Medical Apps - Synappz

What are Medical Apps?

Medical apps are applications with a medical purpose that have been designed for usage on mobile devices such as mobile phones or tablets. The portability of these devices is extremely useful for gaining rapid access to certain functionalities, such as inputting pain levels, medication, or activity levels. Increasingly, sensors in mobile phones, also known as ‘wearables’, are being used to automatically measure specific clinical parameters.
Due to the proliferation of medical apps many patients and healthcare professionals find it increasingly difficult to distinguish between the good and the not-so-good. The quality of medical apps can vary enormously; this is especially the case in regards to aspects such as user interaction, graphic design, data security and privacy. A lot remains to be improved upon.

Medical apps can be subdivided into 4 categories

Reference

Reference apps provide information on certain medical conditions.

Productivity improvement

Apps for productivity improvement aim to improve the efficiency of a process.

Calculation

Calculative apps calculate something, such as drug dosage.

Tracking

Tracking apps keep track of a condition’s (bodily) aspects.

What makes a medical app a good medical app?

In our experience, a good medical apps encompasses the following five aspects:

User Experience

The way in which the user (usually a patient) experiences the app. Does the application look good, is it simple to use and easy to find? The manner in which the user is encouraged to use the app (persuasive technologies) is also important.

Credibility

The app’s credibility is largely determined by the team responsible for its creation. Were healthcare professionals and/or patients involved in the development process? Has it been subjected to medical validation?

Trustworthiness

The manner in which the developers convey trustworthiness in terms of judicious (patient) data management, and respect of the known healthcare standards and norms, such as a CE-marking, NEN and ISO standards.

Connectivity

The possibility to connect the app to other platforms and/or sensors, thereby providing meaningful added-value for the patient. Interoperability is the overarching principle.

Value creation

The added-value that the app represents for the individual patient and/or healthcare professional, as well as the care process in general, has preferably been validated and demonstrated.

Want to find out more about medical apps?

All medical apps developed by Synappz Mobile Health are in full alignment with the 5 above mentioned topics. We invest extensively in technology in the areas of data security and privacy, user experience and co-creation processes. Admittedly, we are also sometimes faced with challenges in this new world but we are more than happy to tackle those challenges with like-minded people. Would you like to further discuss the matter with us? Give us a call and we’ll get the coffee brewing!

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