McKinsey indicates that up to $250 billion of US healthcare expenditures could be virtualized. That points out the massive potential telehealth tech can bring to the table. However, developing products with telehealth features that benefit patients and doctors is vital to get the most out of the phenomenon in question. In such a case, companies can have a solution virtualizing healthcare on the one hand and improving the quality of care delivery on the other hand.
In this article, diving deep into telemedicine app features is crucial. The key objective is to explore the topic from the perspective of patients and doctors as users. Notably, the case should be built around must-have features, the ones any telehealth app is unthinkable, and nice-to-have features of telemedicine apps, elevating the software on the competitive market.
“At SPsoft, we don’t just make new features for telemedicine solutions. We also constantly rethink user experience. Our unique mix of healthcare knowledge and tech know-how lets us make features that greatly affect users and change how healthcare is delivered. When you work with us, you’re not just choosing a service provider; you’re forming a partnership with a group of people who share your desire to change healthcare with new telehealth app features. Let’s change the way healthcare is done.”
Mike Lazor
CEO, SPsoft
“Getting lost in the complexity of code, scientific terminology, and telehealth-specific jargon is easy. But at SPsoft, we always remember why each function we build exists. Telehealth is not just a passing trend; it is the future of health care. We’re ready to work with you to provide useful telehealth app features that make sense to those who will use them. It’s time to come up with ideas that will help people.”
Romaniya Mykyta
Head of Product Management, SPsoft
Must-Have Telehealth Features for Patients
Fortune Business Insights predicts the global telehealth market will reach $504 billion by 2030. However, regardless of any value, the patient experience is paramount in telemedicine. Thus, telemedicine app features can greatly impact how patients perceive and interact with the app.
User-Friendly Interface
A simple, intuitive interface is the cornerstone of any successful app. Patients should easily navigate the app, schedule appointments, and access their medical records. A well-designed interface can enhance the user experience and ensure patients will use the telemedicine app’s features effectively.
Secure Messaging
Patients should be able to communicate with their healthcare providers securely. This feature ensures privacy and confidentiality, which are paramount in healthcare. Notably, secure messaging is linked to these aspects:
- End-to-end encryption
- Authentication protocols
- Data privacy compliance
- Message retention policies
- Audit trails
Secure messaging allows for the safe transmission of sensitive information, allowing patients to discuss their health concerns without fear of data breaches.
Appointment Scheduling
An efficient appointment scheduling system should allow patients to book, reschedule, or cancel appointments easily. A well-implemented scheduling system can streamline the appointment process, reducing the burden on patients and healthcare providers.
Prescription Management
This feature allows patients to receive, renew, and manage their prescriptions through the app. It can also provide reminders for medication intake. Prescription management can simplify the process of medication adherence, ensuring that patients can effectively manage their health.
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Easy Patient Registration
The registration process should be simple and require minimal details, with a secure authentication process. Patients should be able to upload additional documents if needed, making the registration process more user-friendly.
Patient Dashboard
A patient’s dashboard provides an overview of their medical and personal information, making it easier for doctors to make an immediate treatment plan. This feature emphasizes the fundamentals and details and screens patients based on their medical conditions.
Geolocation
Geolocation, a powerful feature in telehealth apps, provides location-based services and information. By utilizing the GPS functionality of a patient’s device, the app can determine their geographical location and use this information to facilitate healthcare delivery.
A primary application of geolocation in telehealth apps is identifying nearby healthcare facilities or pharmacies. For example, suppose a patient needs to pick up a prescription. In that case, the app can pinpoint the closest pharmacies to the patient’s location, saving them the time and effort of manual searching and making the process more convenient and efficient.
E-prescription
E-prescription is a critical feature in telehealth applications that helps streamline the prescription process. This feature allows doctors to send prescriptions directly to the patient or their chosen pharmacy, making the entire procedure more efficient, convenient, and less prone to errors.
Payment Gateway
The ability to pay medical expenses from your smartphone should be essential in every telemedicine app. Integrated payment systems are required in all telemedicine specializations since they provide the following advantages:
- Every patient receives an automated invoice
- Appointments are adhered to automatically
- Several payment options are available
- Secure payment compliance
Quality Video Streaming
That is a critical need for almost every telemedicine platform. Because patients will receive video consultations through the Internet, the quality of the video must be high. Telemedicine mobile applications and computer software that cannot deliver high-quality video streaming will degrade the patient experience and may interrupt the diagnosing process.
These must-have telehealth features can make telehealth apps more user-friendly and efficient. As we transition to the nice-to-have features, it is important to note that while these are not essential, they can further increase patient satisfaction and provide additional value.
