HIPAA eCommerce

Telemedicine App Development: Costs, Features, and Pitfalls

Updated  |  11 min read
Key Takeaways
  • A telemedicine platform or mobile telehealth app provides healthcare providers with a secure connection to their patients. Apps can be used on tablets, phones, laptops, or desktops.
  • Creating a telemedicine app is considerably more involved than a standard app, mostly due to the security involved.
  • Providers of health services should work with a telemedicine app developer with experience working with healthcare apps and can deliver the security you must legally include.
Healthcare developers working on a telemedicine app.

Telemedicine software is an important and growing component of healthcare. It allows doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare providers to provide remote medical services such as consultations, treatments, prescriptions, lab results, and more without needing to be physically present to deliver patient care.

Telemedicine software typically includes features such as secure video conferencing capabilities, booking online appointments, reminder notifications, secure communication tools, patient data on HIPAA cloud storage, and integration with third-party services such as EHR (electronic health record) systems. In addition to helping improve access to care for people who cannot easily get to a doctor's office, it provides convenience for healthcare organizations lacking the physical space for a traditional medical practice.

Healthcare mobile app development requires specialized developer skills. Developing a well-designed interface will increase user engagement while streamlining the experience of using the platform. Security must also be tightly integrated into the design of any telemedicine application, and encryption algorithms should be used at all times so that all data is stored securely both in transit and at rest on servers.

A doctor and patient talking to each other.

What Is Telemedicine Software?

Telemedicine software is a type of healthcare-focused software designed to facilitate virtual medical services, also known as telehealth services. It enables remote healthcare services to provide patient care, such as consultations via audio and video calls, treatments, prescriptions, and lab results for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers.

Where Can Medical App Software Be Hosted?

The software can be hosted on the Cloud or on-premises and typically includes features such as secure video conferencing capabilities, appointment booking and reminders, secure communication tools, patient data storage, and integrations with third-party services such as EHR (electronic health record) systems. Telemedicine platforms can host a variety of applications, from practice management software to multi-hospital campuses.

How is Medical App Security Handled?

Security is essential when creating telemedicine applications for anyone in the healthcare industry. Encryption algorithms should be used to keep all data secure both in transit and at rest on servers. Developers must also consider scalability when designing the application to handle changes while maintaining performance.

Licensed physicians using video conferencing with a patient.

How Do Telemedicine Apps Work?

The best medical apps for patients enable healthcare providers to provide remote consultations, treatments, prescriptions, and lab results. The app typically includes secure video conferencing capabilities, appointment booking & reminders, secure communication tools, patient data storage and integrations with third-party services such as EHR systems.

Patients register on the app and create an account with their information (e.g., name, contact details). Following instructions provided by the medical team, patients submit any relevant records/data required for diagnosis or treatment (e.g., scans or laboratory test results). Medical professionals review submitted data and issue a diagnosis through video conferences or telephone conferences if necessary. Finally, providers prescribe medication or additional treatments to help manage the health condition.

Healthcare organizations of all sizes use a telemedicine platform.

Does a Telehealth App Need to Comply with HIPAA Regulations?

Absolutely. HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which was signed into law in 1996. It is a federal law that sets national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without authorization. HIPAA also sets limits and conditions on the uses and disclosures of protected health information that can be used without patient authorization.

Failing to adhere to HIPAA-compliant telemedicine standards can lead to fines from the Office for Civil Rights, a division of Health and Human Services. Violations of HIPAA can also lead to patient distrust. That's why you need a HIPAA-compliant website and associated app.

The HIPAA compliance logo.

Benefits of Telehealth App Development

The primary benefits of telehealth app development include:

Improved Access to Care

Telemedicine software makes it possible for people in rural areas or those who cannot easily get to a doctor's office to access medical services.

Enhanced Convenience

By eliminating the need for physical visits, online appointments and communication provide convenience for patients and those in the healthcare industry alike. Patients don't have to leave home when they're feeling their worst.

Increased Security

Encryption algorithms help keep data secure both in transit and at rest on servers, which is a must for any HIPAA-compliant app.

