This blog is a comprehensive guide to patient portal app development, its benefits for medical professionals and patients, features, popular patient portal apps, and more. Let’s quickly begin.
The modern healthcare landscape is not just about delivering quality care, it also demands focusing equally on the patient experience. And to ensure the same global healthcare service providers are increasingly investing in patient portal applications.
A patient portal app transforms how patients engage with their healthcare journey, from scheduling appointments and communicating with healthcare experts to securely managing medical records, the app ensures seamless healthcare management.
Like hundreds of other medical service providers, if you are also struggling to improve patient experience, then investing in a patient portal application can be a great option. But before you connect with a patient portal app development company for the same, let’s delve deeper to understand everything about these apps.
What is a Patient Portal App?
A patient portal app is a platform that enables patients to access and manage their medical records, connect and communicate with healthcare professionals, book appointments, and manage other healthcare-related aspects. These apps increase patient engagement and simplify healthcare management while filling the gap between patients and medical professionals.
Patient Portal App- Market Overview
Before we go through the patient portal mobile app development process, let’s check some interesting statistics highlighting its growing popularity, market size, and more.
- According to the Mordor Intelligence Report, the patient portal market is projected to reach US $5.52 billion by the end of 2024 and US $ 13.07 billion by 2029.
- The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 18.80% during 2024-2029.
- Integrated patient portals hold the highest share in this segment.
Step-by-Step Process to Patient Portal App Development
Now that you know enough about patient portal applications, let’s go through their development process.
Analyzing Project Requirements
Collecting and analyzing the client’s project requirements is the first step of the patient portal app development. Evaluating the client’s needs and business objectives contributes to deciding its features, compliance requirements, security protocols, and other aspects of the app.
UI/UX Design and Prototyping
Designing a prototype using wireframing and prototyping tools gives a visual representation of the app’s structure and basic functionality. This step also involves getting feedback on the prototype and iterating the design concepts to build captivating and intuitive interfaces.
Development
This step is about writing the codes to build the patient portal app using the decided programming languages, frameworks, and development tools. Following ethical development practices results in minimal iteration and timely delivery.
API Integrations
Third-party integrations are the next step of the development journey. It enhances the app’s functionality and makes it capable of connecting with electronic health record systems, payment gateways, and other third-party platforms.
Testing
Quality assurance and testing are mandatory to identify and troubleshoot bugs and inconsistencies in the patient portal app. It also ensures the app works seamlessly and performs well on all targeted devices and platforms.
Launch
Launching the app on Android or iOS platforms is the next step of the patient portal app development process. It requires adhering to the submission guidelines, configuring servers, and setting up databases.
Support and Maintenance
Post-launch support and maintenance services make sure the app remains updated with the latest features and performs well, have top-level security, and compliance adherence for continuous success and growth.
Tips to Build Successful Patient Portal Apps
These tips will help you create a successful patient portal app that drives engagement and helps you stay ahead of the competition.
- Look for a company that offers custom patient portal app development services.
- Don’t ignore the UI/UX.
- Make sure your app has minimal features, including appointment scheduling, healthcare records management and sharing with healthcare experts, and in-app chats.
- Utilize technologies like AI, ML, Blockchain, and AR/VR for informed decision-making, ensure top-level app security, and deliver an immersive experience to patients.
- Implement robust security protocols and data encryption techniques to protect patients’ sensitive health information.
- The app should be compliant with local and international laws and regulations, such as HIPPA and GDPR.
Features to Integrate in a Patient Portal App to Make it Stand Out
A patient portal mobile application is a one-stop destination to manage each aspect of medical care. It should have the following features:
- Sign up and Sign in – Offering a quick and easy process for registration and profile creation is the first feature of the patient portal.
- EHR and Third-Party Integrations – This feature ensures better care for patients, interoperability, and easy access to the app’s functionalities.
- Remote Patient Monitoring – The feature allows healthcare professionals to monitor patient’s health via video consultations without setting up a face-to-face appointment.
- Medical Records Management – The app stores medical history, diagnoses, prescribed medicines, allergies, vaccination records, and more, to facilitate seamless access and secure sharing with healthcare professionals.
- Appointments Management – A patient portal app makes it easy to view available slots, schedule, reschedule, or cancel appointments, and get appointment-related reminders, minimizing no-shows.
- Establishing Communication – Such apps allow secure and streamlined communication between healthcare providers and patients via video calls and virtual consultations to seek medical advice, request prescription renewals, and follow-ups.
- Prescription Refills – With auto prescription refills, patients can request medication refills, track their status, and get automatic alerts about expiring prescriptions.
