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The healthcare industry, a restructuring vertical navigating through data privacy and guidelines complexities, has altered the medical function with mHealth apps. To talk about them, they are patient-convenience apps built to automate the hospital’s processing while recording health-centric data. From the metrics concerning blood pressure to allowing the users to make online appointments, features are aggregated into mHealth apps.
As we understand the substantial purpose, the mHealth apps are convoluted to build on decision-maker’s own. For instance, you can hire a freelancer with app development experience, however to be sure, they would not have the healthcare-centric experience in building so. Resulting in neglect of data privacy and guidelines following.
Among the many complexities that custom mHealth solutions pose is the oblivious and incomplete comprehension of guidelines like GDPR in Europe and HIPAA in the USA. Not only that, but there is also a careless attitude toward data security. That brings us to the bifurcated mHealth app development guide, which is essential to maneuver through them and resolve them with valuable insights and expert assistance.
As we analyze the entire healthcare app development process to highlight issues and how to resolve them, a base-level understanding of mHealth apps is imperative.
Custom mHealth App Development Based on Distinctive App Type
Beginning with the types of HIPAA-compliant mHealth apps, such a segmentation provides a different understanding to the decision-makers, like you and other healthcare practitioners. The decision-making process faces complexity when questioned about the types of mHealth apps. What is the functionality that you are focusing on? mHealth should be a women’s health tracker like Flo or a fitness app like Apple Health. This section does dispel the confusion and brings forth the differentiating elements for diverse mHealth app types.
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Clinic and Diagnostic App
Clinic and diagnostic apps allow healthcare practitioners to collect patient data, analyze it for diagnoses, and share it with others. For reference, the features of clinic and diagnostic apps are as follows.
- Lab Test Booking
- Reports & Records
- Health Tracker
- Teleconsultation
- Digital Record Management
- Test Result Automation
- Multi-User Access
The internal processing of patient data makes this type of mHealth app imperative in hospitals and institutes.
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Remote Monitoring App
When it comes to remote patient monitoring software development, the app’s purpose is to allow patients to get virtual care from remote locations. The physicians and healthcare practitioners analyze the data and health records to update the treatment online. As we comprehend, the imperative features of remote monitoring apps are:
- Vital Monitoring
- Medication Reminders
- Symptom Logging
- Telehealth Integration
- Emergency Alerts
- Health Reports
- Progress Notifications
These mHealth apps are based on the concept of remote patient care.
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Women’s Health App
Women’s health apps are centric on the female body and the constant changes around it. The app’s functionality focuses on providing women with a full-fledged app tracking their menstrual cycle, hormones, and possible pregnancies. To fixate on the concept, below are the features of menstrual cycle apps:
- Cycle Tracking
- Symptom Logging
- Ovulation & Fertility Tracking
- Period Reminders
- Health Insights
- Mood & Energy Tracking
- Lifestyle Integration
- Medication Tracking
Post-pregnancy assistance is also available for users of these women’s health apps.
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Nutrition App
Nutrition apps target the audience by prioritizing their health in the context of their nutrition intake. These nutrition apps allow users to scan through the labels and apprehend the nutritional value while connecting with health experts for better diet plans. Since such apps are people’s choice, the features of nutrition apps are:
- Calorie Tracker
- Macro & Micro Analysis
- Food Database
- Barcode Scanner
- Meal Photos
- Personalized Nutrition Plans
- Custom Diet Plans
- Goal Setting
- Dietary Restrictions
These diet-centric features are specific to nutrition apps if you want to build one.
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Reminder App
As the name implies, the purpose of the reminder app is to remind users about their day-to-day activities. For instance, it can remind the users about their appointments or to take their medications. Some basic features that we have of a reminder app are mentioned below:
- Quick Reminder Setup
- Recurring Reminders
- Categorized Reminders
- Subtasks
- Snooze Option
- Persistent Notifications
- Voice Input
- Integration with Calendars
- Offline Mode
You can add more reminder-related features to the app per your reminder app needs.
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Mental Wellness App
Therapy and combating depression are the features that are accessible to mental wellness patients through these apps. The mental wellness apps offer experts with skills to assist users combat emotion-centric issues. Some of the features of these mental wellness apps are mentioned below:
- Mood Tracking
- Guided Meditations
- Journaling
- Daily Affirmations
- Stress Management Tools
- Therapy and Support
- Virtual Therapy Sessions
- Peer Communities
- Crisis Resources
The mentally suffering users can set their goals and work on themselves throughout.
