Healthcare operations are more dependent on digital technologies than ever before, supporting all stakeholders. Healthcare software development has significantly transformed the way care is delivered and managed. Improving the patient experience, streamlining workflows, reducing administrative duties for physicians and care teams, and much more. However, the actual advantages of this software can be fully realized when it has the correct set of features. Let us guide you through the key features to include in your healthcare software.
12 Essential Features For Your Custom Healthcare Solution
Custom healthcare solutions have enhanced the operational efficiency of healthcare institutions. But these 12 features mentioned below can help you leverage their true and due benefit.
- EHR integration
EHR integration is necessary because it enables healthcare providers to access accurate and up-to-date patient data in real-time. Moreover, this integration can also offer several additional advantages, including reduced data entry duplication, streamlined clinical workflows, minimized errors, and improved coordination among healthcare staff. It can also help healthcare providers stay compliant with healthcare data protection regulations, such as HIPAA. Additionally, the custom solutions can increase interoperability with EHR inclusion, which supports the smooth transference of data and makes it more comprehensible for doctors as per different protocols (HL7 and FHIR, etc). All in all, the EHR integration enhances efficiency, improves patient outcomes, and increases the scalability of solutions.
- Appointment schedulingÂ
Scheduling appointments can be a time-consuming and arduous task, and errors can significantly impact the efficiency of healthcare. Furthermore, cancellations and manual rescheduling can add complexity and increase administrative burden. But a user-friendly scheduling system can help streamline the booking process, enabling patients to find and secure appointments based on real-time availability. This is helpful for healthcare providers as it reduces their administrative workload and optimizes the daily operations. Some of the advanced features, such as provider availability, multiple locations, and patient preferences, can also be added under the flag of appointment scheduling functionality.
- ePrescriptionÂ
It helps physicians manage and issue prescriptions within the software, which eliminates the need for manual paperwork. This saves time and minimizes errors, as the software can also include automated checks for drug interactions and allergies based on a patient’s history. Additionally, this also helps ensure compliance with data protection regulations, such as HIPAA and GDPR. In the context of patients, it simplifies coordination with pharmacies, meaning patients don’t have to physically visit pharmacies to obtain and submit their prescriptions.
- User-friendly dashboards
They play a critical role in healthcare software development by simplifying the complex information for patients. Indeed, in a busy healthcare ecosystem, every second counts, and healthcare providers must make swift and accurate decisions. Here, the dashboards play a vital role in presenting information in an organized manner. For instance, a dashboard can have distinct sections showing patient vitals, lab results, appointment schedules, and care plans. This helps the care teams focus on what matters the most, which is patient care. Furthermore, these dashboards are also helpful for administrators and support staff, as they help streamline trends, billing statuses, and compliance tasks, thereby enhancing overall workflow efficiency. In the context of patient care, dashboards offer a straightforward way to track health metrics, appointments, and medications, thereby supporting improved patient engagement.
- Telehealth features
Telehealth features are not a luxury, but a necessity in modern healthcare solutions, increasing the flexibility for both healthcare professionals and patients and allowing patients to connect with their physicians from the comfort of their own homes and at the same time, enabling healthcare providers to continuously monitor their patients which is exceptionally useful for managing chronic diseases. This is also beneficial for patients residing in rural and underserved areas, as well as for those with mobility issues. In conclusion, this feature in custom healthcare solutions has revolutionized healthcare by enabling patients to access timely care and reducing travel burdens. Furthermore, this feature can help increase the reach, making healthcare services more accessible and available to a broader audience.
- Symptom checker and Health Trackers
This feature is helpful as it enables patients to monitor key health indicators, including heart rate, blood pressure, glucose levels, and daily activity.
It is beneficial for post-treatment follow-up, chronic disease management, and helps in detecting anomalies, which supports early detection and prevention. All in all, this feature is best suited for increasing patient engagement, supporting the practice of proactive care, and creating a more responsive and connected healthcare experience. The AI-based symptom checkers and health trackers also improve patient engagement by offering real-time insights based on patient data.
- Push Notifications & Alerts
One feature that helps the patients maintain consistent communication is push notifications. It allows patients to remain informed and engaged in their care, whether through appointment reminders, medication alerts, health tips, or timely notifications, which keep users informed. This can help reduce missed appointments and improve patients’ adherence to treatment and medications. One interesting aspect of push notifications is that they can be personalized based on user behavior and medical history. Many healthcare providers might not consider this, but a simple alert can prompt timely action and prevent complications.
- Multiple Payment Methods
Today, patients expect convenience and flexibility when it comes to managing their healthcare expenses. This feature should be as smooth as any other feature in the app, and key components should be:
- Credit/debit card.
- Net banking and digital wallets.
- Encrypted transactions.
- Clear view of billing and invoice downloads.
The integration of different payment methods supports financial sustainability and increases accessibility. This is very important in specific scenarios, such as remote care or telehealth, and in streamlining billing processes, which improves patient satisfaction and operational efficiency.
- Integration of Wearables
Healthcare solutions should seamlessly integrate with wearables, such as fitness trackers and smartwatches, providing real-time data including heart rate, blood pressure, glucose levels, step count, and sleep monitoring. This enables healthcare providers to gain insights into their patients’ health while also helping them create a personalized treatment plan.
- Patient Portal
Most of the software developers can ignore this feature, but it holds immense importance, especially when it comes to improving patient experience. These portals can be pretty helpful, as they enable patients to access their medical records and healthcare information conveniently. In addition to medical records, these portals can include lab test results, upcoming appointments, and billing details, keeping patients informed and actively engaged. These portals are also helpful in helping patients securely communicate with their providers, rather than relying on phone calls or in-person visits, which reduces the administrative burden for doctors and improves response times.
- Role-Based Access ControlÂ
It is a crucial feature in custom healthcare solution development, as it ensures that only authorized users can access information according to their designated roles and responsibilities. For example, an administrator cannot access a patient’s vitals but can manage scheduling and billing. This limits unauthorized and unnecessary access, maintaining patient data security. Moreover, this feature can help maintain compliance with data protection regulations such as HIPAA.
- Multi-language Support
This feature is crucial in increasing access to healthcare and enhancing patient engagement. Especially useful in diverse communities that may not speak the same language, this approach promotes more inclusivity by offering an interface and key functionalities in multiple languages. It also helps bridge the gap between patients and providers, ensuring that critical information (lab results, appointments, and medication details) can be understood clearly. Thus, supporting the reduction of errors leads to higher patient satisfaction rates.
Conclusion
Custom healthcare software is best suited for healthcare institutions as it contains features tailored to their specific needs. In contrast to generic solutions, they can seamlessly integrate into existing workflows of a healthcare institute, making them a long-term asset.
