<p dir="ltr">So, you’re planning to build an mHealth app and need some insights into its intricacies. If so, you’ve come to the right place.</p> <p dir="ltr">Today, we’ll guide you through the ins and outs of creating mHealth apps. Let’s get started!</p> <h2 dir="ltr">mHealth Apps: Definition and Examples</h2> <p dir="ltr">So, what are mHealth apps exactly? mHealth apps are mobile health applications that provide healthcare services. These applications cover a wide range of functionalities, from scheduling appointments and reminding users about medication intakes to offering educational content or online consultations. In other words, it’s like having a personal head assistant on your mobile devices, always there to lend a hand when you need it most.</p> <p dir="ltr">Keep in mind that mHealth apps are not the same as medical apps. Medical apps are designed for healthcare professionals or patients with specific diagnoses, often focusing on diagnosis through analytical data. Think of medical apps as prescription drugs that address particular medical conditions and require rigorous testing and regulatory compliance. In contrast, mHealth apps are like over-the-counter vitamins aimed at general health enhancement and subject to less stringent oversight. </p> <pre class="language-contactus"><code>{{ "title": "Write ChilliCode", "description": "To help you acknowledge your business needs and decide whether IT services will work for you, I’ve sorted out a list of cases.", "buttonText": "Contact us" }}</code></pre> <p dir="ltr">Let’s take a look at the examples. Flo, a game-changing app for women looking to track their reproductive health and well-being. Calm and Headspace offer guided meditations, relaxation practices, and sleep stories, promoting mental health and relaxation. And then there’s MySugr, a diabetes management app that helps users log their blood sugar levels and track carbohydrate intakes. The list can go on and on but we hope you’ve got the overall idea. As we continue, we will highlight more examples of mHealth apps so you get a better understanding of their diverse applications.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">mHealth Apps: Importance and Benefits </h2> <p dir="ltr">Examples of how mobile health apps can make a positive impact on our lives are not far to search for. Take diet plans, for example. Back in the day, keeping track of what you ate meant writing it down by hand and counting calories on your own. It was a hassle, offering only fragmented insights into the overall process.</p> <p dir="ltr">But with mobile health apps, things have changed for the better. Now, you can easily log what you eat, get instant feedback on your progress, set reminders, and choose personal goals to stay on track—all using only your mobile devices. These features not only help you manage your diet, but they also boost motivation and make sticking to healthy behaviors easier. </p> <p dir="ltr">Plus, mHealth apps can connect with wearable devices, like fitness trackers, to automatically record your activity, sleep patterns, and even your heart rate. This means you can get a more accurate picture of your overall health without extra effort. Let's now take a closer look at the other benefits these mobile health applications offer users and health providers. </p> <h3 dir="ltr">For users</h3> <h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">1. Improve patient health outcomes</h4> <p dir="ltr">Through personalized tracking, insightful analytics, and empowering features, mHealth apps become catalysts for a healthier lifestyle, fostering improved patient well-being and outcomes, one step at a time.</p> <p dir="ltr">Take MySugr, for instance. This diabetes management app helps users track blood sugar levels, monitor insulin use, and log meals, all while providing detailed reports and analytics. With this information at their fingertips, patients and healthcare providers can make data-based decisions, leading to better patient outcomes.</p> <h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">2. Encourage individuals to take charge of their health</h4> <p dir="ltr">Consider WaterMinder, an app that keeps users on track with their daily water intake by sending timely reminders. Similarly, Nike Training Club offers personalized workout plans, a variety of exercise options, expert guidance from professional trainers, and progress tracking. To motivate users to exercise regularly and stay focused on their fitness goals, they provide visual milestones and reward regular users with badges.</p> <p dir="ltr">In other words, these apps empower users to take an active role in managing their health and wellness.</p> <h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">3. Expand healthcare access to remote areas</h4> <p dir="ltr">People living in remote or underserved areas often face limited access to amenities readily available to urban residents. Imagine the potential of mobile health apps in such contexts. If before, those individuals had to commit to long trips to consult a health professional even in case of a minor health issue or were simply not able to go to the gym or a yoga studio, now they can easily get an online consultation or simply train at home. For these users, mHealth apps break down barriers to wellness and healthcare services that were once out of reach.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://chillicode.dev/uploads/001_8_5187f08629.png" alt="001 (8).png"></p> <h3 dir="ltr">For healthcare professionals</h3> <h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">1. Streamline workflow and data management</h4> <p dir="ltr">By streamlining client management and administrative tasks, mHealth apps are a game-changer for healthcare professionals. With information neatly organized and easily accessible, healthcare professionals can focus more on delivering quality healthcare services rather than getting distracted with routine tasks and paperwork. Practice Better, for example, helps health and wellness professionals manage scheduling, client information, and billing.