Everything You Need to Know about Healthcare Software Development

The healthcare industry has recently experienced a significant shift towards digitalization, and healthcare software development has become a crucial aspect of this transformation. From electronic health records (EHRs) to telemedicine solutions, healthcare software can improve patient care, streamline operations, and enhance clinical decision-making.  

If you are a healthcare provider, understanding the ins and outs of healthcare software development is essential. In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know about healthcare software development, from the basics of the software development life cycle to the latest trends in healthcare technology.  

We will explore the challenges and opportunities of developing healthcare software, including regulatory compliance, data privacy, and security concerns. We will also delve into the various types of healthcare software, such as electronic health records (EHRs), telemedicine platforms, and healthcare analytics tools, and their unique features and functionalities.   

So, let’s get started!  

What is Healthcare Software Development?  

The development of software and applications that meet the specific requirements of the healthcare sector is known as healthcare software development. It entails planning, constructing, and managing computer apps that support healthcare professionals in providing better patient care.  

These software applications include clinical decision support systems (CDSS) and electronic medical records (EMRs) for patient monitoring and telemedicine options. By speeding procedures, cutting down on mistakes, and fostering better provider collaboration, healthcare software development seeks to enhance the standard of patient care.  

Healthcare Software Development: Market Overview!

The need for healthcare software’s has expanded quickly in recent years due to the rising adoption of digital health solutions.  

In 2020, the healthcare software industry had an estimated USD 15.8 billion globally. It will grow at a CAGR of 14.8% from 2021 to 2028.

The rise of mHealth and telemedicine, the adoption of EHRs, and the expanding demand for affordable healthcare solutions are all highlighted in the report as significant market growth drivers.  

The mHealth market was estimated at USD 63.88 billion in 2022 and will grow at a CAGR of 18.2% to reach USD 243.57 billion by 2030.

Also, as healthcare providers explore ways to give care remotely and minimize in-person contact, the COVID-19 epidemic has expedited the development of digital health technologies. Due to this, the demand for telemedicine, remote monitoring, and other software that allow virtual care delivery has increased dramatically.  

The most current survey indicates that interoperability across healthcare institutions, remote monitoring, and easily accessible and secure services are all in higher demand. Hence, healthcare experts look for new medical technology to meet this need and have the intended influence on patient care.

Moving ahead, let’s discuss.

Top Types of Healthcare Software

Many types of healthcare software are available to improve patient outcomes and streamline healthcare operations, from electronic health records (EHRs) to telemedicine application platforms. To help you better understand how each sort of healthcare software functions and what it can do for your healthcare business, let’s go into more detail about each one.  

Electronic Health Records (EHRs)  

The digital versions of patients’ medical records are known as electronic health records or EHRs. They are stored electronically for convenient access and sharing and contain the same data as paper records, such as medical history, diagnosis, medicines, and lab results.  

You can access EHRs from many places, which helps enhance care coordination. Doing away with the necessity for handwritten notes and lowering the possibility of misunderstandings can reduce the errors in your healthcare business.  

Practice Management Software

You can use practice management software to organize your clinic’s administrative duties. This involves handling patient data, billing, and claims, creating reports, and arranging visits.  

By automating these procedures, practice management software will save time and lower the chance of errors. The patient’s experience can also be enhanced by streamlining administrative processes and decreasing wait times.  

Telemedicine Platforms

Using video conferencing and other digital technologies, telemedicine platforms enable you to provide medical care remotely. Patients who reside in rural or isolated places or have mobility challenges may find this beneficial.  

Telemedicine can increase access to care for individuals with chronic diseases who need to visit their doctor frequently. Telemedicine can enhance patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs by allowing patients to get convenient treatment.  

Medical Imaging Software

Medical imaging software is employed to view and interpret medical pictures, including X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. These photos are essential for identifying and treating various illnesses, from cancer to damaged bones.  

You can benefit from medical imaging software to help your patients by analyzing images more precisely, improving patient outcomes and diagnosis. Enabling you to store, distribute, and analyze images electronically can also increase the effectiveness of your medical imaging operations.  

Personal Health Record (PHR) Software

Patients can use personal health record (PHR) software to manage their health data. This can include test results, a list of prescription drugs, and medical history. PHR software enables patients to monitor their health indicators, such as weight and blood pressure.  

