Cost Analysis for Creating a Healthcare App Akin to ZocDoc
The surge in the healthcare sector has propelled the industry into uncharted territories, modernizing healthcare and bridging the chasm between patients and doctors like never before. One of the main catalysts driving this revolution is the doctor appointment mobile application.
These apps, a product of the burgeoning digital healthcare IT solutions industry, have streamlined functionalities like bookings, cancellations, re-bookings, and reminders, making healthcare more user-friendly and accessible than ever before. The demand for these apps has soared across all healthcare stakeholders, making them an integral part of the current mobile app trends in the healthcare domain.
As per a recent survey, approximately 25% of patients prefer online booking, and 72% of patients and 60% of healthcare professionals attest that online booking platforms motivate patients to maintain their appointments. Interestingly, 52% of people utilize their smartphones for health-related queries, while 40% of physicians believe that digital healthcare technology has significantly decreased the number of patient visits to clinic rooms.
The online doctor consultation market segment worldwide is estimated to reach a staggering $21.9 billion in 2022. By 2027, the market is projected to skyrocket to a valuation of $35.41 billion, expanding at a CAGR of 10.01%. These figures emphasize the necessity of a mobile application for scheduling appointments for any hospital.
Few notable doctor appointment apps, such as Zocdoc, have established themselves as market leaders due to their constant attention and acceptance from the industry and investors.
Here's a breakdown of the steps to create a doctor appointment app like Zocdoc:
1. Prepare your Database
Developing a healthcare app is similar to creating an online doctor appointment app. From the user's perspective, you are developing a marketplace offering doctors as products or assets. To commence the development of your doctor booking app like Zocdoc, ensure your database of doctors and clinics is ready. If not, start building the database and proceed with the development process.
2. Verify your Prototype
Once you have your database prepared, create the prototype for your Zocdoc app. Concentrate on building the visuals of your app screens and verify the features based on feedback from test users or medical staff. Verifying the app's prototype will facilitate the design and development process, saving both time and resources.
3. Review the Scheduling Tools
When creating a doctor appointment scheduling app, prioritize using an off-the-shelf scheduling API instead of developing a scheduling engine. This will expedite the custom mobile app development process.
4. Work on the UI/UX Design
While designing interfaces for your app users, give priority to the primary groups for whom the app is being created. This includes designs for the patient’s panel, doctor’s panel, and admin panel. Ensure the interfaces are user-friendly and fully functional for different panels.
5. Ensure HIPPA Compliance
Throughout the doctor appointment booking app development process, make sure your app adheres to the stringent HIPAA regulations. HIPAA protects sensitive patient information from being compromised. Noncompliant healthcare apps can face severe fines. Factors to consider for a secure on-demand doctor appointment app development include SSL connections, PHI data encryption, HITECH Act compliance, GDPR compliance, and employing HIPAA-as-a-Service cloud platforms.
6. Initiate Testing
A comprehensive testing of your doctor booking app like Zocdoc is essential before its release on app stores. Simultaneous testing during the coding process, following the development sprint, is advisable. The final tests should encompass everything, including security tests for glitches and bugs.
7. Release and Post-Launch Maintenance
Upon the app's release, ongoing support will be necessary. Updates will be essential to ensure the app functions properly on various versions of mobile devices and operating systems.
Some key features to include in your doctor appointment app are:
- Stakeholders' Profiles
- Doctor and Clinic Search
- Geo-Location Based Search
- Appointment Booking
- Doctor Review
Additional features that may enhance your app's competitive edge at an additional cost include:
- Telemedicine
- Patient Check-in from the app
- At-home medical services
- In-built payment
- Reminder for appointments
By incorporating these features, your doctor appointment app will cater to the modern demands of users and ensure high engagement rates.
- Mobile app development in healthcare sector is expanding, with machine learning playing a significant role in modernizing doctor appointment apps.
- The integration of science and technology in health-and-wellness apps has led to advancements in medical-conditions management, such as the ability to book doctor appointments online.
- The rise of technology in the healthcare industry has resulted in the development of sophisticated mobile apps, utilizing machine learning to streamline scheduling, reminders, and telemedicine services.