</p> <h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">2. Improve patient-provider communication through consistent remote patient monitoring</h4> <p dir="ltr">With features like remote health tracking and secure messaging, healthcare apps like Teladoc facilitate ongoing communication between patients and doctors and enable timely interventions. </p> <h2 dir="ltr">Diversity of mHealth Apps: Types and Success Stories</h2> <p dir="ltr">According to Statista, with <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/218984/number-of-global-mobile-users-since-2010/">7.33 billion mobile users in 2023</a> and nearly <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/736163/top-funded-health-it-technologies-worldwide/">$1.2 billion invested in mHealth app development in 2020</a>, mHealth solutions are clearly one of the most promising areas of the digital health sector. To assist you in navigating this dynamic landscape and finding your niche, let us dive deeper into the types of mHealth apps and their potential areas of development, and add more examples of well-known healthcare apps and how they address particular health problems.</p> <h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">1. Wellness apps</h3> <p dir="ltr">Health and wellness apps are the most popular category, with the widest range of app types, and it is easy to see why—they have low entry barriers and offer significant benefits to users and providers. With minimal legal compliance requirements, developing this type of mobile health app is relatively easy. </p> <h4 dir="ltr">Mental health apps</h4> <p dir="ltr">This category of healthcare apps offers tools and tips for improving mental health and managing stress, anxiety, and depressive moods. </p> <p dir="ltr">A mobile health app, BetterHelp, for instance, connects users with licensed therapists through video, phone, or chat sessions. It is a great example of addressing important social issues—stigma around mental health and difficult access to professional health due to such factors as location and cost. With its flexible scheduling and diverse communication methods, BetterHelp offers a remarkable solution, making mental health support more accessible and discreet.</p> <h4 dir="ltr">Meditation apps</h4> <p dir="ltr">In this category, you'll find apps offering recorded sessions designed to help improve sleep, manage stress, and clear the mind. Calm and Headspace, as mentioned earlier, exemplify how these apps address genuine concerns such as stress and poor sleep quality. They offer guided meditations, sleep stories, and mindfulness exercises to promote stress reduction and improve overall well-being. With structured programs and helpful reminders, these apps help users make meditation practices part of their daily routines.</p> <h4 dir="ltr">Self-monitoring apps</h4> <p dir="ltr">Self-monitoring mobile health apps are designed for users who want to track their critical health indicators, providing recommendations for getting help from healthcare professionals if necessary. Apple Health is a leading example in this category. It integrates data from various health and fitness apps, giving users access to such data as the number of steps, heart rate, and sleep patterns and encouraging them to regularly monitor their health.</p> <h4 dir="ltr">Fitness and diet apps</h4> <p dir="ltr">Fitness and diet apps usually offer personalized workout or meal plans, tips for staying in shape and motivation to lead a healthy lifestyle. Consider MyFitnessPal, for example, which offers features like calorie counting, macro tracking, and recipe suggestions, encouraging users to make informed decisions, improve their diet and achieve their fitness goals.</p> <h4 dir="ltr">Women's health apps</h4> <p dir="ltr">Mobile health apps in this category are designed to support women not only in tracking their cycles, ovulation, and associated symptoms but also in educating them on topics that may be considered socially taboo. </p> <p dir="ltr">A great example of a women’s health app is Flo, renowned for its robust cycle tracking and prediction features. It goes beyond merely logging periods, offering insights into fertility and ovulation. Its user-friendly interface and personalized advice encourage women to take control of their health with confidence and knowledge.</p> <h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">2. Telehealth apps</h3> <p dir="ltr">Telehealth apps allow patients to book virtual appointments with doctors, making medical care more accessible and convenient. The trend for these mobile health apps evolved during COVID-19 when people couldn’t go and see a doctor, especially if they had minor health problems. Now the pandemic is over, but users still value the convenience of getting help online.</p> <p dir="ltr">Amwell, for example, connects patients with doctors through video consultations, enabling them to receive diagnoses, treatment plans, and prescriptions from the comfort of their homes. It also supports follow-up appointments and maintains medical records for continuity of care.</p> <h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">3. Health tracking </h3> <p dir="ltr">Another example of how COVID-19 shaped the future of healthcare is health monitoring. Post-pandemic, there has been a surge in demand for remote patient monitoring solutions. These mobile health applications enable clinicians to remotely track health metrics from patients miles away.</p> <p dir="ltr">A great example is AliveCor's KardiaMobile, which seamlessly integrates with a portable ECG device to monitor heart rate and identify potential irregularities. The medical data can be shared with healthcare providers in real-time, allowing for timely interventions and continuous care without frequent hospital visits.</p> <h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">4. Diagnostic apps</h3> <p dir="ltr">Disease diagnosing apps allow patients to input symptoms, receive a diagnosis, and schedule appointments. Healthcare providers use these applications to get patient data, determine proper treatment, prescribe medication, and analyze test results. </p> <p dir="ltr">Ada is an example of an app that helps users understand their possible conditions. They input symptoms and get potential diagnoses and recommendations for seeking medical help. For healthcare providers, Ada offers valuable patient data to support clinical decision-making and patient care.