PHR software can increase patient participation and support better health outcomes by allowing patients more control over their health information. Giving a complete picture of a patient’s health can also assist you in making better treatment options.  

Medical Billing Software

In the healthcare sector, billing and invoicing are managed through medical billing software. This software expedites payments, minimizes errors, and streamlines the billing process. Reports produced by medical billing software also assist healthcare organizations in tracking and evaluating their financial performance.  

The ability of medical billing software to assist you in enhancing your revenue cycle management is another advantage. Medical billing software will strengthen cash flow and lower the risk of revenue leakage by helping you to receive payments more quickly and accurately.  

Your healthcare software of medical billing can be cloud-based, which means it can be accessed from any location with an internet connection. Another medical billing software is integrated practice management systems. Your medical billing software is combined with other practice management tools like scheduling and electronic health records.  

Medical Research Software

Data from medical research is managed and analyzed using the software. Thanks to this software, you can rapidly gather, examine, and report data. Software for medical research also makes it easier for you to collaborate and offers data visualization and analysis tools.  

With this software, you may find trends and patterns in massive datasets that can be utilized to determine potential disease causes and create new treatments.  

Medical research software can also help you to manage your projects more effectively. This software can also help to create and manage study protocols, track study progress, and manage budgets and resources. Medical research software can also help you to collaborate with colleagues and share data and results.  

Pharmacy Management Software

Pharmacy management software manages pharmacy operations such as inventory management, prescription administration, and billing. With this software, pharmacists can organize their work more efficiently, have less paperwork, and give more attention to patient care.  

The capability of pharmacy management software to track drug inventories is one of its essential characteristics. Medication orders, drug dispensing, prescription returns, and recalls may all be managed with the help of this software. Also, it will assist you in keeping an eye on their pharmaceutical inventory and placing new orders when necessary.  

The potential of pharmacy management software to manage patient information is another crucial element. This software can manage and preserve patient data, including contact details, allergies, and medical history. Additionally, it can be used to manage prescription orders and renewals and update your patients about their medications.  

Health Information Exchange (HIE) Software

You can safely transmit patient data between healthcare organizations with the help of health information exchange (HIE) software. By giving medical personnel the most recent data on patient health, HIE software enhances patient care.  

This can include information about your patient’s medical history, past prescriptions, test results, imaging results, and other clinical data. When significant changes in a patient’s state of health or when new information is made accessible, HIE software can also be utilized to send real-time alerts and notifications to healthcare providers.  

HIE software comes in various forms, each with unique features and capabilities. While some HIE software is more general-purpose, others are tailored for healthcare environments, such as hospitals or primary care clinics. Some software is made to work with other healthcare software platforms like electronic health records (EHRs).

Electronic Prescribing Software

Software for electronic prescribing (ePrescribing) enables you to deliver prescriptions electronically to pharmacies. E-prescribing software lowers errors and enhances your patient safety by prescribing the right prescription.  

You can generate and deliver prescriptions directly from their electronic health record (EHR) system with the help of ePrescribing software. This does away with the necessity for handwritten prescriptions, which can be mistake-prone and challenging to read. You can access your patient’s medication history with ePrescribing software, which can help you to avoid bad drug reactions and ensure that the patient is given the right prescription.  

ePrescribing software is often integrated with other healthcare software systems, such as EHRs and pharmacy management systems. This allows you to access a patient’s entire medical record and medication history and receive alerts and notifications when significant changes occur.  

Patient Engagement Software

To involve your patients in their treatment, patient engagement software is used. Tools for patient education, appointment reminders, and patient portals are all included in this solution. Patient engagement software enhances patient outcomes, which empowers patients to participate actively in their treatment.  

Reminders for appointments, medication reminders, and wellness trackers are other aspects of patient engagement software. Medication reminders can help patients remember to take their medications on schedule, and appointment reminders can assist patients in placing when they need to see their healthcare practitioner. Your Patients can track their progress toward their health goals with wellness trackers and make necessary adjustments.  

For example, electronic health records (EHR) and practice management systems can be integrated with patient engagement software. This makes communicating with your patients and accessing their complete medical information more accessible and practical.  

