How to Build a Healthcare Consultation App Like Zocdoc

The post-COVID world became very health-conscious. People started prioritizing regular health consultations and checkups. Such called for an unprecedented boom within the healthcare consultation service market.

As per a recent poll, the online healthcare consultation market was estimated to increase at a 10.01% yearly pace (CAGR 2022-2027). This projected a stupendous market volume of US $35.41 billion by 2027.

Such optimistic prospects stand as a goldmine for tech enthusiasts and entrepreneurs. You can quickly ramp up a scalable and profitable business by building your own healthcare consultation app.

In this blog, we will elaborate upon the current prospects within the healthcare domain, how you can build a healthcare app like Zocdoc, and what features you should incorporate within your healthcare app.

So, without further ado, let’s jump into it.

What Is Zocdoc?

With a 4.4 rating on PlayStore, a 4.6 rating on AppStore, and a million plus downloads, Zocdoc is an online platform/app that helps patients find and book healthcare providers who are right for them. 

It aims to give power to the patient by allowing them to see and choose from a range of in-network and highly rated providers, who are also specialized and located nearby. Patients can also book appointments quickly, either in-person or virtually, without having to go through outdated insurance directories and long wait times.

Zocdoc also helps doctors by giving them an easy way to reach the patients they want to serve and grow their practice without focusing on digital marketing. 

The platform strives to be a home for healthcare, where every type of patient can find every type of care, with cost and quality information available.

Why invest in a healthcare Consultation App in 2023?

The demand for telehealth, telecare, telemedicine, and digital healthcare services is increasing rapidly. According to a recent survey by Accenture, over 70% of consumers are willing to use virtual healthcare services, and more than 20% of consumers worldwide have already experienced them. This is why online healthcare consultations have grown by over 500% since 2020.

• The App Store offers nearly 100,000 medical apps designed for doctors and patients.
• The monetization of health apps is on the rise, with more than 45% of them utilizing paid schemes.
• A significant number of organizations, over 31%, provide specific apps designed for use by patients.
• Furthermore, approximately 30% of organizations surveyed are currently in the process of developing such apps.
• The popularity of mobile medical apps continues to grow, with 61% of people across the globe have already downloaded one.
• An impressive number of users download some of the most popular mobile health apps daily, with 300,000 paid and approximately 5 million free downloads.

Key trends within the healthcare application development scene

Let’s now review the ten most important trends in healthcare application development that you should be aware of in 2023.

The growth of mobile health

Healthcare organizations are turning to mobile apps to provide better care and better access to services. Mobile health apps have the potential to transform the way healthcare is delivered and improve patient outcomes.

The rise of the connected patient

Patients can now access their own medical data and be more involved in their own care through the use of mobile apps, wearable devices, and other connected health technologies. This trend of patient-focused healthcare is changing the way healthcare is delivered.

The increase in patient-generated data

With patient-generated data, healthcare providers can gain a better understanding of their patient’s health, lifestyle habits, and behavior. This data can be used to better identify disease causes, which will help improve the quality of care.

The growth of mHealth hardware

mHealth hardware has become even more accessible, allowing healthcare professionals to collect valuable patient data while on the go. 

This data can provide a more comprehensive picture of their health and help healthcare professionals improve their diagnosis and treatment decisions.

The rise of healthcare wearables

Healthcare wearables are devices worn on a patient’s body that monitor health data such as heart rate, blood pressure, sleep, and other metrics. 

This data can be utilized to make decisions about medication, diet, and lifestyle changes. Additionally, many of these wearables include features such as medication reminders or tracking of activity levels.

The use of healthcare wearables is continuously growing, and in 2023, it is expected to become even more common in the healthcare industry.

Increasing digital therapeutics

Digital therapeutics software, hardware, and data-driven products provide therapeutic benefits, leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to offer personalized health interventions. 

These tech-based solutions are gaining popularity in the healthcare sector for managing chronic conditions like diabetes and mental health issues, as well as promoting preventative health measures such as fitness tracking and medication adherence. 

The digital therapeutics market is poised to grow exponentially, with more healthcare systems adopting these innovative technologies to enhance patient outcomes.

Virtual Reality and Healthcare

Virtual Reality (VR) allows doctors to practice surgeries and procedures in a safe environment and enables medical students to learn anatomy interactively.

 It also offers patients a more enjoyable experience, reducing stress and improving pain management. 

As VR technology advances, it will become more widespread in healthcare, facilitating remote consultations and improving patient recovery times. 

AI and Machine Learning

By processing large amounts of data quickly and accurately, AI and ML-based tools enable informed decision-making and automated processes that reduce manual labor.

In healthcare, AI facilitates diagnosis and treatment in fields like oncology, while machine learning is creating virtual assistants that reduce doctor-patient interaction time. Healthcare providers are also exploring voice-based interfaces to facilitate communication between patients and doctors.

The rise of IoMT 

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is revolutionizing the healthcare industry by connecting medical devices to the internet for monitoring and diagnosis. 

IoMT enables better patient care, improved communication between healthcare professionals and patients, and increased efficiency. The technology is gaining popularity, with more healthcare facilities investing in it yearly. 

By using IoMT, healthcare providers can remotely monitor patient vitals, collect data from multiple sources, and make more informed decisions, ultimately improving the quality of care. The technology also reduces human error, facilitates collaboration between medical teams, and lowers costs associated with physical office visits.

Blockchain and Healthcare

Blockchain quickly gains traction in the healthcare industry, offering enhanced security, transparency, and traceability. It can improve data accuracy and patient privacy and streamline administrative processes. 

In the future, blockchain can revolutionize healthcare with electronic medical record management, drug tracking, and AI-driven diagnosis and treatment. 