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Nice-to-Have Telehealth Features for Patients
The national survey by ASPE suggests about 23% of the US population actively uses telehealth. Moreover, improving user experience can bring even more people to this tech. Thus, the following “nice-to-have” telemedicine app features, when integrated into a telemedicine app, can provide additional value to patients and set the app apart from its competitors.
Health Trackers
Health trackers help patients monitor their health parameters, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and glucose levels. They can provide valuable insights and aid in proactive healthcare. By integrating health trackers into the app, patients can participate more actively in health management.
Integration with Wearable Devices
Integration with wearable devices ensures real-time health data, enhancing patient monitoring and care. Wearable devices can track various health metrics, providing valuable data for healthcare decisions. By integrating them, telehealth apps offer a more comprehensive view of patient health.
Integration with Pharmacies
Patients may get their recommended prescription straight at their door by integrating with pharmacies. This function would be helpful for patients who live a long distance away from a pharmacy or need help leaving their houses. It also allows you to obtain medication refills and examine your prescription history.
Symptoms Tracker
A symptom tracker is a device that allows people to record and track their symptoms over time. It enables people to monitor their health and communicate symptom information with their healthcare professionals. Patients may use it to:
- Record symptoms
- Track symptoms over time
- Monitor severity, frequency, and duration
- Communicate with healthcare professionals
By actively empowering patients to participate in their healthcare journey, a symptom tracker can improve the healthcare experience, leading to more personalized care and better health outcomes.
Gamification or Rewards Programs as Key Features of Telehealth
This function entails introducing game-like telemedicine app features and rewards into the app to encourage patients to adopt and maintain healthy habits. It may feature challenges, accomplishments, point systems, and other interactive aspects that enable patients to participate in their health and well-being in a fun and rewarding manner.
Thus, health trackers, integration with wearable devices, pharmacy integration, symptom trackers, and gamification are all features of telemedicine apps that can elevate a telemedicine app from being merely functional to genuinely exceptional. By considering these telehealth features in telemedicine app development, SPsoft can create a product that meets patients’ needs and exceeds their expectations, solidifying our position as a leader in the telehealth software development space.
Intrigued by the potential of telehealth technology and its real-world applications? Dive into our detailed guide, packed with essential facts and captivating insights.
Must-Have Telehealth Features for Doctors
This report indicates about 53% of physicians use telehealth. Thus, doctors require unique features to deliver effective care. Such must-have telemedicine app features streamline various processes and enhance patient-doctor interaction, making healthcare more accessible and convenient.
Patient Medical History Access
This feature requires the integration of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) to ensure the flexibility of workflow, accessibility of services, and usability of software. The principle of an EMR is to enter data on each new patient and update it with each recent visit. It helps with further patient diagnostics by providing a status update on the patient’s condition. EMR organizes all health-related information, eliminates doctor paperwork, and avoids health-related duplication.
E-prescription
A prescription and medicine tracker is included with this function. When a doctor prescribes medication, a tracker alerts patients when they may pick it up at the drugstore. After that, the patient must provide their insurance card, identification, and a digital copy of the prescription.
Secure Communication
To enable therapeutic management and real-time communication, the integration of in-app chat, in-app calling, and live video sessions must be prioritized throughout the telehealth app development. The goal of a development team is to produce an easy-to-use messenger with file sharing, audio, and video capability to retain good data quality and provide a smooth connection.
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Professional Profile
A user profile is a must. It shows the following information about the person: a picture (optional), address, location, gender, email, time zone, phone number, and alternative numbers for account setup or emergency. It must also provide a visit history and a calendar of future appointments.
Appointment Management and Calendar Integrations
This feature often includes a panel of doctor’s services, a list of health issues that may be handled, and an appointment scheduling form. A medical, mental, and family health history, a lifestyle page, payment choices, settings, and patient activity on the platform are standard tabbed pages.
Customized and Secure Video Calls
This feature often accompanies a panel of doctor’s services, a list of health conditions that may be addressed, and an appointment scheduling form. Standard tabbed pages include the following:
- patient’s medical
- psychiatric and family medical history
- lifestyle page
- payment choices
- settings
- activity on the website
By offering a comprehensive and personalized approach to telehealth, customized and secure video calls make healthcare more accessible, efficient, and tailored to individual needs.
Digital Prescriptions
This function is comparable to the e-prescription function. When a doctor prescribes medicine, a tracker tells the patient when they can pick it up at the store. The user must show their ID, insurance card, and a recorded copy of their medication.
IoT Integrations
Some tools are made to help people deal with problems that require them to watch themselves. They use the Internet of Things (IoT) devices to help patients and doctors keep track of pregnancy records, guide the parenting program, or take care of long-term diseases that need, for example, tracking cholesterol or glucose levels.
