Telehealth App for Virtual Primary Care for Everyone, Regardless of Location
We created a web-based telehealth app integrated with FDA-approved diagnostic peripherals, such as a camera and stethoscope, enabling healthcare providers to connect with patients and perform comprehensive remote examinations.
Business Context
A team of healthcare professionals approached us to develop a telehealth platform for virtual care. A platform that is not limited by audio/video consultations between patients and providers but also enables providers to connect multiple peripherals and run the diagnostics tests remotely.
A platform that is seamless for any non-tech healthcare staff to use and work with. The goal was to build a HIPAA compliant solution stack (hardware + software) that can be used by at-home caregivers with utmost ease. This would eventually help reduce ER visits, provide real time care to elderly and lower costs all with the convenience of remote consultation.
Platforms
Web App
Duration
14 weeks
Industry
Healthcare
We prioritized a robust and secure tech stack to ensure optimal performance and patient data privacy.
React for frontend
HIPAA Compliant AWS for backend
Hasura for scalability
PostgreSQL as database
Stripe for accepting payments
Partnership Goal
Our client sought collaboration with a small, skilled team capable of project ownership. They needed development partners with deep healthcare knowledge, a proactive approach to innovation, and expertise in cutting-edge technologies. After a consultation call with our lead developers and architect, they chose us as their ideal fit. Our mission was to create a web based telehealth platform that is compatible with their choice of FDA approved diagnostic peripherals like stethoscope, digital cameras and printer going beyond live audio/video consultations.
Before
- Limited access to remote or underserved populations
- High infrastructure costs
- Inefficient care coordination
- Long patient travel times
- Limited specialist access
After
- Real-time consultation
- Audio/video sessions
- Diagnostics via remote peripherals
- Expanded reach to remote areas
- Lower infrastructure costs
- Enhanced patient engagement
- Improved care coordination
- Increased convenience
- Reduced wait times
- Greater access to healthcare services
- Improved health outcomes
- Virtual family participation
- Flexible scheduling options
- User-friendly interface
- Access to real-time patient data
- Compliance with HIPAA guidelines
- Secure data management and privacy protection
- Customizable and scalable solution
Team Formation
The development of the telehealth app showcases our strong collaborative strategy. A team of eleven members worked closely with four key stakeholders from the client’s team. We used Slack for daily updates and Asana for project management to keep communication and organization clear.
To keep the project on track, we followed Agile methods with two-week sprints. Slack was also used to handle support issues quickly. For bug fixes, we conducted thorough testing in development, testing, and staging environments before going live.
This organized and communicative approach ensured a smooth workflow and led to the successful delivery of the telehealth app.
increase in patient engagement
clinics onboarded in just 12 weeks
reduction in in-person visits
Our partnership
We partnered with the client to develop a transformative telehealth platform tailored for comprehensive remote patient care. Leveraging our expertise, we built a secure, HIPAA compliant system equipped with FDA-approved diagnostic peripherals to facilitate complete remote examinations. The platform's intuitive user interface ensures a seamless experience for caregivers, physicians, and patients.
The telehealth app is designed to streamline patient-provider interactions, particularly through detailed caregiver profiles and a robust scheduling system. Users can easily access important information about their healthcare providers, check their availability, and set up or modify appointments efficiently. This functionality is crucial for ensuring timely and effective remote healthcare services.
Using AWS S3 for secure data storage and AWS EC2 for reliable hosting, we ensured robust performance and scalability. Twilio powers real-time communication through calls and text messaging, which is essential for seamless appointment scheduling and notifications. Fluent UI delivers a modern and intuitive user experience, making the platform easy to navigate for both healthcare providers and patients. For financial and documentation processes, we integrated Stripe for handling payments and DocuSign for adding digital signatures to prescriptions and SOAP notes, simplifying these critical aspects.
This collaboration resulted in a robust telehealth platform that broadens patient reach, reduces costs, and improves care delivery. The platform effectively combines advanced technology with user-friendly design to meet the evolving needs of healthcare providers and their patients.
Real-time Audio/Video Consultation
The telehealth app supports real-time audio and video interactions and is used in over 95% of telehealth sessions. This feature provides a convenient and effective way for patients to connect with healthcare providers, closely mimicking in-person visits. It enhances patient engagement, making it easy to discuss symptoms, follow care plans, and receive timely medical advice—all from the comfort of home.
Broad Device Compatibility
The telehealth platform includes portable units with FDA-compliant diagnostics, video communication, high-resolution cameras, printing capabilities, extended battery life, and real-time ECG telemetry for remote supervision. These devices support secure and efficient medical consultations in diverse settings.
Secure and HIPAA-Compliant
The telehealth platform ensures secure patient encounters and virtual care, maintaining HIPAA compliance to protect patient data with advanced encryption and secure communication protocols.
Optimized for Remote Area
The platform is designed to perform well in remote, rural areas with limited bandwidth connections, ensuring reliable performance regardless of location.
Flexible Connectivity
Medical providers can connect from anywhere the patient is located, while providers can conduct encounters from their office or home, enhancing the speed and efficiency of e-visits.
What happened next
Working closely with our client, we developed a user-friendly platform that simplifies virtual care. The app's intuitive design and seamless workflow make it easy to schedule appointments and conduct fully remote patient examinations anywhere, anytime. This includes robust real-time audio and video consultations, which mirror in-person visits and significantly enhance patient-provider interactions. These features translate into tangible benefits: improved communication, reduced ER visits, shorter hospital stays, and ultimately, better health outcomes.
The dual commitment to HIPAA compliance and FDA-approved technology underscores the app's dedication to providing a secure and trustworthy environment for delivering high-quality virtual primary care services.
The app's success story is evident: within 12 weeks of launch, over 50 clinics and 150+ hospitals adopted it. This strong performance has positioned the app as a leader in telehealth.
The client was delighted with our approach, commending our efficient management and precise fulfillment of their needs at every step of the project. Looking ahead, we're collaborating on the next version, packed with innovative features to further empower patients and healthcare providers in virtual primary care.
Still curious?
How can a telehealth app ensure user-friendly access for patients with varying digital connectivity?
Ensuring a user-friendly experience for patients with varying levels of digital connectivity in a telehealth app involves using a responsive design framework like ReactJS. This ensures seamless access across devices, accommodating users regardless of their technical proficiency. Prioritizing intuitive interfaces with clear navigation simplifies access to virtual primary care services, while optimizing for low-bandwidth connections and providing offline capabilities enhances accessibility. These steps promote broader adoption of telehealth, improving patient engagement and healthcare outcomes.
What are the security considerations when building a telehealth platform?
Security is paramount. Secure data storage solutions like PostgreSQL and tools that provide efficient data access while maintaining robust security protocols, like Hasura, are essential. You should partner with experienced developers, prioritizing secure coding practices and HIPAA compliance.
How can I integrate the app with various medical devices for remote data collection?
Open APIs and device integration tools can be your allies. By ensuring seamless integration during development, you can empower patients to use their existing medical devices (blood pressure monitors, glucometers) with the app. It eliminates the need for extra purchases and improves patient engagement.
What are the benefits of real-time health data visualization for telehealth consultations?
Real-time data is a game-changer! Tools like user-friendly data visualization dashboards give healthcare providers a clear picture of patient health trends. It allows for proactive care and better-informed decisions, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
How long does it typically take to develop a telehealth app?
The development timeline depends on the app's complexity and features. A feature-rich telehealth app can take several months. Still, our experts can develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with core features in a shorter timeframe as they already have experience dealing with similar projects. If you want to discuss your telehealth app project and timeline, contact us for a free consultation! We can help you navigate the development process and create a successful telehealth solution.
Is the market for telemedicine promising?
Yes, the market for telemedicine looks very promising. According to market research, the industry is expected to grow significantly. For example, MarketsandMarkets projects that the global telemedicine market will hit $285.7 billion by 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.6% from 2022 to 2027.
Do telemedicine apps need to be HIPAA compliant?
Yes, telemedicine apps need to be HIPAA compliant if they handle patient health information. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) sets the standards for protecting sensitive patient data in the U.S., ensuring confidentiality and security in healthcare communication.
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