</p> <h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">5. Medication tracking apps</h3> <p dir="ltr">Medication tracking apps play a crucial role in helping users adhere to their prescribed medication routines. Medisafe is an excellent example of such an app. Medisafe sends users reminders for each medication dose, logs when medications are taken, and provides detailed information on drug interactions and side effects. It can also alert family members or caregivers if a dose is missed, ensuring support for those who need it. </p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://chillicode.dev/uploads/002_8_0553c85bb2.png" alt="002 (8).png"></p> <ol start="6"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">Prescription apps</h3> </li> </ol> <p dir="ltr">Prescription apps help medical specialists prescribe the right medication and set proper dosages. They offer access to databases and help with government regulation compliance. Good examples of prescription apps are DynaMed and UpToDate.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">mHealth App Development Process: A Step-by-step Guide </h2> <p dir="ltr">In this chapter, we will dive into the mHealth app development process by breaking it down into small, manageable steps so that you get more clarity and understanding. However, if you are not a developer and have no prior experience with mobile app development, we strongly advise you to consult with or outsource to a mHealth app development company. </p> <h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">1. Determine the scope and purpose</h3> <p dir="ltr">The first step in mobile app development is defining the scope and purpose of your mHealth app, which includes finding the exact challenges of its target audience. You could think of it as examining a landscape and writing down coordinates on a map before going on an expedition. </p> <p dir="ltr">For instance, in the case of a diabetes management app, the focus would be on understanding the unique needs and problems faced by individuals living with diabetes. When you find what they want from an app, you will be able to provide a meaningful solution.</p> <h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">2. Research the market</h3> <p dir="ltr">Once you find what your potential users need, the next step is to research the global mHealth market. This stage involves looking at similar apps to identify market gaps and opportunities. Use this research as a compass to help you find dynamics, trends, and opportunities in the healthcare industry that have not been explored yet. What you are doing is looking for the missing market segment of mobile health applications that will make the user experience better.</p> <h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">3. Decide on the features</h3> <p dir="ltr">Once you've laid the groundwork, it's time to map out your app's features and core functionalities. Take inspiration from any apps that you like, not limiting yourself to the healthcare industry but looking at successful apps from unrelated fields. </p> <p dir="ltr">For instance, consider how gaming apps engage users with interactive features or how social media platforms prioritize seamless navigation. Embracing this diverse perspective can infuse your app with unique and innovative elements that captivate users and set it apart in the crowded marketplace. In other words, think outside the box. </p> <h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">4. Build your dream team of medical app developers</h3> <p dir="ltr">Who are you looking for? Apart from medical app developers, who are indeed the core of your team, it should also include UI/UX designers, QA, and data security specialists. By medical app developers, we mean specialists that have experience in software development or mobile app development for the healthcare industry. Having someone on your team with this type of expertise is highly recommended, though not required.</p> <p dir="ltr">To gain industry-specific insights, you may want to collaborate with experts in a domain specific to your app. For instance, a meditation app will benefit from a team that understands both the technical aspects of mobile app development and the psychological principles behind effective meditation practices. If you struggle to find those specialists, you can always turn to a mHealth app development company that provides such services.</p> <h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">5. Develop and test your prototype</h3> <p dir="ltr">The prototyping stage of mobile app development includes creating design mockups, establishing a feedback loop, and user-centric testing. While going through all these steps, you keep iterating and refining. In other words, getting feedback, improving your app, and testing it again. </p> <p dir="ltr">To test your prototype, you will need to find users who are potentially interested in your app. This way, you will get the most valuable feedback. For example, before launching, an app for tracking women's cycles likely underwent extensive testing on women. </p> <h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">6. Refine the tech side </h3> <p dir="ltr">Begin by selecting the most suitable platform—whether native, web, or hybrid—based on your app's requirements and target audience. Next, prioritize implementing robust data security measures to safeguard user information and ensure they adhere to relevant healthcare regulations and standards, maintaining user trust and reliability. Don’t worry, we will talk about it later in more detail.</p> <h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">7. Implement analytics </h3> <p dir="ltr">Let’s take a look at what this process entails. First, you set up the medical data collection mechanism to gather the information from users that you will utilize later. Once data collection is complete, you can define KPIs that are consistent with your goals, which you can then analyze and use to optimize your app. </p> <h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">8. Launch </h3> <p dir="ltr">Okay, you’ve done all these steps of the development process and you are finally ready to release your mHealth app. Do not get too excited yet, because launching an app needs a well-thought-out marketing plan. Creating buzz to build anticipation, engaging influencers and partners, planning media outreach, and developing a content strategy are just a few aspects of the launch process. </p> <p dir="ltr">You can also do a soft launch with a beta version to gather valuable user feedback before a full-scale release. This way, you will be able to prevent major reputational mistakes and make necessary improvements.