Thanks to modern digital transformation services in the healthcare industry, medical practitioners now have the resources to provide patients with high-quality care, which has become a crucial component of the healthcare sector. Each healthcare software discussed above is essential for managing patient data, expediting processes, and enhancing patient outcomes.  

As the healthcare industry evolves, custom software development services will become even more critical, enabling medical professionals to deliver better patient care and improve the overall healthcare experience.

Trends in Healthcare Software Development

Like any technology-driven industry, the healthcare sector is constantly evolving. Below are some of the latest trends in healthcare software development:  

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare

Among the most critical trends in healthcare software development is artificial intelligence (AI). Thanks to AI technology, you can enhance your services and deliver more individualized patient care.  

AI algorithms can analyze vast volumes of data to give you actionable insights into your patient diagnosis, care, and therapy. Leveraging healthcare technology consulting from experts can help you understand how AI technology can identify potential risks and suggest preventive steps. We anticipate seeing a considerable increase in patient outcomes and overall care quality with the implementation of AI technology in the healthcare industry.

Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)

Healthcare software development is also heavily influenced by the Internet of Medical Things. IoMT stands for the internet-based interconnection of sensors and medical equipment, which enables real-time data collection and analysis for healthcare professionals.  

The estimated market size for healthcare Internet of Things (IoT) was USD 180.5 billion in 2021, and it’s anticipated to grow to USD 960.2 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 20.41% from 2022 to 2030.

IoMT technology enables you to monitor patients remotely, facilitating the delivery of more individualized care. IoMT technology is expected to gain excellent traction and become more widely used, improving patient access to healthcare and lowering costs.  

Virtual Reality (VR) in Healthcare 

The use of virtual reality (VR) technology has the potential to transform the healthcare sector by giving patients more immersive and engaging experiences. With the help of VR technology, you may practice on patients and help them understand their treatments better. Your patients can more easily obtain care remotely by participating in virtual therapy sessions using VR technology.  

Telemedicine

Another significant breakthrough in healthcare software is telemedicine. Your patients can now obtain healthcare services remotely thanks to telemedicine technology, making it more comfortable and affordable.  

As of 2022, the global telehealth market was valued at $83.5 billion. It is expected to experience a CAGR of 24.0% from 2023 to 2030.

With the help of telemedicine technology, patients can communicate with you at any time and from any location, making it simpler to get help when they need it. By minimizing the number of in-person visits, telemedicine technology can also ease the burden on you.   

Blockchain Technology

Blockchain technology is gaining popularity across various businesses, and the healthcare sector is no different. Blockchain technology can safeguard medical records, stop data breaches, and give users greater control over their health data.  

The global market for blockchain in healthcare was valued at $0.93 billion in 2021 and will grow at a CAGR of 31.6% to reach $1.23 billion in 2022. Furthermore, it is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 38.1% and get $4.46 billion in 2026.

The ability of blockchain technology to improve data security is one of the most important advantages it has for the healthcare industry. Blockchain offers a decentralized, impenetrable record to store and transfer sensitive health information securely. It is impossible to change or remove any data on the blockchain since each blockchain block has a different cryptographic hash connecting it to the preceding block.  

By facilitating secure data sharing between various healthcare providers and organizations, blockchain can also assist in addressing the interoperability problem in the healthcare industry. You can access your patient data from multiple systems using a blockchain-based platform safely and consistently, lowering errors and increasing patient outcomes.  

Wearable Technology

Another development trend in healthcare software that is gaining prominence is wearable technology. Wearable technology, like smartwatches and fitness trackers, can gather information on a patient’s health and activity levels, giving medical providers essential insights into their general health. Monitoring chronic illnesses via wearable technology helps individuals better manage their health.  

Cloud Computing in Healthcare Software Development

Another trend that we anticipate seeing more in the development of healthcare software is cloud computing. Healthcare practitioners can securely access medical data anywhere on the globe, thanks to cloud computing. Using this technology instead of costly on-premises servers will lower healthcare business expenditures. Cloud computing can also advance medical research by giving you access to patient data.  

Chatbot

Chatbots are a cutting-edge and intriguing technology that has attracted a lot of attention recently. Chatbots are increasingly playing a crucial role in the healthcare industry due to the industry’s growing digitization.  