Must-Have mHealth App Development Features
When decision-makers with full affiliation towards healthcare apps choose custom app development services, there are a few must-have features that they must consider imperative. Considering that the functionalities differ based on the mHealth app type. However, intricate features need to be in the mHealth app regardless of the functionality. As we comprehend the distinctive nature, with the features mentioned below, you can assess the requirements of user and admin panels.
| User Panel Features | Healthcare Practiner’s Panel |
| Smooth Sign Up | Data Security and Privacy |
| Login and User Profiles | EHR Integration |
| Remote Consultation | Clinical Decision Support |
| Progress Tracking and Analytics | Monitoring and Alerts |
| Appointment Scheduling | Appointment Approval Management |
| Push Notifications and Reminders | Consultation Calendar |
Custom mHealth App Development Trends for Driving Tangible Business Modernization
Modern mobile health technology combines healthcare decision-makers needs with the intelligent aspect being adopted by the users. For instance, the features mentioned below are necessary. However, it is imperative to include AI in healthcare app development to restructure mHealth’s functioning and provide automation and uninterrupted functionality. Not only that, but the infusion of cognitive technologies and trends is also on the ascent.
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Artificial Intelligence
Bringing AI into a mHealth app, real-world use cases like conversational AI chatbots, risk-mitigating predictions, and disease prediction with diagnosis are proving resourceful. The nature of recognizing patterns and predicting outcomes has introduced diagnosis tools, symptom detectors, and many more applications in mHealth apps that you must include in your healthcare app.
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Machine Learning
AI-powered mHealth solutions working on machine learning are modernizing the primary functioning of mHealth apps. Real-world applicability, like fraud detection, analyzing the errors in prescriptions, and robot-assisted surgeries, are innovative inventions of machine learning in the healthcare industry.
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AR/VR
The inclusion of AR/VR in mHealth app development is reflected in the revolutionary teaching and education method. For instance, the healthcare education system is changing with AR/VR models providing students access to the surgery room prior to practical sessions. This way, the modernizing is settling in and bringing the chance for the learners to associate themselves with the healthcare industry.
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Blockchain
With blockchain development services in healthcare, healthcare practitioners and hospitals are enhancing the security and safety of their mHealth app. With blockchain as the elementary block that allows users to access sensitive information, the apps are kept secure and safe.
Step-By-Stepp mHealth App Development Process
Stepping into the healthcare app development process, healthcare decision-makers can get a reflection on the systematic approach they have to follow. Healthcare practitioners must understand how imperative a flow is for the development process. Keeping the previous viewpoint is essential from assessing the healthcare industry for distinct app ideas to deploying them in the market. As we move forward, it is imperative for you as a healthcare decision-maker to hire a mHealth app development partner and follow the process below.
- Define Your mHealth App Requirement
- Hire a Healthcare Mobile App Development Company
- Comprehending HIPAA compliance for mHealth apps
- Build Healthcare App Design and UI/UX
- Telemedicine app development
- mHealth App Quality Assurance
- Telemedicine App Deployment and Maintenance
Once you understand the flow of the mHealth app development process, you can proceed and get an estimate of the cost of building a mHealth app.
Cost of mHealth App Development Based on Essential Factors
Now that the process is straightforward, highlighting the HIPAA-compliant app development cost must be highlighted based on factors like platform, app size, and hiring model. These factors differ as no two companies have the exact requirements for their mHealth app. Every time decision-makers get their healthcare app built, their feature, functionality, or technology needs differ from others. Considering the difference in healthcare practitioners’ choices, let’s navigate through the cost elaborately.
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Custom mHealth App Development Platform
mHealth app development cost can easily be influenced by the platform chosen by a healthcare practitioner. For instance, the healthcare app development cost for iOS apps will differ from that of Android apps. Considering that sometimes decision-makers choose to build apps on both, the choice of cross-platform app development also creates a massive difference.
| Development Platform (Simple App) | Duration | mHealth App Development Cost |
| iOS App Development | 1000-1400 hours | $35,000 to $100,000 |
| Android App Development | 900-1300 hours | $30,000 to $80,000 |
| Cross Platform Development | 1100-1500 hours | $20,000 to $70,000 |
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Telemedecine App Size
As we know, mHealth app features and functionalities make a difference. For instance, a mHealth app with a simple search bar will cost less than an app that has an advanced search bar. This implies that the more the mHealth app features, the more the healthcare app development costs.
