will help you optimize the telehealth development cost and mitigate risk. Also, SPsoft will assist in defining the requirements for security compliance and expected development timeline and map out the final deliverables.
Core Features Identification: Delivering Immediate, Compliant Value
The final product may be feature-rich, but an MVP has to reflect the core value of your solution in just a handful of key features. You need to isolate those core features and find a way to incorporate them into the MVP fast. Our experts will help you map out the essential features in your product and expertly realize them in your MVP.
Though it might feel like bare bones, these features would already give your users a clear picture of your product.
Core Features for Patient Experience
The patient-facing side must prioritize accessibility and ease of use, making the mobile app accessible via smartphone or tablet (available on App Store and Google Play).
- Registration & Verification. Secure sign-up/login. Crucially, if targeting specific users, the ability for the patient to enter their MVP member ID card information to verify coverage status.
- Scheduling & Booking. Ability to see a doctor or specialist and make an appointment for urgent care (if applicable) quickly.
- Virtual Waiting Room. A secure space for the patient before the virtual visit begins.
- Secure Communication. Encrypted text chat and video/audio functionality for the virtual consultation.
Core Features for the Healthcare Provider
The provider interface must prioritize clinical workflow and compliance.
- Provider Profile Management. Tools for the provider to manage your plan, set availability, and define specialty areas (e.g., behavioral health).
- Secure Patient Charting. The ability to review basic intake information and provide treatment plans and electronic prescriptions.
- Billing & Claims. Integration with a basic payment gateway to handle self-pay patients, or initial integration tools to verify if the virtual visit is a covered benefit for eligible MVP members.
- Follow-up Coordination. Tools to coordinate any required follow-up care with the patient or their primary care provider.
Features for Specific Healthcare Verticals
The MVP should be hyper-focused:
| Use Case | Core Value Proposition for the Patient | Critical MVP Feature Set |
|---|---|---|
| Urgent Care | Rapid access to a provider for acute, minor issues (e.g., cold, rash) via virtual care services. | Triage questionnaire; short wait times; e-prescribing; appointment for urgent care scheduling. |
| Behavioral Health | Discrete, scheduled access to behavioral health specialists (psychiatrists or therapists) without leaving home. | Secure, private video rooms; in-app journaling; simple scheduling for recurring appointments. |
| Health Plan Integration | Confirming coverage status and access to everyday care options. | MVP member ID card verification; clear display of which virtual care visits are a covered benefit for eligible MVP members; links to consult your MVP membership materials. |
Though it might feel like bare bones, these features would already give your users a clear picture of your product.
Choosing the Right Tech Stack: Future-Proofing Scalability and Security
Naturally, you will need to select the right tech stack to realize all your ideas while keeping an eye on the future needs of your business and scalability. Different healthcare applications use different tech stacks, so it is crucial to base your choice on the findings of the discovery phase.
- Compliance-Driven Stack. The foundation must be a compliant cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP), which offers the necessary encryption and authorization layers.
- Backend. For agility and long-term scalability, microservices architectures using languages like Node.js or Python, or reliable, rapid development frameworks like Ruby on Rails, are often chosen.
- Frontend. Native mobile app development (iOS/Android) is generally preferred over the hybrid one for the best performance of virtual video streams, ensuring a smooth virtual care experience.
Healthcare MVP Design and Development: Execution with Agile Discipline
With the previous stages done right, the design and development stage will go smoothly. You have a precise vision for the MVP, defined its core feature, and selected the right tech stack – now, it is time to put all of that work together and develop your mHealth software.
- UI/UX Design and Wireframing. A dual-interface design is mandatory: one tailored for the provider’s fast workflow and one for the patient’s ease of access. Wireframing ensures the user flow is intuitive before a single line of code is written. The app must be as easy to use as any popular consumer app.
- Key Features Development. Coding the essential functionality identified in Step 3.
- Unit Test Coverage. Implementing quality assurance from the start ensures your mHealth software runs smoothly and corresponds to the highest industry standards.
- Compliance Certification Support. Working with a partner guarantees support for the certification process (HIPAA, GDPR, DPA), essential for launching a compliant app.
Improvements and Iterations: The Iterative Path to Success
Your MVP is now ready to launch. Your audience will access your product’s basic functionality, giving you the time to collect feedback and improve upon the app. This iterative phase is continuous:
Feature Expansion. From that point on, we will continue working on the product, adding new features (like integrating specialized consultation services from a nutritionist or lactation consultants) and polishing the existing healthcare software systems. That way, your product will begin to bring ROI while we keep improving it.
Performance Analysis. We will analyze the product’s performance and see how the clients react to it. We will identify the most popular features, define the areas for improvement, and fix possible issues.
Pitfalls of the Healthcare Development Process to Keep in Mind
Regardless of how eager you are to begin turning your ideas into real-life solutions, starting your project on the right track is vital. You cannot run before you walk, and you must consider all the potential bumps on the road.
Compliance Issues and Data Security Pitfall
Security is paramount. Healthcare apps deal with large amounts of confidential patient records.
