Top 4 Benefits of Custom Healthcare Software Development

Updated on December 20, 2021

An overview of the healthcare sector in 2021

Innovative technologies have shaped all the spheres of our life. The healthcare industry was disrupted by software solutions that help medical institutions and doctors operate on maximum efficiency and boost healthcare delivery. That’s why the demand for custom healthcare development has increased in recent years. 

The impact of the Coronavirus pandemic

While covering the state of the healthcare industry, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is hard to underestimate. According to a WHO survey, the industry’s goals have shifted from universal health coverage to protection from health emergencies. The sector needs urgent reforms and a well-organized system to avoid global health risks and prepare for them on all levels. 

The advantages of custom healthcare software development

If you plan to build a software solution for healthcare, you can go for an off-the-shelf product or develop a custom one. You need to consider the pros and cons of both variants to fit your needs. Traditional software is a go-to option to cover basic needs within a tight budget. It is a universal product with core functionality. However, ready-made software may not cover all your individual requirements. And excessive features you never use may slow down the performance.

Custom software development in healthcare means tailoring a software product from scratch according to unique requirements and goals. This is a more demanding and time-consuming process. The result of custom healthcare software development is a feature-rich and efficient product that addresses your challenges seamlessly. Here are the most significant advantages we’d like to highlight.

  • You choose the suitable technologies. Developing custom software for the healthcare sector is a complex process. You can adjust the product perfectly to your needs by selecting the optimal technologies. Whether you want to handle a vast amount of data or make real-time changes visible to many users, you handpick ideal tech choices from the extensive expertise of software developers. 
  • Your requirements are a priority. A custom healthcare solution is incredibly efficient as it is focused on your unique goals. The product is usable and offers seamless performance. 
  • Legal and tech aspects covered. Software engineering in healthcare deals with vast amounts of sensitive data. One of the benefits of healthcare software development is a secure and future-proof solution that operates perfectly in the existing environment.  
  • Scalable product. Custom solutions can scale up and develop along with the healthcare industry demands. 

Tendencies in the healthcare sector in 2022 and beyond

According to Statista, the digital health market is projected to reach $660 billion by 2025, which means 25% growth since 2019. Here are the trends that are going to shape the industry in the following years.

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Projected Global Digital Health Market Size from 2019 to 2025

Telemetry and remote monitoring

The rapid development of Telemetry and RPM (remote patient monitoring) is the first thing worth mentioning among the trends. Surveys reveal RPM systems are considered replacements for in-person medical services. Such systems have a promising future to save effort and transmit data between patients and medical staff. Now, medical institutions are a potential source of revenue for device manufacturers that offer their services. Using RPMs, clinics and hospitals manage chronic patient conditions, reduce expenses, and boost efficiency. 

Telehealth  

Getting an in-person appointment with a doctor has become difficult, if not impossible, during the pandemic. That’s why many hospitals and clinics started offering telehealth services. This kept the workflow on the same level and increased efficiency. Telehealth eliminates the need to visit the hospital physically to meet the doctor (unless it’s an emergency). The clinics reach more patients and improve the overall quality of the services. The doctors get less paperwork as the telehealth solutions automate processes like:

  • registration
  • filling forms
  • maintaining records
  • file management
  • storing data

ML and AI in healthcare

Artificial intelligence has revolutionized the industry with the ability to collect and analyze vast amounts of complex data. AI algorithms can make approximate conclusions based on the data provided. It is used for predicting patient admissions, enhancing workflows, and ICU transfers. Here are the applications of AI and ML in healthcare:

  • robot assistance in surgery
  • assistance from virtual nurses
  • detecting frauds
  • the implementation of new processes in the workflow
  • making initial diagnoses
  • reducing dosage errors
  • identifying the participants of clinical trials

For these technologies, you need to collect and analyze vast amounts of data. The aim of data collection in healthcare is critical to making faster and more informed decisions.

IoT and IoMT in healthcare software

The increase in telemedicine and IoT (Internet of things) trends have developed a new industry – IoMT (Internet of medical things). It uses wearable and other devices to cover the most general medical measurements, including:

  • skin temperature
  • glucose level
  • blood saturation with oxygen
  • blood pressure and heart rate

Doctors monitor the patients’ health conditions without visiting medical institutions. They access medical data in real-time. The IoT technology has gone far beyond smartwatches; many hospitals are equipped with smart beds that adjust to offer the most efficient support without the presence of medical staff. 

AR and VR

The importance of augmented and virtual reality is increasing. Innovative solutions help provide a better-quality education and create a better environment for practice. They help hospitals and clinics offer effective treatment, improve rehabilitation, consult and make more accurate diagnoses. 

Artificial intelligence is used to train and educate doctors. It simulates surgeries to display the efficiency of actions and communication between the nurses and surgeons.

Why Outsource Software Development for the Healthcare Industry?

And now let’s look at the key reasons why to outsource software development for the healthcare sector.

Access to a global tech talent pool. 

If you choose to outsource custom healthcare development, you get connected with experts with specific experience building healthcare systems from the hospital sector to EHR (electronic health records). Offshore partners can offer professional developers with a vast range of skills.

More attention to the key business processes

You don’t need to spend time on secondary processes like onboarding or educating your in-house dev team. Offshore developers already have the necessary skills and equipment, so you don’t need to worry about that. You also avoid additional expenses on renting an office, insurance, and taxes.  

Enhanced productivity and saving time

Offshore engineers can add horsepower to your app or website development process. You save time on upskilling them. The development process is adjusted to your company’s operations and adapts perfectly to your timeframes. You can scale your team up or down based on the circumstances. 

Flexible management

When working with an in-house team, management and scaling are challenging, not to mention changing the tech stack. Outsourced software developers are more flexible according to many criteria, and they easily adjust to the changing project scope.

Saving costs

The final reason to outsource software development in the healthcare industry is to optimize your budget. The developer rates in offshore countries are lower than in the US or Western Europe. Moreover, you avoid HR and onboarding costs and other secondary expenses.

How Much Does It Cost to Design and Build Custom Software For Healthcare?

Now that you know the benefits of healthcare software, it’s time to discuss the cost. The rates of experienced developers in the healthcare industry aren’t low, but you can substantially cut costs if you outsource to popular destinations like Eastern Europe or Asia.

If you are looking for the lowest rate, Asia is a suitable destination. However, optimizing the budget doesn’t always imply the excellent quality of medical software. Make sure the company you choose works according to security certifications. Here are the average developer rates in different areas:

Eastern Europe

This is an attractive destination that offers access to a pool of skilled engineers. Moreover, the costs are reasonable. Among all countries, Ukraine has the largest talent pool of over 200,000 talented software developers. Here are the average rates:

  • Ukraine: $36
  • Poland:  $41
  • Bulgaria: $35
  • Belarus: $29

Asia

India and China have the largest pools of software developers. The rates are more affordable; however, their tech education may not be as great in some cases.

  • India: $25
  • China: $25
  • Bangladesh: $23
  • Sri Lanka: $22

In Conclusion

The pandemic has demonstrated that the healthcare sector needs technological advancements to deliver high-quality medical services. Custom healthcare software development is a great option to increase business efficiency. With such a product, you offer your patients the benefits of innovative technologies like AI, ML, IoT, and Telehealth. 

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.