In essence, chatbots are software programs created to mimic human discussions. They analyze your patient’s inquiries in real-time and provide answers using artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP). The primary benefit of chatbots is their ability to offer patients 24/7 prompt support without the involvement of a human. They are a perfect tool for increasing your patient user experience.  

Instant access to medical advice and patient information is one of the primary uses of chatbots in the healthcare industry. Your patients can use chatbots to inquire about their symptoms, medications, and available treatments. They can also use chatbots to make appointments, get prescription refills, and get appointment reminders.  

Moving ahead, let’s discuss,

Benefits of Healthcare Software Development

Healthcare software development benefits you, your patients, and the healthcare industry. Some of the benefits include:  

Enhanced Patient Care

Patient care is improved, one of the essential advantages of healthcare software development. You can rapidly access your patient data using electronic health records (EHRs), allowing you to make more informed choices. EHRs also contribute to a decrease in medical errors by enabling you to access patient data such as medical history, allergies, and medication information right at the point of care.   

This information makes it easier for you to avoid prescription drugs that could have adverse side effects.  

Improved Operational Efficiency

The functioning of healthcare professionals has been transformed by custom healthcare software development, becoming more effective and efficient. Electronic health records (EHRs) and practice management software simplify administrative chores, including appointment scheduling, billing, and insurance claims. Furthermore, the advancement of healthcare software enables the automation of patient reminders, prescription refills, and test results, minimizing the need for manual intervention.  

Increased Cost Savings

There are various ways that healthcare software development might assist healthcare professionals in minimizing costs. With EHRs, for instance, you can lessen the demand for physical storage space for patient records. Custom healthcare software development services can also aid in reducing medical errors, which can be expensive for you and your patients.  

Enhanced Data Security

With the increasing importance of patient data, you must ensure that your patient’s data is secure. Custom healthcare software development offers several solutions, such as data encryption, user authentication, and audit trails. These solutions ensure that your patient’s data is specific and can only be accessed by authorized personnel. In addition, healthcare software also allows for the backup and recovery of data, ensuring that patient data is not lost in case of system failure.  

Enhanced Data Management

You can manage data more effectively and efficiently using healthcare software. Healthcare software can assist you in rapidly and easily accessing patient data, no matter where it is housed, by offering a consolidated data administration and storage platform. You can also track trends, pinpoint areas for development, and produce reports for stakeholders using the software.  

As you’ve seen the top benefits of healthcare custom software development; now, let’s move forward and discuss,  

Challenges of Healthcare Software Development

Developing healthcare software comes with its own set of challenges. Below are some of the most significant challenges:  

Regulatory Compliance

Healthcare software developers must ensure that their software conforms with regulatory requirements like HIPAA, GDPR, and HITECH because the healthcare industry is one of the most strictly regulated in the world. These rules are intended to safeguard patient information and guarantee that healthcare professionals are held responsible for their conduct.  

Yet, due to the complexity of rules, rapidly changing standards, expense, time commitment, and cultural opposition, achieving regulatory compliance can take a lot of work. Nonetheless, to guarantee the security and efficiency of healthcare software, developers at Matellio place a high priority on regulatory compliance.  

Integration with Existing Systems

Because new healthcare software must integrate with old systems, electronic health records (EHRs), medical imaging, laboratory information management systems (LIMS), billing and claims administration, and telemedicine solutions are just a few software tools healthcare professionals use to manage many facets of patient care.  

Any new software must be created to connect easily with these systems because each system generates and keeps a sizable amount of data that must be accessible and shareable across many apps and departments. This may be challenging, particularly if the current systems need to be updated or employ dated technology.  

To meet this challenge, the healthcare software developers of Matellio thoroughly understand the various systems involved in patient care and how they interact. They create and practice efficient integration strategies that guarantee smooth system communication while upholding data security and privacy.  

Security

Making security a priority in custom software development for healthcare is one of the biggest problems. Protecting patient data against theft, illegal access, and misuse must be a top priority for software developers in the healthcare industry. Due to its high level of sensitivity, healthcare data requires a high level of security to preserve patient privacy and confidentiality.  

The most recent security methods and technology are designed and used by Matellio when creating secure healthcare software. This covers secure data transmission, access management, authentication, and encryption. Our developers frequently update your software with security fixes and upgrades to fix any discovered vulnerabilities.  