Improved Scalability

A well-designed telemedicine application can scale quickly to meet changing needs without sacrificing the performance or stability of service.

Medical app software development.

Costs of Telemedicine App Development Services

The cost of developing a telehealth app is an important factor to consider, as it can have a major impact on the success or failure of your project. If you opt for a cheaper option from a software development company, be aware that you may not get the same level of performance as you would with a more expensive solution.

On the other hand, investing too much in development could lead to wasted money if it turns out that users don't find your app useful. It's important to strike an optimal balance between cost and performance when choosing which telehealth app development route to take.

An illustration symbolizing the cost of telemedicine app development.

The platform you choose to develop your HIPAA-compliant medical app on can also have an effect on how much your development will cost. Medical app development for iOS and Android requires different tools and expertise, which means different costs. If you want to build for both platforms simultaneously, there are frameworks available that allow for cross-platform development, which can save time and money in the long run.

Another factor that determines HIPAA and telemedicine app development cost is what features you plan to include in it. You may or may not need patient information management systems (PIMS) and secure video conferencing to data sharing systems and electronic health record (EHR) integration. Each feature comes with its own set of associated costs and data security complexities. Careful evaluation of these features and their associated costs will help ensure that your telehealth app meets your requirements while staying within budget.

A doctor looking at brain scans.

Features of a Telehealth App

Telehealth apps usually include features like appointment management, patient records management, signing digital consent forms, doctor-patient communication (video consultation/chat), integration of payment options, etc. Depending on what type of service you plan on offering your patients through the app—like remote physical therapy sessions—there are different features that can be incorporated based on need.

Some other considerations when choosing which features to integrate into your telemedicine app include HIPAA compliance (for medical data privacy and security) and integrations with third-party plugins such as EMRs (electronic medical records) or chatbots that can provide automated support when requested by patients or doctors. Let's take a look at some of these in greater depth.

Secure Messaging System

Every telehealth application should provide users with a secure way to send and receive messages from healthcare providers. Two-factor authentication is one of the easiest ways to verify the identity of both doctors and patients.

Personalized Scheduling Features

The telehealth app scheduling feature should allow patients to easily create, view, and manage appointments at their own convenience. It should also be able to handle different types of healthcare providers so users can personalize their preferences as needed.

Easy-To-Use Online Forms

The online forms in a telehealth application should be designed in a way that makes it easy for patients to enter their information accurately and quickly. This will help facilitate smooth communication between the patient and the healthcare provider.

Virtual Video and Audio Sessions

Telehealth applications should provide a method for patients and providers to communicate virtually, either via video or audio calls. These virtual sessions should have all of the necessary security protocols in place, so that patient data is kept secure.

Easy Access to Medical Records, Prescriptions, and Test Results

The telehealth application should make it easy for both patients and healthcare providers to access medical records, prescriptions, test results, etc., with just a few clicks. This will ensure seamless access and efficient management of records while keeping them secure.

A Telemedicine Platform That is HIPAA Compliant

Your telemedicine solution must comply with HIPAA regulations in order to ensure patient privacy is protected at all times.

Ability to Store Images of Documents and Procedures

Telemedicine apps should allow users to store images, such as documents associated with procedures or tests, for easier access when needed.

Notifications for Medications and Appointments

Notifications are important so that users can stay informed about medications needing refilling or upcoming appointments without constantly having to check manually. These notifications should also be customizable so users can choose how often they receive them (daily/weekly/monthly).

Accessible On All Devices (desktop/mobile)

A telemedicine solution must be accessible on both desktop and mobile devices in order for users to use them efficiently wherever they are located.

Easy Scaling

An omnichannel telemedicine solution should also be to expand quickly to meet changing needs without sacrificing the performance or stability of the service.

Software development for every important aspect that your business needs.

