The advancement in technology has benefitted every industry. But its impact on the healthcare field has been truly exceptional. With technological innovation taking the center stage, the quality and precision of modern healthcare have undergone a paradigm shift. And some of the best products of this revolution are advanced telemedicine applications such as doctor on-demand.
In today’s time, everything from food and taxis to flowers and even personal trainers can be ordered with simple clicks on your smartphone. And the newest addition to this on-demand economy is the doctor on-demand apps that enable the users to seek the best medical care. With these incredible apps, doctors can provide their advice and medical assistance to patients remotely via the mobile application. And this has made it easy for the users to get affordable and quality healthcare for themselves and their families. Amazing, isn’t it?
If you are interested in developing such an app, this article is for you. Here, we will talk about the various aspects of building a resourceful doctor on-demand app as well as identify the cost of development.
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Introduction To Doctor On-Demand Mobile Apps
Doctor on-demand apps enable the patients to consult with doctors remotely. Let’s take an example: One morning you wake up with excessive pain in your feet. The pain is so appalling that you can barely stand up and walk to the washroom. So what do you do? Take an excruciatingly painful ride to the doctor’s clinic to get yourself checked? Or, take advantage of convenience-driven medical facilities to immediately make a call for your doctor to treat you while you sit back at your home? I am sure everyone would prefer the latter. And this is where doctor on-demand apps come into play.
With the singular aim of streamlining medical healthcare, doctor on-demand apps help to eliminate long queues in the waiting rooms. These apps leverage technology to provide superlative healthcare to all patients in the least amount of time. The patients can use these apps to make appointments with their chosen doctors almost instantaneously. And this is why these apps have suddenly rocketed in popularity.
How A Doctor On-Demand Mobile App Works?
In a typical doctor on-demand app, the user journey resembles this:
- The patient downloads the application from the app store and sets up his profile. He needs to provide a description of all his medical ailments.
- After the required data has been entered by the user, the app assesses it to formulate a list of specialists in the nearby area.
- The patient can select any doctor along with a date and time of the online visit, depending upon the specialist’s availability.
- A thorough consultation session takes place on the chosen date and time where the doctor recommends the most appropriate treatment plan.
- After the consultation, the patient pays the doctor through a secure online payment system integrated within the app. The patient can also access doctor’s prescriptions that are stored in a separate folder.
What Are The Benefits Of A Doctor On-Demand Mobile App?
A fully functional doctor on-demand app offers the following benefits:
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Immediate Medical Assistance
Using these apps, patients can seek immediate medical help from professionals without any delay. They can use the app anywhere and at any time to get access to optimum healthcare at affordable costs. This helps to significantly improve patient outcomes.
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Quickly Schedule Appointments
Doctor on-demand apps enable the patients to schedule doctor appointments quickly. Using these apps, they can easily check the doctor’s availability and select any date and time for the appointment. In case of any issue, these appointments can be rescheduled to another date.
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Transparency
With doctor on-demand apps, there is an exceptional level of transparency in all operations. For instance, doctors can keep their patients well-informed and completely satisfied. Besides, it improves customer experience by evading long waiting lines. In the event of an emergency, the users can quickly locate the doctors nearby and get their services in the shortest period.
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Reduced Paperwork
One of the significant advantages of doctor on-demand applications is that they allow the doctors as well as the patients to keep all their health reports and other documents safely stored on the mobile. This reduces the hassle of maintaining lots of paperwork.
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Affordability
Telemedicine apps have made access to healthcare much cheaper and convenient. These apps have helped patients save their resources by eliminating regular trips to the doctors or hospital admissions. Thus, they have made premium healthcare facilities much more accessible to all and affordable.
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Market Size & Stats Of On-Demand Doctor Mobile App Development
Several studies have concluded that the health and medical industry is among the leading three sectors to accelerate the growth of smartphones. This is because mobile health boasts the humongous potential to improve the medical healthcare system by enhancing efficiency, quality, and cost of healthcare services.
Let us look at a study to understand the potential need for telemedicine apps.