| HIPAA-Compliant Healthcare App Size | mHealth App Development Cost |
| Basic App | $30,000 to $55,000 |
| Medium App | $55,000 to $90,000 |
| Advanced App | $90,000+ |
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Cost of mHealth Application Development Based on Technology Stack
Heading onto the technologies, different frontend, backend, database, and intelligent technologies influence the cost of mHealth app development. Every technological aspect that you choose adds to the final and conclusive healthcare app development cost.
| Technology Stack | Estimated Cost |
| Frontend | |
| React Native | $15,000 – $30,000 |
| Flutter | $18,000 – $35,000 |
| Native (Swift/Kotlin) | $25,000 – $50,000 |
| Backend | |
| Node.js | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| Ruby on Rails | $12,000 – $25,000 |
| Python/Django | $15,000 – $30,000 |
| Database | |
| MySQL/PostgreSQL | $3,000 – $8,000 |
| MongoDB | $4,000 – $10,000 |
| API Development | $8,000 – $15,000 |
| Cloud Services | |
| AWS/GCP/Azure | $5,000 – $12,000 |
| DevOps Tools | |
| CI/CD Pipelines | $4,000 – $10,000 |
| Kubernetes/Docker | $6,000 – $15,000 |
| Security & Compliance | $7,000 – $20,000 |
| IoT Integration | $12,000 – $30,000 |
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Hiring Model for Healthcare App Development
Since hiring models are diverse, the capital investments differ. For instance, choosing mHealth app development services from an external company costs around $50,000 to $140,000, while building an in-house team can cost much more. The decision to choose the suitable hiring model ultimately influences the mHealth app development cost.
| Hiring Model | HIPPA-Compliant Healthcare App Development Cost | Key Features |
| In-House Team | $120,000 – $250,000/year per team | Full-time mHealth app developers, designers, and QA engineers |
| Freelancers | $25 – $100/hour | Hire a mHealth developer for specific tasks |
| Dedicated Team | $40,000 – $100,000/project | A mHealth app development team of experts hired for one particular project |
| Outsourcing Agency | $50,000 – $200,000/project | End-to-end development by an external company |
| Staff Augmentation | $40 – $150/hour | Temporary resources integrated with your mHealth app development team |
| Offshore Development Team | $25 – $70/hour | The mHealth app development team is located in low-cost regions (e.g., Asia) |
| Onshore Development Team | $70 – $150/hour | Team located in the same country or region |
| Hybrid Model | Depends on the mHealth app development team’s composition | Combines in-house, offshore, and freelancers |
Conclusive mhealth App Development Cost for Business Planning
Coming to the final mHealth app development cost, bringing a fixed figure is unattainable. However, bringing forth a range based on the corresponding factor is feasible. These above-mentioned factors hold value worth dollars and can change estimates based on your healthcare app development needs.
For instance, the cost of developing a HIPAA-compliant app can range from $30,000 to $250,000, depending on the mHealth app requirement. Since the scale is wide and can fall anywhere, it is preferable to contact decade-long proficient experts in healthcare app development and get a cost breakdown.
Why Determine AppsChopper as Your Trusted mHealth App Development Company?
Since the entire bifurcation is reliant on a mHealth app development partner, it is also implied that you must hire one. For instance, your in-house team and experts might hold value, but proficient experts with years of healthcare app development experience have valuable insights that are worth the investment.
At AppsChopper, an industry-leading HIPAA-compliant healthcare app development company, we have experts with decade-long proficiency and project knowledge in building mHealth apps. Our 200+ experts with valuable insights can modify your healthcare app and bring forth user-centric solutions that will result in a return on investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the key benefits of developing a mHealth app for healthcare providers and patients?
Among the many benefits of mobile health, streamlined automation and online convenience are the ones worth the revolution. Since confirming appointments online and not visiting the hospitals become an option, these are considered benefits worth discussing.
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How long does it take to develop a mHealth app?
The time duration for healthcare app development depends on the size and intricacies of the mHealth app. For instance, if it is about building a basic mHealth app, it will take up to 3-4 months. However, if the question is being raised about an advanced telemedicine app, it can take up to 8-9 months.
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What role do AI and machine learning play in mHealth app development?
As the inclusion of AI and ML is becoming imperative, discussing their roles in healthcare app development is also essential. Among the many applications of AI in healthcare, predictive analytics, fraud detection, virtual diagnosis and the early stage disease detection are user cases worth the discussion.