As more healthcare organizations invest in this technology, we expect to see more applications developed in 2023, leading to increased efficiency and improved care.

7 Easy Steps to Develop Your Own Healthcare Consultation App

Are you considering creating a healthcare consultation app like Zocdoc? You are on the right track because the healthcare industry is rapidly digitizing and moving towards online consultations. Here are seven steps to follow to develop your healthcare consultation app.

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Step 1: Conduct a Market Survey

To begin with, you need to research the market size for healthcare consultation services. Conduct a market survey to gather detailed information about your target audience, major business players, their services, and other relevant information. This research will help you understand the needs and preferences of your target audience, which can help you develop an app that caters to their needs.

Step 2: Choose a Revenue Model

Choose a revenue model that aligns with your business goals and vision. You can choose from various revenue-generation monetization plans like subscription plans, service fees, third-party advertisements, etc. Keep in mind that the revenue model you select will have a significant impact on the design and functionality of your app.

Step 3: Be Specific with Prerequisites

Identify the domain, server, and other prerequisites required for each stage in advance. This will help you reduce the workload from healthcare consultation mobile app developers.

Step 4: Design Your Application

Designing your application is a crucial step in the process. It involves creating the layout and interface of your app, including visuals, tabs, and other elements that enhance the overall aesthetics of the app. The design should be intuitive and user-friendly.

Step 5: Build a Prototype App

Building a prototype app is a cost-effective way to test and improve the final version of your app. It provides a glimpse of the functionalities of the actual app and allows you to incorporate user feedback to enhance user experience.

Step 6: Test and Launch Your App

Testing your app is essential to identify and fix bugs and loopholes that can affect the smooth functioning of your app. Once you have tested and rectified all the issues, launch your app on the store, adhering to the rules and regulations specified by the platform.

Step 7: Optimize and Market Your App

After launching your app, it is essential to optimize and market it to attract users. User feedback is critical to improving the overall performance of your app. You can also use various marketing strategies to promote your app and stay ahead of the competition.

Must-Have Features for a Healthcare Consultation Mobile App

Here are the most popular features of a healthcare app –

Patient Panel

The patient panel is the most critical aspect of your healthcare consultation mobile app as it directly impacts user experience. The following features must be included in the patient panel:

Schedule Booking: Patients must be able to schedule an appointment with their preferred healthcare professional with just a few clicks.

Advanced Search: An advanced search feature must be included to help patients find the right healthcare professional based on their requirements.

Store Medical History: Patients must be able to store and download their medical history, making it easier to share with healthcare professionals when required.

Real-Time Audio/Video Chat: Apart from a live session, patients must be able to get an entire consultation summary once the call ends.

Doctor/Nurse Panel

The Doctor/Nurse panel is equally essential as it directly impacts healthcare professionals’ productivity. The following features must be included in the Doctor/Nurse panel:

Availability Management: Healthcare professionals must be able to quickly update their availability status and make necessary changes to their booking details like timing, pricing, expertise, etc.

Notifications: Healthcare professionals must be able to send quick notifications to patients through push notifications, emails, or SMS with a single click.

Multiple Payment Gateways: Your online healthcare consultation app must include various payment gateways to collect patient fees without any hassle and lags.

Admin Panel

The admin panel is responsible for managing and overseeing the app’s overall performance. The following features must be included in the admin panel:

Service Provider Management: You must be able to manage registrations from healthcare providers looking forward to using your app.

Promotional and Referrals: You must be able to set up and manage promotional codes and other referral campaigns to boost your business.

Appointment Tracking: An admin must be able to view the appointments placed by clients in real time.

Accounting: An admin must be easily able to track and download the earnings of all healthcare professionals apart from managing accounts.

Revolutionize Healthcare Consultation with IdeaUsher

The healthcare industry has seen an unprecedented rise in the demand for digital solutions, especially after the pandemic. If you’re a healthcare service provider, now is the time to invest in a healthcare consultation app.

IdeaUsher is a leading app development company specializing in developing robust and efficient healthcare consultation apps like Zocdoc. Our team of experts has extensive experience in building custom healthcare apps that cater to the specific needs of our clients.

Partner with IdeaUsher today and revolutionize the healthcare consultation industry with a custom app that will set you apart. Contact us now to learn more about our services and how we can help you bring your healthcare consultation app idea to life.

FAQ

Q: How to make an app like Zocdoc?

A: To make an app like Zocdoc, you need to follow the basic steps of app development, which include planning, design, development, testing, and deployment. You will also need to integrate essential features like a patient panel, doctor/nurse panel, and admin panel. Hiring an experienced app development company like IdeaUsher can help you streamline the process and create a robust app.

Q: How to create a healthcare app?

A: To create a healthcare app, you must follow a few key steps, including researching the market, identifying user needs, designing the UI/UX, developing the app, testing it for bugs and errors, and launching it on the app stores. You must also integrate critical features like appointment booking, patient data management, and communication tools. Working with an experienced app development company like IdeaUsher can help you create a successful healthcare app.

Q: How much does it cost to build a healthcare app?

A: The cost of building a healthcare app varies based on factors like the app’s complexity, features, platform, development team, and more. It is crucial to work with a reliable app development company that can provide accurate cost estimates and ensure that your project stays within budget.

Q: How do I make a doctor’s booking app?

A: To make a doctor booking app, you must integrate features like patient data management, appointment booking, real-time chat, and payment gateways. You must also ensure that the app is HIPAA-compliant and follows industry regulations. Hiring an experienced app development company like IdeaUsher can help you create a robust and user-friendly doctor booking app that meets your business requirements.