Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Healthcare Mobile App Development

Long waits in the doctors office or emergency room can go beyond frustration. We just had an incident this week when one of our staff had to take their two-year-old child to the emergency room and were told to come back in four days – FOUR DAYS. That’s not good customer service, but thanks to the development of technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (MI), a subset of AI,  appointments, diagnostics, and other related tasks are now being handed off to AI for automation. This reduces manual task management, producing time and cost-efficient results with minimum errors.

Artificial Intelligence helps facilities analyze a healthcare clinic's workflow by providing diagnostic tools for faster results and treatments, and at the forefront of all this technology is the ability to put the solution into the hands of patients and doctors, in real time, literally. For this article, we are going to discuss how AI and ML can transform your healthcare business using a mobile as the delivery system.

Role AI and ML in the Healthcare Industry

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning work using various algorithms to provide efficient and cost-saving solutions. These technologies were developed to make things easier and convenient for us. Various companies across thousands of industries have transformed their businesses by safely using AI and ML, and the healthcare sector is no exception.
 
Numerous healthcare facilities are investing in mobile apps for providing treatment and patient care for their customers. Doctors and hospital administrative staff also demand management software be integrated into their existing systems to better manage patients and patient care.

AI uses predictive analytics to suggest patient outcomes and disease progression by analyzing historical patient data. This helps healthcare professionals identify high-risk patients and intervene before serious health issues arise. Similarly, these technologies study patient data for providing personalized treatments.

Developing Healthcare Apps and Systems Using AI and Ml

AI and ML are complex technologies, and developing a healthcare mobile app using artificial intelligence and machine learning requires an in-depth understanding of every facet of your healthcare facility. Below is the set of steps followed by most developers:

Step#1 Project Defined: The first step is the most import step… creating your project’s specifications, documentation requirements or creating a Master Scope Document (MSD). This part of the project requires the development of a clearly defined set of goals, project, programming and business requirements and a wide array of other requirements that must be defined before any programming work begins. At Skytech, we follow a rigid 6-phase development approach that yields a 96% go to market launch rate.  

Step#2 Data collection and processing: You need high-quality data that compliments your mobile app's objective. This could include patient records, medical imaging, sensor data, clinical trial results, lab results and a thousand other elements. Then the data can be merged into a Large Language Model (LLM), so it can begin “learning” as only AI can do.   

Step#3 Selecting AI and ML models: You should choose the most suitable models for your project. Image recognition, predictive analytics, recommendation systems, etc. are some commonly used models for building innovative and AI-based apps, and there are many start-ups and AI API integrators launching everyday across the nation.

Step#4 Feature engineering: Apart from adding the features of your choice, this step includes extracting relevant features from the collected data for ensuring model accuracy. This is done to test the app's predictive capabilities, but the scope of this content is far beyond this article’s reach.

Step#5 Integration with app: The extracted models are integrated to the app's backend system. A solid and accessible path must be created for the data to reach the models, which will then release analyzed predictions.

Step#6 UI/UX design: Based on your healthcare institution’s or clinic, the app development service provider will shortlist a few unique and user-friendly UI/UX designs. Always remember, “Simple is hard!”. Your mobile apps design must be simple, yet innovative with your audience in mind.
 
Step#7 App development: Now comes the most important stage where the front-end and back-end of your app will be developed. Incorporate the UI design and ensure smooth interactions between the user interface and the ML and LLM models.

Step#8 Testing and debugging: The app must be adequately tested before the launch, and a little-known fact about most mobile app project cycles, the testing, or UAT/QA stage of project can take as long as the programming phase of a project. If the mobile app being developed has complex interconnectivity user journeys, even longer.

Step#9 Launch and Post-launch maintenance: Projects do not end at launch.  In fact, some would argue that post-launch maintenance and stabilization can be the longest part of a mobile app launch. Apple and Google are continually changing their platforms as noted at their annual conferences every year.

Read this blog: Four Breaking Trends Happening with Mobile App Development in 2023

Top Features of Healthcare Mobile App Developed Using AI and Ml

A healthcare mobile app should include key features for quick and efficient patient management. Therefore, specifications and features should be carefully chosen. Including the following top features can add value to your mobile app:

✅ Online consultation: The introduction of mobile interfacing and other technologies has bridged the gap between doctors and patients who cannot visit the hospital. Online consultation is a convenient option for millions. This also helps patients consult a doctor of their choice, even if they are miles apart.

✅ Prescription delivery:  For healthcare facilities and pharmacies authorized through the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to do so, they can offer front-door prescription delivery options to their patients using the United States Postal Service (USPS), as well as track and manage orders from their smart device. This not only provides ease to the patients, but it also increases the revenue of the hospital or clinic offering the service.

✅ Patient & doctor module section: Separate module for both doctors and patients should be a must.  This can help patients with quick and hassle-free access to services. Patients can also find their previous lab reports, doctor consultation details, orders, etc. all from the same module. From booking appointments with their preferred doctors to viewing their reports, a profile module will provide convenience for patients and doctors alike.

✅ Alerts and notifications: Mobile apps can help healthcare providers in keeping track of their patient's health. Doctors and administrators can set reminders for their next appointment and the app will send alerts accordingly whenever their checkups and appointments are due.

Benefits of Developing a Healthcare App for Your Business

We live in a digital era where consumers rely on the Internet for nearly everything. People prefer to use mobile apps for ordering food, medicines, and everything they want. The numerous benefits offered by healthcare mobile apps make this type of solution a serious choice for healthcare institutions. Benefits include: