Zoha Khan

Are mobile apps a growing trend in healthcare Mobile apps in the healthcare industry are a trend which is gradually gaining momentum and for all the right reasons. It is safe to say that it has indeed transformed the medical industry and has contributed positively such as information and time management, maintaining patients' records, effective communication and consultation etc. The workforce of the medical industry happens to be mobile in its truest sense and, therefore, it is only natural for it to seek out for tools for "on the spot" or to be precise, instantaneous communication and retrieval of information. Hence, mobile apps in a health care unit are essential due to its portability as it is easy to access it at the point of care. In fact, this widespread incorporation of the mobile application is paving way for new innovations for the improvement of the health care industry. Most importantly, it is being adopted as readily as it is being developed. On the other hand, it is greatly helping the patients in the management of their own health. It is acting as a major catalyst in a sense that it allows the patients to communicate and get medical advice from the comfort of their home. This, in turn, increases branding as it helps the doctor approach a wider number of customers which otherwise, through traditional means, is pretty time consuming and even a far-fetched idea. Not only this, but the technological world has a lot more in store for the medical industry. In the coming few years, the medical industry will witness major trends and advancements such as the Mobile Video Chat. As more and more hospitals venture into telemedicine, a number of tele-health software would then need to be designed to put everything into a seamless execution. For instance, a doctor on duty undertaking an appointment will be able to open the patient's medical history using their smart phone rather than having their desktop computer turned on. This will only materialize with an application specially designed to cater such a medical need and a faster broadband system. Moreover, because doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are always with full plates and on the go, they constantly need tools which can benefit them in improving the patient engagement and this is where mobile apps will come handy. Owing to their tough schedules, they do not have the capacity or let's call it, enough liberty to sit, monitor, and track everything. For example, as medical industry work in shifts, mobile applications make it easy to keep a track on any schedule alterations or you can simply imagine a supervisor making changes to the schedule for the upcoming shift while being at home which otherwise would have been a hassle if these telehealth softwares hadn't surfaced. This way, each and every medical worker would be able to know everything at just one click. This is how smart and effective the communication would ultimately become. The emergence of these mobile apps has had the doctors say goodbye to the loads of printing materials for the purpose of recording-keeping That is how this trend has revolutionized the medical area! In addition to this, it has become a bridge between a doctor and patient when it comes to connection. For instance, a patient hailing from rural areas might face language barrier which these mobile apps have solved. There are mobile applications now, which can instantly translate their problems and concerns into their chosen language. This, in turn, helps to cut down on the costs as the administration needs not to hire translators anymore. Furthermore, gone are the times when in-house treatments and diagnosis was very much a thing. With the advent of technology, these visits have now become digitized. With telehealth software developments, a patient can easily check as to which doctor is available within their vicinity and book up an audio or even a video appointment. Speaking of this, these developments have helped both the doctors and patients in times of emergencies considering the fact that speaking to a doctor now has become a matter of seconds. A minor happening, thanks to such applications, can be controlled from becoming a major one or before it leads to a chronic disorder. In light of the above factors, it is absolutely legit to say that this use of mobile applications in the healthcare units is becoming an integral part of every doctor’s practice as from viewing x-rays, prescribing medicines, monitoring patients' symptoms to checking reports such as a blood report, is being done virtually now. Well defined tele-health software has enabled the aforementioned functions to come to life that now there is no looking back except for even more progress in the spectrum. With appropriate strategies, the healthcare provides can prove this system to be even more beneficial and contribute positively into the welfare of the society.