Top Healthcare App Categories Making Waves in 2023

Mobiles are the default devices where health information is searched for and consumed. Popular healthcare apps offer custom solutions for every kind of information that we seek. This article summarises the top 7 mHealth app categories of 2023.

Introduction

60% of Google searches are on mobile devices, of which 7% are health-related. 

In the age of instant gratification, both patients and providers expect instant access to health-related information. Healthcare mobile apps are a convenient method of accessing reliable and tailored information instead of combing through endless search results.

Beyond just information, the contemporary landscape of healthcare delivery is undergoing a profound transformation, led by user-friendly, efficient, and patient-centric mHealth apps.

They are reshaping the healthcare landscape by offering a trifecta of benefits: convenience, accessibility, and personalized solutions. With mHealth apps, individuals can effortlessly manage their health, communicate with providers, and access medical information, all within the palm of their hand.

With over 350000 healthcare apps available, the industry’s growing demand and interest in mobile health technology is evident. In this article, we’ve summarised 7 of the most popular medical app categories in 2023.

1. Telemedicine Apps

During the COVID pandemic, telemedicine usage surged and eventually stabilized to over 20%,  a significant jump from pre-pandemic levels of 4%

Telemedicine apps have revolutionised the way healthcare is delivered. They enable remote consultations with healthcare professionals, allowing patients to receive medical advice, prescriptions, and follow-up care without physically visiting a clinic. As a telemedicine pioneer, Dr. Jay Sanders says, “We need to bring the exam room to where the patients are.”

With remote patient monitoring, healthcare providers can track patients’ vital signs, symptoms, and medication adherence, ensuring they get prompt care whenever needed. It is a lifeline for people managing chronic conditions or bouncing back from surgery, where continuous monitoring can make all the difference. 

People living in remote areas or with limited mobility struggle to access quality healthcare. Telemedicine apps bridge this gap by providing access to healthcare professionals regardless of geographical location. 

Progress often hinges on the bottom line, and reimbursement codes wield significant influence over the pace of advancement in healthcare. 

In the U.S., the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Service (CMS) has introduced new codes for telehealth home services, covering them under insurance. Closer to home, India’s e-Sanjeevani telemedicine service has surpassed three crore tele-consultations. Recognizing the financial strain on policyholders, the government now mandates that all insurers offering outpatient department (OPD) coverage must cover the costs of telemedicine, reducing out-of-pocket expenses significantly.

To find out how health technology is changing service delivery in the insurance sector, check out our blog linked here: The Future of Healthcare Finance: How Mobile Apps Simplify Billing and Claims

2. Medical Diagnosis Apps

Medical diagnosis apps have gained popularity as accessible tools for users to receive potential diagnoses based on reported symptoms. A study of diagnosis apps found that although none outperformed GPs (General Practitioners), a few were close to diagnosis correct condition suggestions and urgency advice.

Medical diagnosis apps, powered by medical databases and algorithms offer reliable insights into conditions, causes, symptoms, and treatments. They are crucial in early disease detection, enhancing users’ health awareness and aiding informed, proactive healthcare decisions. Some apps patients use include Mayo Clinic, WebMD, Symptomate and Ada. On the other hand, providers also use healthcare mobile apps like Athenahealth’s Epocrates, Doximity, Medscape, and Wolters Kluwer to help them with clinical decision-making and rapid diagnosis. 

3. Doctor’s Apps

Doctors’ apps are changing care delivery, enhancing both provider and patient experiences through several key features:

• Effortless Appointment Management: Doctors can schedule, reschedule, and oversee appointments digitally, reducing paperwork and minimizing patient wait times.
• Secure Communication: These apps facilitate secure communication between healthcare providers and patients, ensuring swift responses to inquiries and strengthening doctor-patient relationships.
• Prescription Management: Some apps support electronic prescription management, enabling doctors to send prescriptions directly to pharmacies. This reduces errors and enhances patient safety.
• Seamless Integration: Doctors’ apps seamlessly integrate with electronic health record (EHR) systems, granting doctors instant access to patient medical history, test results, and treatment plans. This comprehensive information ensures well-informed decisions and personalized care.

