We are living in an era which is absolutely digitalized. Almost all the fields and areas of work in the world are digitalized. In fact, even in the areas where we never imagined that digitalization or technology could enter are not also transformed by the wave of digitalization. And, one of such fields is the healthcare field. Healthcare industry is one of those fields where no one would have imagined that digitalization can have such a huge impact.
The modern healthcare industry is digitized, and we can even see a plenty of interesting and useful mobile application entering the world of healthcare. Such healthcare mobile applications are changing the way the world of healthcare works. They not only bridge the gap between the patient and the practitioner, but they also simplify the process of seeking and providing care.
Healthcare mobile apps have transformed the healthcare industry
There is no doubt about the fact that the healthcare industry is transformed by healthcare mobile apps. Healthcare mobile application are not only for the patients but also for the doctors. There are a plenty of advantages that the healthcare app offer to the patients. The patients are not only able to find the most doctor online, but they are also able to fix an appointment with the doctor through the app. So, they don’t have to bother about waiting in the clinic to meet the doctor. At the same time, such apps make it absolutely easy for the doctors and the patients to stay in touch. In fact, some of the apps even offer the option to share useful healthcare tips or articles with the patients. Also, there are certain healthcare apps that allow the doctors and patients to get on a video call if required. Overall, the apps are making it convenient for the doctors and the patients to communicate and collaborate.
But, one of the major benefits of using the healthcare mobile application is the fact that it allows the patients and the doctors to store important medical data of the patient online. Be it the prescriptions or the medical test reports, everything can be saved and accessed through the app. This makes it much easier for the patients to save data online and for the doctors to access almost everything (even the past medical history) through the app. At the same time, it reduces the chances of misunderstandings and loss of information. Also, doctors are able to provide better care if they know their patients pretty well.
Are there any security concerns?
Security concerns are everywhere in the cyber world. If we talk about digitalization or the storage of data online, there is definitely a risk attached to it. As, the data is saved online and is also transferred online (whenever required). Therefore, there is no doubt about the fact that there is a certain amount of risk associated with it. However, the risk can be avoided if proper measures are taken while developing the healthcare application.
Any company who is developing a healthcare application has to make sure that they follow the prescribed safety guidelines and security measures to make the app very safe for the users. As, healthcare data is pretty critical. Thus, it is utmost important to reduce the chances of any cyber-attack or data theft associated with the healthcare data in the app. And, for this, the healthcare institutes, the users of the healthcare app, the doctors as well as the developers have to follow the strict security guidelines. They have to abide by the HL7 and even the FHIR standards to make sure that the app is absolutely safe.
Conclusion
Though, there is a certain amount of risk involved, but, if proper measures are taken than the risk can be reduced or even diminished. It is just that everyone involved with the app, be it the developer, the hospital or even the patient, all of us have to ensure proper security of the data. If every user will become aware of the security guidelines, the risks and the ways to prevent it then the chances of data theft would minimize. At the same time, the apps have to be very safe and secure and they should have the best possible programs for security of the data.