- Access to Educational Resources – Patients can access educational resources and healthcare-related content to enhance their knowledge and improve self-care.
- Payments – A patient portal app empowers patients to check and manage bills, claim insurance, and simplify other complex payment-related processes.
- View Test Results – An app or patient portal facilitates secure access to test results, imaging, and diagnostic reports. It also allows patients to share reports and results directly with healthcare experts.
- AI-powered Virtual Assistant – Having an AI chatbot would help resolve generic queries of patients, improving their experience.
- Multiple Payment Modes – With this feature, patients can make payments via credit/debit card, net banking, or any other mode of payment.
- Medication Reminders – The app sends reminders about upcoming appointments, medication doses, scheduled screenings, and vaccinations.
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Advantages of Patient Portal Apps
A patient portal app offers innumerable benefits for patients and immense opportunities for healthcare providers to improve their services and stay competitive.
Benefits of Patient Portal Mobile Apps for Patients
Check out these amazing benefits of a patient portal mobile app for patients:
Convenience of Healthcare Management
Patient portal apps empower patients to manage healthcare at their convenience. From scheduling appointments, refilling prescriptions, and communicating with doctors, everything can be done within a few taps on the mobile app.
Seamless Health Records Management
Patients can immediately access medical results, treatment plans, medical histories, and other records securely. They can even share them with healthcare specialists merely with the tap of a button.
Enhanced Communication with Doctors
Most patient portals have secure messaging features to facilitate transparent communication between medical care providers and patients. They can immediately get answers to their queries and receive health-regarding updates.
Telehealth Services
With patient portal apps, patients can find healthcare specialists, check their expertise and experience, and book appointments in no time.
Monitoring Health
Patient portal apps enable regular tracking and Patient monitoring of health with preventive screens, keeping a record of vaccinations, and getting medication reminders.
Data Privacy
Data privacy is one of the biggest advantages of patient portal apps. These applications, when built by a reputed patient portal app development company like Quytech, adhere to HIPPA and GDPR guidelines. It ensures peace of mind for patients that their information is confidential.
Benefits of Patient Portal Mobile Apps for Healthcare Organizations
Check out these amazing benefits of a patient portal mobile app for healthcare service providers:
Enhanced Efficiency
A mobile app designed for patient management streamlines admin tasks, such as scheduling appointments, refilling prescriptions, dealing with billing inquiries, and more to improve operational efficiency without compromising accuracy.
Better Communication
With secure messaging and real-time notification features, such apps establish transparent communication between healthcare organizations and patients, improving patient satisfaction.
Enhanced Engagement
This is one of the biggest benefits of a patient management app. It empowers patients to access healthcare-related content and care plans and manage healthcare records, resulting in improved engagement.
Telehealth Services
Patient portal applications powered by telemedicine or telehealth capabilities allow patients to connect with healthcare experts from the comfort of their homes. They can schedule virtual consultations, monitor patients remotely, and deliver care beyond traditional settings.
Streamlined Workflow
Integration of EHR systems with patient portal apps facilitates seamless exchange of data, eliminating manual data entry tasks, reducing the chances of costly errors, and ensuring streamlined workflow.
Reduced Chances of Errors
Automation of complex operations and minimized involvement of human resources results in accuracy and fewer chances of errors that might occur during patient record management, scheduling appointments, and more.
Tech Trends in Patient Portal App Development
Integrating emerging technology into patient portal mobile apps not only improves their capabilities and functionalities but also makes the app stay competitive. Here are the latest trends in patient portal app development:
AI and ML
Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies make the most of data to render critical insights, personalized and that can help with sending automated reminders for medications, receiving diagnostic support, getting dietary suggestions, and making informed decisions. Besides, AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are also becoming an integral part of such apps.
Explore the complete potential of AI in healthcare here.
Blockchain
Blockchain technologies do wonders in terms of transparency, immutability, security, and decentralization, fostering trust and preventing the patient portal app and its information’s unauthorized access. It also facilitates a secure and seamless exchange of information, improving interoperability.
AR and VR
A patient portal app with the potential of augmented reality and virtual reality empowers medical professionals to practice surgical procedures, help with medical simulations, and enhance patient interactions. The other use cases of AR and VR involve telemedicine and remote consultations.
IoT (Internet of Things)
The IoT technology makes it possible to access the patient portal application via wearable devices, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. It also enables patients to use panic buttons to contact caregivers in case of an emergency.
To know about healthcare technology trends in detail, give this blog a read: Top Healthcare Technology Trends in 2024 and Beyond
Top Patient Portal Applications
The examples of popular patient portals and patient portal apps will give you an idea of how beneficial it is to invest in such an app.
