Telemedicine is a technology that provides clinical help at a distance. It helps the patient get medical assistance when needed, especially for those with limited access to care.

It comprises electronic and telecommunication technology to exchange health information no matter if the doctor is not in the same room. Through this, medical information can be received from text messages to conduct a remotely controlled advanced surgery.

Some experts have used telemedicine in a clinical setting for decades, whose first reference in a clinical setting was recorded in the medical literature between the years 1950 and 1960s.

Key Technological Advancements in Healthcare With the Help of Nextupgrad

1. Augmented & Virtual Reality in Healthcare

The healthcare industry has different uses for augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR). These technologies are used for digital and environment in different ways. The development of augmented reality is managing the reliance on artificial intelligence.

As it is said by health specialists, cancer is detected through image recognition. VR can also be employed in physical therapy in the area of mental trauma, where it can heal the trauma. 

Doctors use VR glasses that encompass the technology to display a detailed image of what is there in the patient’s body. These glasses not only give insight into the patient’s body, like CAT scans and 3D images but also assist doctors in seeing and understanding the patient’s condition better.

One of the renowned companies that has built these glasses is Microsoft, and it is named HoloLens.

 2. Internet of Things (IoT) in Healthcare

When Internet of Things (IoT) technology combines with the health sector, it helps in a new era of treating patients, report evaluation, and disease management. There are huge varieties of wearable gadgets and remote monitoring.

1. . Wearable Devices
   Wearables transform how health institutions treat patients to treat illness and provide health reports. These wearables are available in gadgets like fitness trackers, smartwatches, and medical wearables. Below, we have mentioned how it is revolutionizing the health sector.
   • Continuous Health Monitoring: These wearable gadgets measure the ECG, blood pressure, and oxygen level and monitor heart rates.
   • Fitness and Wellness: Beyond measuring health, it also provides the wellness need. It monitors the physical activities of the human being, like sleeping patterns and stress levels, and encourages an individual to make healthier lifestyle choices.
   • Data-Driven Healthcare: Through these wearables, data can be driven for epidemiological studies, clinical trials, and predictive modeling.
   • Telehealth Integration: Wearables are seamlessly combined with the telehealth platform that allows remote monitoring of the patient and providing consultations.
     
2. Remote Monitoring
   Through this remote monitoring technology, a healthcare provider can keep a vigilant eye on the patient remotely. It has several benefits that we have mentioned below:
   • Elderly Care: It is a game-changer for older adults who want to be independent. So, the IoT in healthcare helps to keep an eye on well-being, which comprises medicines adherence and fall detection. 
   • Post-Operative Care: After any surgery, it is required to monitor the patient to monitor the patient, which lessens the patient’s admission to the hospital after the operative period.
   • Chronic Disease Management: Patients suffering from chronic illness can be observed constantly with remote monitoring. The healthcare provider will receive an instant signal when the patient’s health declines slightly.
   • Reduced Hospital Readmissions: The unnecessary admission of patients in the hospital gets reduced before escalation, lessening the burden on healthcare providers and reducing the cost of care.
   • Data-Driven Care: Data can be easily derived from remote monitoring, used to personalize the treatment per the patient’s condition, and make sound healthcare decisions.

3. Telehealth Platforms and Apps

1. User Experience 
   User Experience ((UX) is a crucial part of telehealth applications and other platforms; it influences patient satisfaction and the complete effectiveness of remote healthcare delivery. To ensure a favorable user experience, developers and healthcare providers should go through the key factors below.
   
   • User-Friendly Interface: The app’s interface should be easy to navigate. Understanding the interface between medical professionals and patients without training shouldn’t take much time.
   • Accessibility: A person having a disability must be able to customize the setting as per convenience. There should be features like adjusting font size, voice commands, and subtitles under the video.
   • Mobile Compatibility: The app should be adjustable and compatible with different screen sizes and devices. Its operating system must work on all devices. 
   • Video and Audio Quality: High-quality video and audio should be there as it is essential for the best health consultation. It prevents misunderstandings and manages quality control. i.e. Appointment Scheduling: Scheduling the time of the appointment enhances the user experience. It comes with features like reminders and notifications for upcoming appointments
     
2. . Integration with Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
   Integration with Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is vital in advanced telehealth platforms and apps. It offers several advantages like:
   
   • a. Comprehensive Patient Data: Integrating with Electronic health records allows overall medical history and records that
     include diagnosis, medications, allergies reports, etc. It not only gives you current data but also gives you previous ones.
   • b. Streamlined Workflows: It allows real-time consultation and updates the patient records during telehealth consultations. It decreases the chances of mistake and leads to a more effective workflow.
   • c. Medication Management: The telehealth platform can have access to EHRs to confirm the patient’s current medication and check for potential medicine interaction. This leads to more safety and precautions.d. Billing and Documentation: EHR integration makes the billing and documentation procedure by automatically recording visits and charges. It lessens the administrative burden.

Telehealth App Development Cost

Telehealth software cost depends on different aspects, from the app complexity level to the dedicated team’s location. Below we’ve designed a table with average time for developing popular telemedicine app components:

Accordingly, the telemedicine platform cost for MVP may vary from $180,000 to $335,000

Takeaway!

The future of telemedicine is immense, and the innovation is happening gradually, so you should also go with it so that you won’t left behind and unable to take the fullest advantage of the telehealth platform. Contact Nextupgrad for the need for custom software development in the telehealth industry at contact@nextupgrad.us.