Regulatory Fines. Compliance with international laws and regulations (HIPAA, GDPR) defines how healthcare software systems collect, store, and use patient data. Consult your MVP membership materials (if relevant to your audience) to understand specific internal rules. Otherwise, you will not be allowed to launch it.
Bullet-proof cloud infrastructure. This is the foundation for securing data.
Strict Access Controls. Authorization and encryption measures must secure the data flow. For MVP members, this means defining strict rules around who can access the patient’s MVP member ID card data.
Rushing the Process
One of the main reasons why healthcare software development projects fail is that businesses often underestimate the value of the discovery phase and MVP as its main deliverable. Sure the discovery phase and MVP development might take anywhere from 2 to 6 months of your time, depending on the project’s specifics. Still, a failure to conduct a proper discovery will cost more time and money in the future.
Poor Tech Decisions
This pitfall derives straight from the failed discovery stage. Not having a precise understanding of what your product will look like will result in picking all the wrong tech solutions for achieving vague goals. You need a healthcare software systems development partner with sufficient experience with similar projects to not only come up with the general idea of the project but to clearly define the essential toolkit.
Cybersecurity Threats
Cybersecurity is one of the major concerns in this day and age. As we develop more robust security systems, so do the hackers find new ways to breach the firewalls. So naturally, cybersecurity has to remain one of the primary concerns when building mHealth software. Cyberthreats are everywhere, and you must protect yourself and your users by implementing professional assessment, risk reduction, and management solutions.
Wrap Up: Build a Successful Healthcare MVP with SPsoft
The tech revolution of the past two decades has reshaped the face of many industries, with the healthcare sector benefiting the most. You cannot ignore the importance of telecommunication technology in spreading access to quality care to wider audiences. The successful MVP health care is the one that minimizes risk while maximizing learning.
A strong team of healthcare software development professionals can help you go through the discovery phase smoothly, develop an MVP for your product, ensure its fluent performance, and keep improving it for as long as needed. SPSoft experts are ready to turn your ideas into reality and create a product that brings measurable value to your business and ensures seamless virtual care.
Ready to stop guessing and start validating? Don’t let your innovative product idea miss its market window. Contact our expert MVP development company to schedule your Discovery session and secure a fast, efficient, and risk-mitigated launch for your startup!
FAQ
What is the fundamental difference between an MVP and a full product in healthcare?
The MVP is the most basic version of a product designed to validate the core market need (e.g., can patients successfully book a virtual visit with a provider). A full product includes extensive features like EHR integration, advanced analytics, and complex provider management tools. The MVP is about learning and risk mitigation; the full product is about market saturation and extensive functionality.
How does an MVP handle complex features like EHR or Remote Patient Monitoring?
In the MVP stage, complex features like EHR integration are typically faked or simplified. Instead of full two-way integration, the MVP may use manual provider data entry or a simple document upload to represent patient records. This is done to achieve a faster launch. If Remote Patient Monitoring is core, the MVP might only integrate with one specific device (e.g., Apple Watch) rather than a multitude of devices.
If I am an MVP member of a health plan, what should I look for in a telehealth app?
As an MVP member, you should look for confirmation that the telehealth app offers a covered benefit for eligible MVP members. Check for clear access to customer service and links that instruct you to please consult your MVP membership materials for exact coverage details. You should also ensure the app can easily coordinate any required follow-up care with your existing primary care provider.
What mandatory regulations must a healthcare MVP comply with before launch?
The mandatory regulations depend on the launch market. For the US, HIPAA is essential, requiring data encryption, authorization, and secure auditing. For Europe, GDPR is required, focusing on patient consent and data storage. Even the MVP must have these security measures fully implemented, as regulatory fines apply immediately upon handling patient data.
Why is it recommended to offer virtual care for behavioral health in an MVP?
Behavioral health is an ideal service for virtual care because it relies heavily on conversation and observation rather than physical examination. This makes it low-risk for the virtual delivery model and highly valuable to users who seek discrete access. Including access to behavioral health specialists in your MVP can demonstrate immediate value and address a growing, high-demand segment.
What is the ideal duration for the discovery phase in healthcare MVP development?
The ideal duration for the discovery phase in healthcare MVP development typically ranges from 4 to 8 weeks. This time is necessary to complete market research, define the core functionality, and architect a compliant tech stack. Rushing this phase to less than four weeks usually results in significant technical debt or a failure to implement necessary security protocols correctly.
How does telehealth benefit primary care versus urgent care?
Telehealth benefits primary care by enhancing continuity of care, making it easy to schedule follow-up care with your primary care provider, manage prescriptions, and review lab results without an in-person visit. For urgent care, telehealth provides rapid access to virtual care services for immediate, non-life-threatening issues (like cold or rash), saving the patient a trip to an urgent care center.
Can a patient use their smartphone or tablet to access the MVP?
Yes, any modern mHealth software MVP must be designed to be accessible via your smartphone or tablet through a mobile app (often available via the App Store and Google Play). Ensuring accessibility on these devices is fundamental to providing virtual care anytime and anywhere and reaching the largest target audience.