A survey conducted in the major cities in the US indicated that Americans need to wait for an average of 24 days to get an appointment with a doctor. For this reason, one out of every three patients claimed they have gone to emergency departments to avoid further delays in seeking healthcare.
- 82% of the people agreed that a doctor on-demand app should be available to make the process of receiving healthcare as easy as possible.
- 77% of the people said that they would want to contact their doctor via text messages.
- 69% of them prefer virtual appointments with their doctor as opposed to in-person visits.
Keeping this in mind, an increasing number of investors are looking to invest in telemedicine apps to expedite the availability of medical services. Mobile health apps are believed to be the greatest contributors to the revenue of the digital healthcare market. The global mHealth solutions market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $119.5 billion in 2023 and is poised to reach $395.0 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 27.0% from 2023 to 2028.
What’s more, the global Covid-19 pandemic has also fueled the growth of mobile health solutions. The first peak of the pandemic already caused a substantial rise in the number of downloads of medical apps.
Revenue Model Of On-Demand Doctor Mobile App
A doctor on-demand app can be monetized in several ways to build a steady stream of income. Some of the most popular ways include:
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Commission
This is a simple and very common monetization strategy. In this, the app owner can charge a specific amount of commission from the patients as well as the doctors for every consultation session that takes place through the app.
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Featured Listing
The doctor on-demand app is a huge platform that lists hundreds of medical practitioners and laboratories. But with so many doctors offering services on a common platform, it sometimes gets hard for many doctors to catch the attention of the patients. Through paid featured listing, some doctors can secure a place in the top section of the app for a couple of days or weeks. This featured listing can help them come into the spotlight and offer their expert medical assistance to patients.
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In-App Advertisement
Using in-app advertisements, some pharmaceutical companies or laboratories can show commercials of their products on the app and grab the attention of the users. The app owner can charge a commission from the advertising businesses in exchange for giving them ad space on his platform.
Now that you are aware of all the revenue models, let us look at some of the leading doctor on-demand apps that have been serving patients to get better outcomes.
Top ePrescription/On-Demand Doctor Mobile Apps
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ZocDoc
ZocDoc is a popular healthcare app operating in the major cities of the US. Available on both iOS and Android, the app enables patients to find the best specialists in their area and book appointments immediately.
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Practo
Practo is an India-based doctor on-demand application that helps patients to find nearby doctors and schedule an appointment on their preferred date and time. Besides, the app also allows the users to store medical records online for easy access, order medication refills, book live consultation videos with specialists, and much more. The app also has a large archive of important health tips.
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DoctorOnDemand
This is an amazing app that offers complete virtual care at any time and anywhere. The patients can get in touch with certified medical experts and licensed therapists over live video for optimal healthcare. Some of the most common ailments for which the app provides a solution include UTIs, colds and flu, allergies, depression, skin problems, and eye issues.
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HealthTap
HealthTap is an excellent doctor on-demand app that offers round-the-clock access to a panel of licensed doctors in the US. Unlike most other app solutions, HealthTap connects you with a doctor via video or text in less than a minute. Thus, with this app, you can easily address all emergency situations that require immediate medical intervention. After the doctor visit, the app sends a comprehensive treatment plan with easy-to-follow instructions and regular reminders to keep you on track.
Medical Compliance ePrescription /Doctor Mobile Apps Need To Follow
There are certain medical compliance regulations that ePrescription apps need to follow. These include:
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Health Level 7 International (HL7)
- HITECH’s Meaningful Use Stage 1 and Stage 2 (MU-1 and MU-2)
- Integration with Electronic Prior Authorization (EPA)
- Certified with EPCS, Electronic Prescription for Controlled Substance
Challenges While Developing A Doctor On-demand Mobile App
- Compliance with Healthcare Authorities
This is a major challenge associated with the development of a doctor on-demand mobile app. These apps need to fully comply with healthcare as well as data protection guidelines and authorities. There are strict protocols that need to be in place to safeguard a patient’s medical health history and records. Several developers face trouble integrating these protocols into the app.
To overcome this, the app must synchronize the login process and data storage. There should be no scope for any illegitimate access by any third parties to prevent data breaches. It is advisable to secure data transfer using SSL-enabled endpoints.