Pitfalls To Avoid When Developing A Telehealth App

While developing a telemedicine application has many advantages—such as reducing operational costs, increasing customer satisfaction levels by providing convenient access to healthcare services—there are some potential pitfalls one should look out for while making their decisions:

Security and HIPAA Compliance

It is important to pay extra attention when it comes to security measures such as encryption protocols used, authentication processes set-up, etc. Failing to provide adequate security could lead to both patients’ private data being compromised and damage the company’s reputation & trustworthiness among customers.

Compatibility

When planning for a successful telemedicine launch, it's critical to ensure device and browser compatibility, plus easy access to all users. Before launching your application into the public realm*, make sure you are supporting the necessary versions and system configurations of all devices so that time isn't wasted fixing issues in production mode; otherwise, customer frustrations can turn into negative reviews online!

Testing

Quality assurance is a crucial step in the development process to make sure every product meets its expectations, whether it be remote medical help or an employee needing assistance away from home. Testing must cover both functional and non-functional aspects of the software, including security-related items. This helps developers understand any potential trouble spots early enough so they can provide users with a smooth experience down the road.

Coders test after they develop a telemedicine app.

App Solutions for Healthcare Providers

App development can be tricky, but it gets exponentially more so when electronic medical records (EMR) and electronic health records (EHR) are involved. It's vitally important that you choose a software development company that has experience in the telemedicine platform sphere. With proper security and a focus on omnichannel design, patient care can be greatly improved.

Clarity Ventures has the experience you'll need to create an excellent—and secure—telemedicine app. We'd like to offer you a completely free consultation, a complimentary discovery session where we'll come up with a timeline and plan to find the right telemedicine app development solution for you. you can use this plan with us or take it to another developer; we just want to see you succeed. Get in touch and start improving your patient care!

 

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FAQ

 

Creating a telemedicine app is a complex process that involves the integration of multiple technologies and platforms. Here are some steps to help you get started:

  1. Research and evaluate your options. There are many different types of telemedicine software available, so it's important to do your research before making a decision.
  2. Design the platform according to your needs. Depending on the type of services you're planning to offer, there may be certain features or functionalities that need to be included in the application.
  3. Build and test the application. This is an important step that requires expertise in programming languages such as HTML, JavaScript, and CSS, to ensure the application works as expected and looks good on any device or browser.
  4. Deploy the application securely on a cloud-based environment with sufficient infrastructure for scalability and redundancy in case of failure or server overloads.
  5. Monitor usage analytics to analyze user trends and make necessary changes or upgrades based on feedback from users.
 

It depends on the complexity of the application and the resources needed to build it. Generally speaking, creating a telemedicine app can cost anywhere from several thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. Prices may vary depending on the features you need, the platform you choose, or any additional services or integrations that might be necessary. For example:

  • Design services: $2,000 to $10,000
  • Development services: $2,000 to $15,000
  • Custom programming: $1,500 to $5,000
  • Cloud hosting costs: $200-$400 per month
  • Ongoing maintenance fees: up to 15% of development costs.
 

The essential features of developing a telemedicine app include:

  • Secure user authentication and authorization to ensure patient privacy and data securityas set by the Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act (HIPAA).
  • Real-time video conferencing capabilities for virtual consultations with doctors or healthcare professionals.
  • Quick appointment booking and reminders, as well as billing and payment options.
  • Ability to store patient medical records, lab results, prescriptions, etc., and make them easily accessible from any device or browser.
  • Integrations with third-party services such as EHR (electronic health record) systems for easy access to patient information.
  • Push notifications to keep users informed about upcoming appointments, test results, etc., on their mobile devices.
 

Telemedicine software is a type of healthcare-focused software used to facilitate virtual medical services. It enables doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare providers to provide remote medical services such as consultations, treatments, prescriptions, lab results, and more. Telemedicine software can be hosted on the cloud or on-premises and typically includes features such as secure video conferencing capabilities, appointment booking and reminders, secure communication tools, and patient data storage.

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Author
 
Stephen Beer is a Content Writer at Clarity Ventures and has written about various tech industries for nearly a decade. He is determined to demystify HIPAA, integration, and eCommerce with easy-to-read, easy-to-understand articles to help businesses make the best decisions.