Athenahealth
It is a cloud-powered healthcare management platform that enables patients to book appointments with doctors and manage their health effortlessly.
- Streamlined medical billing
- Integrated telehealth capabilities
- Performance insights
Allscripts
This app empowers patients to connect with physicians, check their health records, and manage overall health. Key features of the app are:
- Secure Messaging
- Online appointment scheduling
- Medical records management
SimplePractice
SimplePractice is yet another powerful patient portal app that is HIPPA-compliant and empowers healthcare professionals to connect with their patients without any hassle.
- Telehealth
- Self-Pay billing
- Insurance billing
TheraNest
It is a practice management app for mental health practitioners like psychologists, therapists, and counselors. It allows them to handle notes, billing, and appointment scheduling-related information.
- Progress notes
- Telehealth
- Treatment plans
If you want to build an app like TheraNest, check this blog: How to Develop a Mental Health App? Important Aspects to Consider
CareCloud
It is a popular patient portal application that allows patients to do real-time video calls, secure messaging, and more to connect with healthcare experts.
- Appointment scheduling
- EHR templates
- Patient experience
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Final Words
Patient portal apps are redefining healthcare delivery and patient engagement. On one side, these apps enable patients to access their medical records, book appointments with healthcare specialists, and manage other healthcare-related services. On the other side, it empowers medical experts to improve the quality of their services and foster a new era of patient engagement.
This blog covers all the important aspects of patient portal app development, including the key features to include, benefits these apps offer to patients and healthcare professionals, top patient portals, and more.
If you are a healthcare organization seeking to develop a customized and scalable patient portal application, share your unique requirements with Quytech’s experts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Patient Portal App Development
The two popular types of patient portals include integrated patient portals and standalone patient portals.
The former allows the integration of healthcare systems, such as RPM, EHR/EMR, and more, into existing infrastructure to improve efficiency and accuracy. One popular example of an integrated patient portal is “athenahealth.”
A standalone integrated patient portal can be connected to EHR data from one or more healthcare service providers. One popular example is “Solutionreach.”
Here are some exciting features of a patient portal mobile application:
– Sign up and sign in
– EHR and third-party integrations
– Remote patient monitoring
– Medical records management
– Booking appointments
– Seamless communication between doctors and patients
– Prescription refills
– Access to educational content associated with healthcare
– View test reports
– AI-powered chatbots
– Multiple payment meth
– Medication reminders
A healthcare expert or service provider can leverage a patient portal app for the following advantages:
– Enhanced patient engagement and satisfaction.
– Streamlined administrative tasks
– Minimized paperwork
– Improved communication and care coordination among healthcare teams
– Increased efficiency through online appointment scheduling and prescription refills
Patients can get the following benefits from a patient portal application:
– Telehealth
– Health monitoring
– Data privacy
– Convenience
– Secure medical records management
Adhering to local and international laws, regulations and compliances is mandatory to ensure the safety and security of patients’ information on the patient portal or application. Generally, a patient portal mobile app should be HIPPA or GDPR-compliant, depending on the (USA or Europe) geography where it offers its services.
Yes, patient portals and mobile applications enhance engagement by simplifying the process of medical records management and accessibility, ensuring secure communication with medical professionals, automating prescription refill requests, and imparting useful medical education. This ease of healthcare management increases patient engagement and satisfaction.
Here are some patient portal app development examples that are making a significant impact in the industry:
– Athenahealth
– Allscripts
– SimplePractice
– TheraNest
– CareCloud
Calculating the estimated patient portal app development cost requires considering factors such as UI/UX design, features, functionalities, patient portal app development frameworks and other tech stack, API integrations, and regulatory compliances.
If you want to develop a customized and scalable patient portal app and get an accurate cost estimation, connect with Quytech’s experts and share your unique project requirements.
Like the cost, the time required to build a patient portal mobile app depends on its features, functionalities, tech stack, and complexity. A patient portal app with basic features may take up to 3 months, whereas if it has advanced features and functionalities, the development time could take up to 8 months.
Creating a feature-rich patient portal requires a full-fledged development team including frontend and backend developers, Android and iOS engineers, designers, quality analysts, and project managers.
Choosing the tech stack of a patient portal mobile app depends on unique project requirements, the type of patient portal app, and a few other factors. Please connect with Quytech’s expert consultants for a better understanding of this.
Patient portals are web-based and can be accessed via a web browser. On the contrary, patient portal apps can be accessed via a smartphone or tablet.