4. Personal Health Record (PHR) Apps

Personal Health Record (PHR) apps serve as digital repositories for individuals’ health data, consolidating essential medical information such as diagnoses, medications, allergies, immunizations, and test results into a single accessible location. They function as a centralized hub for tracking one’s health journey.

These healthcare mobile apps also facilitate a seamless connection between users and their healthcare providers by allowing them to easily share documented medical information, streamlining what can often be a lengthy and repetitive process. 

Dossia, supported by American corporate giants like Walmart and Intel, aggregates data from various sources, ensuring patients retain control over their PHR, even if they switch health plans, doctors, or employers.

Driefcase allows users to swiftly retrieve their records in under 10 seconds, enabling easy sharing with doctors, hospitals, and diagnostic labs. India’s National Health Authority has approved the integration of Driefcase, a mobile app for personal health records, with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission, ensuring widespread adoption. 

5. Medical Training Apps

Medical Training Apps act as a bridge between theory and practice, equipping the healthcare workforce with the tools they need to excel in the real world of patient care. These apps can help sharpen clinical skills and decision-making abilities through immersive virtual training and realistic medical simulations.

These apps also facilitate peer interactions for medical students, enabling collaborative learning. By providing access to accurate and up-to-date medical information, medical training apps contribute to improving the expertise of medical professionals.

6. Chronic Disease Management Apps

Living with a chronic illness can be incredibly tough on a personal level. The reality is that these conditions can only be managed – not cured. This means people often find themselves wrestling with the daily struggles of identifying triggers, searching for relief, and facing a scarcity of trustworthy information while following complex treatment plans.

Chronic disease management apps are lifelines for those dealing with long-term health challenges. They keep tabs on symptoms, medication routines, and lifestyle factors, making self-management easy. These apps also provide personalised guidance, have provisions to set up reminders and share educational content that improves quality of life. 

More than 60% of users reported that using the BOOST thyroid app improved their quality of life. Multiple studies have shown that remote patient monitoring can make managing and treating conditions like COPD and Diabetes easier. The Dexcom G6 is a remote continuous glucose monitoring app connected to insulin pumps to automate insulin administration.

7. Mobile Drug Databases

The risk of drug-drug interactions increases with the number of prescribed medications, especially in older adults. In addition to having side effects that require medical interventions, it could hamper the drug’s efficacy.

Medical apps that use mobile drug databases are like lifelines for healthcare professionals and patients in identifying drug-drug interactions. They assist in making informed decisions about medication selection, dosages, and possible interactions, ensuring safe and effective treatment. By offering up-to-date and accurate drug info at your fingertips, they act as a safety net, reducing the risk of medication errors.

Conclusion

Today, most health information is searched for and consumed on mobile devices. Popular healthcare apps offer rapidly tailored advice or solutions for every ailment.

Our round-up of the seven most popular healthcare app categories in 2023 shows that these apps have become the cornerstones, offering not just convenience but a personalized passport to wellness.

The future of healthcare? It’s mobile! And it’s set to be your partner in progress, transforming patient care as we know it.

Key Takeaways

1. mHealth apps have made healthcare accessible and convenient.
2. These apps provide instant access to reliable and tailored health information, with user-friendly, efficient, and patient-centric features.
3. 7 of the most popular healthcare app categories in 2023, include telemedicine, medical diagnosis, doctors’ apps, personal health record (PHR), medical training, chronic disease management, and mobile drug databases.
4. Telemedicine, chronic disease management, and personal health record apps benefit both patients and providers.
5. Medical diagnosis, Doctors’ apps, medical training, and apps powered by drug databases enhance the knowledge of healthcare service providers and also help them run their practice efficiently.