Top 8 Features Clinicians Want in Healthcare Applications

The pandemic has catapulted technology adoption in healthcare. The need for virtual visits combined with asking clinicians to do more with less has forced a need for applications that help make clinicians more productive while improving patient care.

At SharpQuest, we’ve worked with many healthcare companies in recent years to develop web and mobile applications to advance patient care and help make clinicians more productive. We recently published our list of the top requirements for patient mobile apps. In this article we’re listing what clinicians are asking for—particularly those working in care facilities outside hospitals or remote.  Looking across the many projects we’ve done, here are the top features and requirements for applications that make the biggest positive impact on the clinicians who use them.

Feature #1 – Accessibility and Availability

The primary requirement of clinician apps is that they be accessible and available wherever care may be taking place. Progressive web apps are a great solution to meet these requirements as clinicians can use them on wi-fi connected mobile devices or Desktop PCs without needing to download an app. Of course, making the apps available in the cloud on a highly performant service is also important.

Feature #2 – Patient Feedback

Clinicians often have thankless jobs. There is no better way to lift morale and recognize employees than to collect patient feedback and supply positive feedback to the clinician. While fairly simple to do, our clients are finding it is making a big impact on clinician retention.

Feature #3 – Process Automation

Speaking of retention, nothing frustrates clinicians more than having to deal with scheduling issues. From physical therapy to homecare, giving patients and clinicians ways to handle scheduling and changes via an app makes clinicians much happier and more productive.

Feature #4 – Patient Communication

Direct patient communication is a double-edged sword for clinicians. It can improve care and the patient experience, but it can also burden clinicians if not done right. The key is to have an automated workflow for others to step in and help with patient communications when a clinician is busy with other patients or off duty.

Feature #5 – Digital Education and Tracking

Printing out educational and instructional materials for patients only to have them never use them is frustrating for clinicians and costs money in printing. By distributing these materials digitally this is much simpler and a higher quality experience. Adding tracking for patient engagement multiplies the value as clinicians can see what patients are reading or if they are taking the recommended steps in their care plan.

Feature #6 – Simple Patient Onboarding

Any good clinician app has a patient app that it’s partnered with. For the clinician, this means they’ve got to get patients using the app. This is an important area to focus on as clinicians don’t want to deal with IT help desk questions with patients. It is critical to give clinicians easy ways to get patients onboarded into the system.

Feature #7 – Virtual Visits

Virtual visit capabilities are now a must-have part of healthcare. Enabling this functionality is an important part of care. It is also important to think about extending this so multiple clinicians can meet with a patient at the same time or for family members and caregivers in different locations to participate.

Feature #8 – Private and Secure

Compliance is a critical part of any healthcare application and it’s important to work with developers that understand HIPAA regulations and how to ensure features like digital communications and virtual patient care keeps patient information private and secure. And patients are much more aware of data privacy and will ask clinicians, so make sure your clinicians know how patient data is kept secure.

Improving Clinician Productivity is Easier Than You Might Think

The predominant feedback we get from our healthcare clients is that clinician apps are making their clinicians happier and more productive. In fact, one tracked a 59% increase in clinician productivity. Another has seen improvements in clinician retention and uses the app as a way to attract new hires. And of course, improved revenue is always a welcome outcome.

At SharpQuest, we have deep expertise in developing mobile and progressive web applications that improve clinician productivity and have clear ROI. Check out some of our healthcare projects and watch videos from our satisfied clients here. You can also contact us to schedule a consultation with our Healthcare Project Lead here. We’ll help you efficiently seize the opportunity to better meet clinician needs and improve patient care.