- Data Security
One of the prime aspects of a doctor on-demand app is to ensure the safety and confidentiality of all patient data. These apps store all the crucial data in cloud servers which are very prone to cybersecurity attacks. Thus, it is important to have a robust backend infrastructure. Without a powerful backend, hackers will easily be able to hack into the system.
To overcome this, developers must opt for foolproof and dependable development frameworks. Also, they can use advanced cloud storage solutions such as AWS to ensure data safety.
- Implementation of UI/UX
A good doctor on-demand app must have an intuitive design along with a user-friendly app interface. But often, this is easier said than done. A lot of developers find it challenging to create a seamless interface that works flawlessly across all platforms and caters to the demands of all user types.
To overcome this, make sure your online doctor-finding app has two different versions: one for the doctors and the other for the patients. The features and functionalities of both these versions will be completely different. This will proffer a quality end-user experience.
- Robust Backend Integration
Having a powerful backend infrastructure ensures that the app can easily manage the quick transfer of data from the patient to the respective doctor. But achieving this robust backend is very complicated. The app requires an integration of different features that must also comply with the healthcare facilities. Also, you need third-party service integrations like payment methods, map integration, etc.
To overcome this, the developers must conduct a thorough analysis of various frameworks and architectures to make the right choice. Also, it is important to ensure that the app has well-organized API documentation and proper protocols to synchronize data from both ends.
Advance Features To Develop An Outstanding ePrescription /Doctor Mobile App
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Social Signup & Login
This is an important feature to facilitate a seamless user experience and save him from the hassles of entering all the information. He can simply use any of his existing social media accounts to sign up for the app and get started. Also, the option of social media encourages the users to share or recommend the application to their social media friends.
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Voice Search
Voice search eliminates the need to type anything. The user can simply search for a medical practitioner by speaking his name and the contact details will automatically appear on the screen. This feature comes in handy in times of emergency.
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In-App Video Calling
Using this feature, the patient can make a video call to the doctor from within the app. With video calls, it gets easier for the patients to explain their problems and share their discomfort.
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Record Video Sessions
Sometimes, the doctor suggests some exercises or medications in the live virtual consultation to treat the patient. These live sessions can be recorded for future reference to offer augmented ease to the users.
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eCommerce Integration
Integrating an eCommerce platform within the app will not only help to keep the users engaged but also set up an additional revenue stream for the app owner.
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Medication Reminder
This is advanced functionality that can be included in the doctor on-demand app to turn it into a comprehensive health management solution. This feature will send constant reminders to the patients when it is time to take their medications.
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Document Management
Doctor on-demand apps require a robust document management system where all the medical reports and doctor prescriptions can be stored. This system needs to be secure and should offer access to the patients and doctors at any time.
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Document Scanning
This feature enables the patients to scan their reports and other medical documents using an in-app document scanner. It offers a seamless user experience by turning hard copies into easily readable digital documents within seconds.
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Automated Health Insurance Claims
Using this feature, the patients can find out if their treatment or the medications prescribed to them are covered under their insurance policy.
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Multiple Payment Gateways
This provides the users with adequate flexibility to pay via their preferred payment mode. It is advisable to integrate common payment gateways such as debit/credit card, PayPal, eWallets, etc. into the app to offer a smooth user experience.
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In-App Navigation
This feature comes in handy when the patient schedules an in-person visit with the doctor. Using in-app navigation, the doctor can find the exact location of the patient and reach him with ease.
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CRM System
Having a Customer Relation Management system in place is important for the app admin to understand the patient’s needs, gather feedback, and maintain long-lasting relations with them.
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EHR (Electronic Health Record) Integration
As the name suggests, this feature enables the patients to safely store all their health data online within the app. This data can be shared with the medical practitioners as and when needed.
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Loyalty Program Integration
The customers who have used the application for quite some time can avail of benefits through loyalty programs integrated within the app. These benefits can be in the form of special o.ffers, discounts on consultations, etc.
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Real-Time Analytics
Using real-time analytics, the app admin can track the activities of the users in real-time and make informed decisions for further app improvement.
