A few years back, falling sick meant traveling to consult a doctor even to far-off clinics and hospitals. While a one-on-one consultation has its advantages, it increases the pressure on both the patients and the doctors. COVID-19 posed a new challenge in terms of the burden on the healthcare system, the hazards of being exposed to many viruses in the hospitals and an increase in the influx of patients.
Amid the most challenging times, telemedicine platforms and apps come as a boon to patients, hospitals and doctors, where a medical consultation could be taken from doctors with the help of smartphones.
The rise in telemedicine platform adoption: Growth by numbers
Favorable consumer perception and tangible investments in healthcare IT solutions (telemedicine app, remote patient monitoring, mhealth apps, healthcare software and so on) are contributing to the growth of telehealth in 2022.
- As per a McKinsey report, telehealth usage has increased 38X from pre-Covid baseline.
- The same report states that consumers are more willing to adopt telemedicine software going forward.
- Investment in virtual and digital health has skyrocketed by 3X.
- A Globalwire report predicts that the telemedicine market is projected to reach USD 49.2 billion by 2027.
These statistics highlight that healthcare solutions that come ahead are those that build technologies at scale and deliver high-quality services to consumers. If you’re planning to develop a telemedicine platform to digitize your healthcare business, now is the best time to do so.
This blog will explore some major benefits of telemedicine app development.
What is telemedicine app development?
Telemedicine app development is the process of developing an app that is either an Android or iOS app, or an online platform like a website to facilitate telemedicine. Telemedicine utilizes various technologies and methods to diagnose patients without a one-on-one consultation, and can also be used for the purpose of transfer of knowledge or medical education.
Benefits of telemedicine app development for hospitals and clinics
Some of the major benefits of telemedicine app development for hospitals and clinics are
Easy to use
Telemedicine platforms are very easy to use. You can use your smartphone/app/website to reach out to the doctor. Apart from this, it saves the doctors from the hassles of booking an appointment and from having to visit a patient in-person. Telemedicine platforms are also the most convenient platforms for patients who are home-bound and are unable to travel due to other issues.
Less expenditure on healthcare
Doctors end up spending a lot of money on doctor visits, adding to it the overhead costs of traveling, parking, fuel, etc. Using telemedicine platforms is the most time-friendly and cost-effective, both for doctors and patients. Doctors can charge less money for their appointments by saving the overhead costs and other expenses like travel.
Information exchange and efficient data management
Doctors can use telemedicine platforms to view and upload patient information, without having to go through printed reports of a patient over a hundred times. Also by reducing unnecessary paperwork, more critical tasks are done in a short span of time. Alongside, the patient history records are stored digitally, making them easy to access anytime, across devices.
Time management for doctors
One of the most significant benefits of telemedicine app development includes reducing the burden of travel on doctors and omitting unnecessary ER visits, which helps doctors in treating patients more efficiently. It also gives the doctors an opportunity to schedule their appointments as per their availability, which is the most convenient for them as they can schedule more follow-ups with no or fewer visits.
Enhanced access to healthcare
Telemedicine Software development has made healthcare more accessible to people by overcoming geographical boundaries. This method is the most convenient for people who live in remote places and are unable to avail adequate medical treatment. It allows doctors and healthcare professionals to provide treatment to patients without any hassles.
Related : Telemedicine App Development Services
Telemedicine software development benefits for doctors
With the growing population and the growing need for healthcare across the world, telemedicine software development is one of the most important factors that contribute to equitable healthcare access.
For doctors and other medical practitioners, some of the benefits of telemedicine app development include
- Easy and convenient patient monitoring and follow-up visits
- Remote consultation and visits without the hassles of travel for in-person consultations
- Lesser chances of no-shows and increases virtual follow-ups
- Easy maintenance of patient records stored in telemedicine platforms rather than more paperwork, and easy access to patient reports whenever required
- Lesser the cost of healthcare operations with seamless connectivity, more the ROI for doctors
- Boosting patient engagement through telemedicine platforms
- Good health, and better recovery
For one thing, telemedicine platforms also help doctors and medical professionals effectively manage their time. With the help of telemedicine software development, doctors can schedule their appointments with their patients, and also take care of other personal and professional issues at hand through their smartphones. This saves them the travel time and cost, as well as save them from the mental drain of traveling back and forth to see their patients. Telemedicine helps doctors develop a strong online presence and improve patient outcomes by spending less time on paperwork and more time on treating the patient in the right manner.
The doctors can also extend their consultation hours to initiate more conversations with their patients, which helps them in understanding the issues more efficiently.
Related : Patient Engagement Solutions
Telemedicine software development benefits for patients
Healthcare companies develop telemedicine apps with an aim to improve doctor-patient outcome and healthcare access. With the growing technological advancements, patients are also switching to telemedicine platforms so that they receive patient care in the comfort of their homes. Some of the benefits of telemedicine app development for patients include
- No traveling time or cost
- No need to bear the expenses of travel and expenditure on childcare
- Several app options are made available on-demand anywhere you have access to the internet.
- Enhanced specialist care right from home
- Online consultations limit the spread of contagious airborne diseases
- There are a number of online-only, on-demand options on the market for the telemedicine platforms
- Access to specialists virtually
- Better health monitoring virtually
Related : Benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring
The business benefits of telemedicine software development for healthcare organizations
Telemedicine increases revenue potential
Physicians can see more patients with the help of telemedicine apps. During e-visits, it takes the medical staff less time per patient to provide consulting services.
The result of telemedicine software development is enhanced productivity and efficiency to see more patients without increasing office hours. More patients equal higher revenue potential.
Competitive advantage
Custom telemedicine application development offers you a competitive edge. When you offer a valuable service that helps them save time, effort and money, your offerings become attractive. It is highly likely that they choose your practice over your competitors’.
Improved online payment collection
Telemedicine platforms support online payments via multiple payment methods like PayPal, Stripe, debit and credit cards and more. The patients make the payment on your telemedicine app upfront even before receiving services.
A key feature of telemedicine software development is accepting online payments.
Improved retention of existing patients
More physicians and healthcare organizations are opting for telemedicine services as patients can book doctor consultations regardless of their location. This helps in attracting new patients and retaining existing users.
Cost efficiency
As per a Red Quill consulting survey of telemedicine services, it has the potential of saving $100 per patient visit. This is because virtual visit costs can range from $40-50 per visit.
Better clinical outcomes
Physicians can educate patients about their medical conditions seamlessly through video and digital tools. Studies indicate that telemedicine and telehealth can improve clinical outcomes and reduce hospital expenditures.
Virtual care through telehealth software allows medical professionals to assess patients efficiently. It leads to better clinical outcomes by reducing the risk of pathogens. Healthcare providers and physicians can take a close look at the patient’s surroundings and identify the root cause of many health conditions.
Improved patient engagement
Virtual visits assure patients that caregivers are available and can be contacted when they face health issues.
You can improve patient engagement by taking feedback on consultations. In addition, patient engagement also helps bring new patients via referrals.
Now that you know the benefits of healthcare software development, onboarding a telemedicine app development agency like Knovator Technologies can help you accelerate the product time to market.
Also Read : Benefits of Buy Hospital Automated Prior Authorization Solution
Contact Knovator Technologies healthcare development experts for free project consultation and quote.
