Four App Uses for the Healthcare Industry
Smart phone apps continue to revolutionize the way we interact with our services. And no where is this revolution more apparent than in the healthcare industry. Professionals estimate that over the next 5 years, application development will make this industry one of the world's busiest and most profitable. If you work in any aspect of healthcare, consider adding this dimension to your offering to increase customer satisfaction, engagement and ultimately drive sales. Here are 4 app uses to add value to your offering.
Here are Four App uses to add value to your healthcare service offering
1. Booking appointments via a mobile app
Booking appointments by telephone is remarkably inefficient and fast becoming a thing of the past. This antiquated method is both costly for the healthcare provider in terms of dedicating human resources to fulfill this function, as well as costly for the customer in terms of time and frustration as they are often forced to endure long wait times. A smart phone app can solve these problems by automating the entire process. A few boxes checked via the app, and the result is a satisfied, empowered customer.
2. Ordering and accepting payments
In addition to booking appointments, all manner of administrative tasks can be handled via a smart phone app. These include receiving prescriptions from the doctor, as well as notifications of fulfillment from the nearby pharmacy. Insurance information as well as payment options can all be handled and transferred securely via a smart phone app. Imagine a world where the only thing required of the consumer is the seamless pickup of their medication, or perhaps just answering the door for delivery. The benefits to the elderly community are truly life changing.
3. Administration and records transfers
The access to records has long been a frustration for both consumers as well as healthcare providers. These days, records from appointments as well as results from testing are all being made available to the patient online and/or via an app. This frees up human resources on the provider's side as well as offering the patient the power to access to their own records. Healthcare services that provide the easy transfer of information to consumer and between providers will quickly find themselves ranking high in customer satisfaction.
4. Fitness app integration and health data
Fitness apps have really taken off over the past several years, and have also evolved in their many uses. Many of these devices are not only tracking exercise, but are also gathering vital healthcare data from heart rate to sleep patterns. While creating your own fitness app in this already competitive space may not be an option, it's also not at all necessary. Consider instead, integrating all the data your customer has already gathered into your app with a simple request for permission. With this simple step, your app now has the benefit of all that patient's data. You could use this information to prompt your customer to book appointments, make a purchase, or get testing. And the options will only increase as these fitness apps do more and more.
Final words
The smart phone revolution has only just begun. We are on the verge of a seismic shift in the way consumers will soon expect to interact with their service providers. If you are in the healthcare industry, consider these 4 uses for a smartphone app offering, and then imagine the many more specific ways you can enhance your services through an app. A little imagination now will pay dividends in the coming future.
Kleiotechnology builds apps and offers consulting services. Get in touch with us today if you have an idea and want some help bringing that idea to fruition.