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Marketing & Promotional Tools
The app owner can use effective marketing and promotional tools to attract new users and reach them via calls, messages, or emails. At the same time, they can offer special coupons or discount offers to the existing users to encourage them to use the app.
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Cloud Data Storage & Security
With this, all the vital patient information is stored on the cloud so that it can be retrieved at any time. This also ensures the security and confidentiality of the data.
Things To Consider Before Developing A Doctor On-Demand App
1. Your target audience
This is an important factor to keep in mind while building a resourceful doctor on-demand application. Patients from different walks of life have different needs and expectations when it comes to healthcare. It is a must to have a clear demographic in mind and address the needs of this target base. Failure to do so may end up in the development of an app that serves no one.
2. A good database of doctors and healthcare experts
For a telemedicine app to be successful, you need a good network of doctors and healthcare experts who can provide quality care to the patients. And for this, you need to get in touch with the healthcare organizations in your area to get skilled doctors onboard. Also, you must verify the license of every doctor listed on your app. This is important to ensure complete patient safety.
3. Legal aspects
Healthcare is a highly regulated industry. And to build a telemedicine app, you need to ensure that your app complies with all the regulations and certifications with the healthcare authorities in your area.
4. Choose the right technology stack
Choosing the appropriate technology stack is indispensable to the success of the app. With the right frameworks and app architecture, the application can offer a smooth user experience and attract a large base of contented customers.
Required App Development Team Structure for ePrescription App
For a good and quality doctor on-demand application, you require a team that comprises the following professionals:
- Project Manager
- Android and/or iOS developers
- UI/UX experts
- Backend developers
- App testers
- QA analysts
Required Team Structure For Developing On-Demand Doctor Mobile App
[table “26” could not be loaded /]How Much Does It Cost To Develop A Doctor On-Demand Application?
The exact cost of developing a doctor on-demand app depends upon several factors. The most noteworthy ones include the following:
- iOS and Android native app development
- UI/UX design
- Backend development
- Third-party integration and compliances
- Size of the app development team
- Location of the app development company
It is seen that the location of the app development company plays a vital role in regulating the overall cost of development. This is because developers in different regions of the world charge varying hourly costs. For instance, in developed countries like the UK and the USA, developers charge anywhere between $80 and $200 per hour. On the contrary, in developing countries like India, it is easy to find skilled professionals working at much lower rates, i.e. between $20 and $80 per hour.
So, talking about India, you can get a high-quality doctor on-demand app that starts from $25,000 to $40,000. However, for a more advanced and feature-packed solution, the cost may go up to $70,000.
Why Choose Appquipo For On-Demand Doctor Mobile App Development
Appquipo can be a good choice for on-demand doctor mobile app development for several reasons. Here are a few:
- Expertise: Appquipo has a team of experienced developers with expertise in developing healthcare mobile applications. We have the necessary skills and knowledge to build a robust and secure on-demand doctor mobile app.
- Customization: Appquipo understands that each client has unique requirements for their on-demand doctor app. Therefore, we provide customization options to ensure the app meets the client’s needs.
- Quality: Appquipo is committed to delivering high-quality on-demand doctor mobile apps. We follow industry-standard practices and use the latest technologies to ensure the app is bug-free and performs seamlessly.
- Timely Delivery: Appquipo understands that time is of the essence in mobile app development. We also ensure the on-demand doctor app is delivered on time and within the agreed-upon budget.
- Support: Appquipo provides ongoing support and maintenance for the on-demand doctor mobile app. We ensure that any issues are resolved promptly and that the app remains up-to-date with the latest technologies.
Appquipo is a reliable and trustworthy choice for on-demand doctor mobile app development. They have a proven track record of delivering quality healthcare mobile apps that meet the needs of their clients.
Wrapping Up
Telemedicine apps like doctor on-demand are an excellent way to improve the life of both patients and doctors. These apps improve access to premium healthcare and help to improve patient outcomes. At the same time, they allow medical practitioners to expand their area of work and provide effective medical treatment.
If you wish to develop a doctor-on-demand app, make sure to get in touch with a good mobile app development company. We will help you shape your business idea and devise a monetization strategy.