Because a data breach might have significant repercussions, security will be ensured when developing healthcare software. A patient’s trust may be lost due to the breach of patient data, which may also subject you to legal action and harm to your reputation. Hence, our developers prioritize security in every element of healthcare software development to protect patient privacy and confidentiality.  

Interoperability

You must consider interoperability a significant barrier in your software development for healthcare. Various health organizations typically utilize different software solutions to manage patient data. This makes transferring patient data between other systems challenging.  

The seamless exchange and use of data between various systems and devices are called interoperability. This means that regardless of the system in which patient data is housed, it should be available to those authorized to access it. As all essential information about a patient’s medical history and current therapies is accessible to all their healthcare providers, this method helps patients to receive the proper care.  

Achieving interoperability, nevertheless, requires overcoming numerous technical, operational, and regulatory obstacles. To ensure compatibility with other systems, our healthcare software developers consider the various data exchange standards and protocols used by different healthcare providers. Furthermore, to ensure that patient data is protected while being shared between systems, legal regulations like HIPAA and GDPR are also being rigorously observed by our developers.  

Scalability

Healthcare software must be built to manage the rising demands of patients and healthcare professionals while still performing well. Considerations must be considered carefully, including architecture, data management, and technological stack.  

Large volumes of patient data, such as electronic health records (EHRs), medical imaging, and results of diagnostic tests, can be handled by software in the healthcare industry. Patients and healthcare professionals also anticipate easy access to this data. Because of this, our software developers develop products that are able to manage enormous data volumes and lots of traffic without sacrificing performance or speed.  

Our Healthcare software developers concentrate on creating scalable architecture that can manage increasing demand to address the scalability challenge. A scalable infrastructure is created by building software that can run on several servers or in the cloud, handling increasing traffic and data. Adopting practical algorithms and data structures that can effectively manage enormous amounts of data is something that our developers consider.  

Designing scalable healthcare software requires taking the technology stack into account as well. Our developers maintain the performance and functionality of the software by utilizing technologies that can manage massive amounts of data and traffic effectively. The software’s ability to manage growth and changes in the healthcare sector can be increased by selecting the appropriate technological stack.  

Keeping Up with Technological Advances

A significant challenge in custom software development for healthcare that healthcare firms consider is keeping up with technological advancements, such as RPA in healthcare. New technologies, including robotic process automation (RPA), are often introduced as the healthcare sector undergoes ongoing change. To keep up with these developments and adapt their software to the changing needs of healthcare professionals and patients, Matellio’s software developers stay current with technologies like RPA to streamline processes and improve efficiency.

Also, it is crucial for healthcare software developers to keep up with changing laws and industry standards like HIPAA, GDPR, and HL7 that are relevant to creating healthcare software.  

Moving ahead, let’s discuss,

Key Steps to Follow During Healthcare Software Development! 

To build robust healthcare software for your business, you need to take the following development steps: –  

Define Your Requirements & Planning

Planning is the first stage in custom healthcare software development. You must specify the software’s objectives and specifications at this phase and identify the resources required for your project.  

This could entail gathering requirements to decide what kinds of software are required and examining current systems and procedures to find any gaps or inefficiencies that the creation of new software could fix. Also, you can establish goals for the software that will be accomplished and identify the problems with the current system, such as inefficiencies in billing or record-keeping.   

Choose the Development Methodology

Once the issue and goals have been identified, you must select the best development process. Agile and Waterfall are the two most often used methods. Whereas Waterfall is a more structured technique that follows a linear series of phases, Agile is a flexible and iterative approach that promotes cooperation between the development team and stakeholders. The agile approach is best when it comes to meeting the needs and goals of the healthcare industry.  

Ensure Data Security

The collection of medical data using digital health technology and its processing and storage dramatically increases the danger of cyber-attacks and the exposure of sensitive personal data. Healthcare software adheres to the rules and regulations set forth in the nation or region in which it is developed and implemented. Solutions must, for instance, comply with the General Data Protection Regulation in the European Union (GDPR).   

Hire Dedicated Developers

Hire dedicated developers who can turn your idea into reality after finishing the plan for healthcare software development. A keen awareness of coding best practices and the healthcare sector is a requirement for prospective developers. To provide direction and get around any potential roadblocks during the development process, the chosen developers should also have prior expertise in producing projects similar to the one being developed.  

