Features of Telehealth App Development in 2023

Nidhi Thakur

04 Apr 2023

Have you noticed how telehealth apps have become so incredibly popular in the last few years? Honestly, that’s a lot to do with COVID which made us appreciate the need for remote healthcare services. Nowadays, a lot of people prefer to use telehealth solutions simply because it allows them to get medical advice and care right from the comfort of their own homes. And the best part is that these apps come with a slew of amazing features that make the process even easier and convenient.

In this post, we are going to discuss some of the best features of telehealth applications in 2023.

Real-Time Medical Image Sharing

Real-time medical image sharing is one of the best features offered by top telehealth companies today. It allows healthcare providers to share medical images such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs with patients in real-time. Furthermore, it allows patients to receive a more accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan without the need for an in-person appointment. With real-time medical image sharing, doctors can also discuss the images with their patients and answer their questions.

Remote Patient Monitoring

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) function is a way for healthcare providers to keep an eye on their patients' health conditions and vital signs without being in the same room as them. This is incredibly helpful for patients who have chronic medical conditions that need constant monitoring.

With RPM, doctors and nurses can keep track of their patients' health status and get alerts if anything major changes. And if there are any concerns, they can provide medical support right away. This means that patients are less likely to need to go to the hospital and it can also help lower healthcare costs.

PGHD

PGHD or Patient-Generated Health Data offers valuable information that can help doctors and other medical professionals to better understand their patients' health status and make more informed treatment decisions. In telehealth solutions, PGHD is used in a variety of ways to improve the quality and effectiveness of care. Here are some examples:

• Monitoring chronic conditions: Patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes or hypertension can use wearable devices to track their vital signs, such as blood glucose levels or blood pressure. This data can be sent to their healthcare provider in real-time, allowing for more proactive management of their condition.
• Supporting mental health: Mobile apps can be used to track mood, sleep patterns, and other factors that may impact mental health. This data can be used to identify patterns and triggers that may lead to mental health issues and help patients to manage their symptoms.
• Improving medication adherence: Medication reminders and tracking tools can be integrated into telehealth applications to help patients to stay on track with their medication regimen. This can be particularly helpful for patients who take multiple medications or have complex medication schedules.
• Remote patient monitoring: Advanced apps can be used to remotely monitor patients who are recovering from surgery or managing a chronic condition. Patients can report symptoms and vital signs, and healthcare providers can monitor their progress and intervene as needed.
• Personalized care plans: By combining PGHD with other data sources such as electronic health records (EHRs), healthcare providers can create personalized care plans for their patients. This can help to ensure that patients receive the right care at the right time, and can improve outcomes and reduce costs.

Although there are many benefits of PGHD, there are also some challenges that must be addressed. For example, patients may be hesitant to share sensitive health information, and there are concerns around data privacy and security. Additionally, healthcare providers must be able to effectively analyze and interpret PGHD to make informed treatment decisions.

Wearable Device Integration

Wearable device integration is another advanced feature in telehealth app development. It allows for fitness trackers and smartwatches to collect data on patients' physical activity, sleep, and vital signs.

This data is then used by healthcare providers to monitor their patients' health status, provide preventive care, and manage chronic conditions. Plus, using wearable devices can also help patients stay engaged and compliant with their medical treatments.

Wearable devices have become really popular lately as people want to keep track of their health and fitness. And now, with the integration of wearable devices into telehealth software, it's even easier for healthcare providers to keep tabs on their patients' well-being from afar.

Here are some ways in which wearable devices are used in telehealth apps:

• Vital sign monitoring: Wearable devices can track vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. This information can be sent to healthcare providers in real-time which makes proactive management of patients' health possible.
• Remote patient monitoring: Patients who are recovering from surgery or managing a chronic condition can be equipped with wearable devices for remote monitoring. Patients can report symptoms and vital signs, and healthcare providers can monitor their progress and intervene as needed
• Fitness and activity tracking: A variety of factors that impact health such as physical activity, sleep patterns, etc. can also be tracked with wearables. The data shared by these devices can be used to encourage patients to make healthy lifestyle choices and manage chronic conditions.
• Medication reminders: Patients can be easily reminded to take their medication at the right time with the help of wearable devices. This can be particularly helpful for patients who take multiple medications or have complex medication schedules.
• Fall detection: Some wearable devices are equipped with sensors that can detect falls. This can be particularly helpful for older adults or patients with mobility issues who are at risk of falling.
• Personalized care plans: By combining wearable device data with other data sources such as electronic health records (EHRs), healthcare providers can create personalized care plans for their patients. This can help to ensure that patients receive the right care at the right time, and can improve outcomes and reduce costs.

Chatbots

Chatbots are computer programs that use artificial intelligence to communicate with users. These programs can answer patients' questions, provide medical advice, and assist with appointment scheduling. These programs can also provide personalized recommendations based on patients' health data and preferences. Healthcare providers can use advanced chatbots to provide round-the-clock support to their patients, improving patient satisfaction and engagement.

As we can see, telehealth software has progressed considerably in the past few years. Today, these apps have many advanced and useful functions that are becoming even better over time. This year, we can expect the launch of more exciting and industry-disrupting apps.