</p> <h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">9. Provide support service and regular updates</h3> <p dir="ltr">Providing robust customer support and regularly introducing new features and improvements is an important stage of the development process that ensures your app meets the needs of your customers. Remember that this process is non-stop and iterative, which means that you will need to adjust, modify, and improve your app over time to better meet your user requirements and enhance their health outcomes.</p> <p dir="ltr">We understand that some stages might be tricky if you have little to no experience. However, there is always a solution: some companies provide mHealth app development services on a standalone basis or offer a full-cycle of custom mHealth app development.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">mHealth Apps: Exploring the Financial Side </h2> <p dir="ltr">We discussed the steps of the development process. However, you may be wondering if you should even consider starting due to the mandatory costs. Let us calculate the estimated future costs of mHealth app development services together!</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Factors to take into consideration in custom mHealth app development</h3> <h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">1. Functionality </h4> <p dir="ltr">Obviously, the more complicated the functionality of an app, the higher the costs. Such features as AI-driven chatbots, recommendation systems, or integrations with wearable devices will significantly increase expenses, as they take more expertise and time to build. Whatever it is, we recommend estimating and planning in advance.</p> <h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">2. UI/UX Design</h4> <p dir="ltr">A user-friendly design is not something to save money on. It has a direct effect on user satisfaction, which in turn means whether they will use your app or not. Clear navigation and menus, intuitive icons, carefully chosen colours, and a logical layout will make interacting with your app easy and simple, lowering the learning curve and increasing usability. </p> <p dir="ltr">One thing to remember is that saving money at this stage of the development process will lead to more spending later on. Our advice is not to rush into hyper-expensive mHealth solutions either, because you can always test the ground and implement changes as you go. Find that balance and stick to it.</p> <h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">3. Platform choice </h4> <p dir="ltr">iOS or Android, that is the question. The answer is: it’s a trade-off between cost and reach. Developing only for iOS or only for Android is cheaper due to streamlined processes and fewer compatibility considerations. However, this approach will limit the audience of your app to one platform. For instance, if a healthcare startup decides to develop a diabetes management app exclusively for iOS devices, they may save on development costs initially. However, they would miss out on reaching Android users.</p> <p dir="ltr">The best option? Cross-platform development! Find a framework that helps mHealth app developers create code once and deploy it across multiple platforms, including iOS and Android, without compromising on performance or user experience. </p> <h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">4. Compliance and security</h4> <p dir="ltr">When it comes to health, the security of patient data is non-negotiable. If you have a leak of personal data or don’t comply with regulations, you will be in trouble, and the consequences will be inevitable. First, check out the healthcare regulations in the countries where you want to release your app and see if your app should follow them. Healthcare apps usually have to follow HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) in the US or GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in Europe.</p> <p dir="ltr">Talking about patient data safety, the important security methods to consider are end-to-end encryption, strong access control, secure APIs, multi-factor authentication, and secure storage of sensitive information.</p> <h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">5. Development team</h4> <p dir="ltr">Basically, you have two options here: in-house team or outsourcing. Having an in-house team of medical app developers offers you greater control, a deeper understanding of project requirements and higher involvement. Simply put, you will have developers involved in the process who will collaborate to find the best solution, and you, in turn, will find it easier to manage such a team. Compensation, benefits, infrastructure, and continuous professional development all result in higher expenses.</p> <p dir="ltr">Because outsourcing eliminates the need for hiring and maintaining an in-house team, it is cost-effective. However, it does present some challenges, such as slower communication and more complicated quality control. But don’t be too quick to give up on this idea. Project management tools such as Miro, Trello, and Asana help teams improve collaboration and work processes. The best possible option is to outsource your project to a mHealth app development company that has loads of experience in app and software development and a portfolio of successful projects.</p> <pre class="language-subscription"><code>sub</code></pre> <h3 dir="ltr">Example costs</h3> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Basic Health Tracking App: $30,000 to $70,000</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Telemedicine App: $50,000 to $200,000</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Remote Monitoring App: $50,000 to $500,000</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Clinical and Diagnostic App: $40,000 to $100,000</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Prescription App: $40,000 to $80,000</p> </li> </ul> <h2 dir="ltr">Before you go</h2> <p dir="ltr">Custom mHealth app development opens up a world of possibilities. If, after reading our article, you are inspired by the idea of creating an app but don't want to handle the entire process on your own, you can always seek out professional help. CHILLICODE will be happy to help with your wildest mHealth ideas!</p>
28 min
Share