Also, ensure the developers continue assisting after the software’s debut to guarantee peak software performance. Healthcare organizations can successfully design software solutions that increase their operational efficiency and improve patient care by recruiting devoted developers with the necessary training and experience.

Design

The next step is designed after the needs and goals have been identified. You have to collaborate with software developers during this phase to design a comprehensive plan for the software, which will include the user interface, data models, and algorithms that will be utilized to power the enterprise solutions.  

In addition, producing thorough specifications and documentation to direct the development process may entail creating wireframes or mockups to visually depict the software.  

Development

The development comes once the design is complete. The standards and documentation established during the design phase will guide the software developers as they write the code that will power the system during this phase.  

Enhance the product’s functioning; this may entail utilizing a range of languages and frameworks and integrating third-party tools and libraries. The development team should adhere to best practices such as code review, version control, and testing to ensure the enterprise solutions are dependable and scalable. In addition, the healthcare organization must ensure that the software conforms with legal standards like HIPAA, which protects the confidentiality of patient data.  

Testing

Testing comes after the software has been developed. You need to collaborate with the software developers during this phase to find and fix any flaws or problems that surface during testing.  

Unit integration and system testing are all part of the testing step. To ensure the software satisfies the goals and user criteria, you should also perform user acceptability testing (UAT).  

Deployment

Once the software application is developed and tested, it is ready for deployment. During this phase, the software is rolled out to end-users within the healthcare business or external stakeholders such as patients or healthcare providers.  

This involves providing training and support to end-users to ensure that they can use the software effectively and ongoing maintenance and updates to ensure that the software remains updated and secure.  

How Much Will Healthcare Software Development Cost?

Custom healthcare software development costs can vary greatly depending on the complexity of the necessary tools and features. Due to strict regulatory standards, security precautions, data needs, and customization requirements, developing healthcare software are complicated.  

Forming intricate specifications, specialized code, ongoing maintenance, and third-party integrations with medical apparatus and other hardware are necessary to develop custom healthcare software. As a result, the cost of healthcare software development can change based on the particular needs of healthcare businesses.  

But, by partnering with a reliable healthcare software development company like Matellio, healthcare businesses can ensure that their custom software is created to match their unique needs and industry standards while keeping the highest performance levels.

Leverage Matellio’s Healthcare Software Development Services!

Matellio is a leading custom enterprise software development company that provides high-quality technology solutions to healthcare businesses. Our expert team has extensive experience developing custom software applications for the healthcare industry, including telemedicine platforms, electronic health records (EHRs), mobile healthcare applications, and patient engagement portals.  

Matellio’s healthcare software development services are designed to improve patient care, optimize operational efficiency, and streamline workflows. Our healthcare software development services are tailored to meet the unique requirements of each healthcare business, and we prioritize security, compliance, and data privacy.  

The ability of Matellio to build enterprise solutions that smoothly work with products and services from other companies is one of its main advantages. This implies that healthcare organizations may quickly integrate hardware like medical equipment and other devices into their software applications, improving patient outcomes and boosting operational effectiveness.  

Additionally, Matellio provides continuing support and maintenance for its software systems to keep them operating efficiently and adapting to changing business needs. Our staff of professionals is on hand around the clock to offer assistance and deal with any problems that may pop up.  

Clients and industry professionals have praised Matellio’s healthcare software development services for their excellence and dependability. They have a history of on-time and within-budget delivery of superior healthcare software solutions.  

We are a respected partner in the healthcare sector thanks to their skilled team of developers, emphasis on security and compliance, and commitment to delivering high-quality solutions. Contact us immediately to learn how Matellio’s healthcare software development services may alter your company.

Conclusion

Healthcare software is a constantly changing industry with enormous potential to enhance patient care, boost productivity, and cut costs. You may design more precise, quick, and safe solutions using the newest technologies, such as AI, machine learning, and blockchain. There is never a better time than current times to get engaged in healthcare software development if you’re a healthcare provider trying to enhance your operations. The possibilities are unlimited if you have the necessary equipment, information, and skill. Why then wait? Connect with us and learn more about healthcare software development right away. We assist you in exploring how you can improve your patients’ lives everywhere.