Notably, IoT devices can help medical professionals track patient health markers continuously and understand what preventive measures need to be adopted. With the IoT market booming, one can expect a growing number of health-related smart devices seeing the light, which means doctors can track patient health in real time and with great precision.
In-App Chat and Messaging
This feature is part of the communication methods. To ensure control of treatment and real-time communication, the focus during telehealth app development must be on integrating in-app chat options, in-app calling, and live video sessions.
As technology advances, we should expect to see even more creative solutions. After all, integrating features into telemedicine apps further revolutionize the healthcare industry.
Nice-to-Have Telehealth Features for Doctors
Telehealth apps offer a range of telehealth app integration features, including AI-based diagnostic tools, teleconsultation recording, remote patient monitoring, symptom checkers, various payment modes, and quality assurance. These features enhance the healthcare experience for patients and providers, making healthcare more accessible and personalized.
AI-Based Diagnostic Telemedicine App Features
AI-based diagnostic tools are bringing about a significant transformation in the healthcare industry by providing innovative support in diagnosing diseases. These tools leverage the power of artificial intelligence to analyze various aspects of patient data and suggest possible conditions. Here are some critical elements of AI-based diagnostic tools:
- Analyzing patient data
- Speeding up the diagnostic process
- Increasing diagnostic accuracy
- Integration with other systems
- Customized treatment strategies
By leveraging these capabilities, AI-based diagnostic tools are revolutionizing the disease diagnosis process and enhancing the overall healthcare delivery system. These can be integrated as a part of telehealth features bringing innovation closer to patients and providers.
Teleconsultation Recording
Teleconsultation recording is among the features of telemedicine apps that allow healthcare professionals to record and store patient consultations. This can be useful for complex cases where multiple consultations may be needed or where a patient’s condition may change over time. The recorded talks can be reviewed anytime, allowing doctors to track patients’ progress, check their symptoms, and make more informed decisions about their treatment.
Additionally, these recordings can be shared with other healthcare professionals, facilitating collaboration and ensuring that all patient care team members are up-to-date with the condition.
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) is a technology enabling healthcare practitioners to monitor their patient’s health data remotely. That is especially important for those with chronic diseases like diabetes or heart disease who need frequent monitoring. RPM can track a number of health measures, such as blood pressure, blood glucose levels, heart rate, and weight.
This data can be analyzed to detect changes in a patient’s condition and alert healthcare providers if intervention is needed. RPM may also encourage patients to participate more actively in their health by allowing them to monitor their data and observe how their lifestyle choices affect their health.
Symptom Checker
A symptom checker is a tool that helps patients identify their symptoms and understand potential causes. Users input their symptoms into the tool, using an algorithm to suggest possible diagnoses. A symptom checker isn’t a replacement for a skilled medical evaluation but can help people make better choices about whether or not to see a doctor. It can also help healthcare providers by preliminary analyzing a patient’s condition, allowing them to focus on confirming the diagnosis and developing a treatment plan.
Payment Modes
Several telehealth applications provide various payment options to meet varying customer demands. Examples include credit card payments, insurance coverage (including Medicare or Medicaid programs), employment coverage, and coupons. By providing a choice of payment options, telehealth services may be made more accessible to a broader range of patients. It also gives patients freedom and convenience by allowing them to choose the payment method that best matches their financial circumstances.
Telehealth apps are an innovative solution to many of the healthcare industry’s challenges. And as technology improves, we can expect new telemedicine app features to be added to telehealth apps, changing the healthcare business even more.
Final Thoughts
Telemedicine apps have the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery. By incorporating the must-have and nice-to-have telehealth features mentioned above, developers can create telehealth apps that provide value to both patients and doctors. As telemedicine continues to evolve, it is crucial to stay abreast of the latest trends and techs to deliver the best possible care to patients.
Are you eager to understand the crucial features of telehealth applications for doctors and patients? Contact us and get a hold of your chance to enhance healthcare experiences with the power of telehealth.
FAQ
Telemedicine refers to the use of technology to deliver healthcare services remotely. It allows patients to consult with healthcare professionals, receive medical advice, and manage their health without visiting a healthcare facility.
Telehealth should make healthcare services more accessible and convenient. It should allow patients to schedule appointments, communicate with healthcare providers, manage their prescriptions, and monitor their health remotely.
These are among the key functions of telehealth:
1. Remote Patient Consultation
2. Prescription Management
3. Health Monitoring
4. Secure Communication
5. Access to Medical Records
6. Appointment Scheduling
7. Integration with Wearable Devices
8. Geolocation Services
9. Payment Gateway Integration
10. Quality Video Streaming
