Building a Healthcare MVP: Time, Costs, and Key Features

Developing a healthcare mobile app can be a promising venture for entrepreneurs and healthcare professionals eager to enter this thriving market.

 

However, launching a full-scale app without first validating the concept can be risky and costly. That’s where MVP development for a healthcare app comes in.

 

An MVP in healthcare allows you to test your app idea with minimal resources, gather crucial user feedback, and refine the product before a full launch. A well-executed MVP addresses users' core needs and sets the stage for a successful and profitable startup.

 

In this article, we will guide you through

 

• the essential steps to create an MVP for a healthcare app
• the key features that will resonate with your target audience
• time and resource considerations for creating an MVP for a healthcare app. 

 

Drawing from our experience as a healthcare app development company, we’ll share insights to help you turn your app idea into a viable product ready to scale.

Things to Consider Before Building the MVP for a Healthcare App

The following activities will help you better define your MVP concept and eventually create a healthcare app that brings real value to users.

 

Research your competitors and identify your unique value proposition

Profound market research will help you understand the present state of affairs in this industry and develop ideas on making an MVP for a healthcare app that stands out from the competitors. 

 

Profound research is an excellent method to:

 

• Understand the present products on the market
• Make a detailed comparison of the top-rated applications and understand why they are doing well
• Detect the more vital points of your competitors, which you should consider implementing, as well as identify their weak points
• Find opportunities
• Develop insights about making your healthcare app better
• Identify the unique value proposition (UVP) of your healthcare app.

 

Select the type of your healthcare app

Based on your findings and business needs, choose the concept of your healthcare app. Define the problem you want to solve and build a specifically tailored solution for it.

 

 

Here are some of the popular healthcare app categories that you might choose from:

 

• Telemedicine apps
• Fitness and wellness apps
• Mental health apps
• Medication management apps
• Chronic disease management apps
• Appointment scheduling apps
• Health tracking and monitoring apps
• Nutrition and diet apps
• Pregnancy and parenting apps
• Medical reference apps

 

Learn more: How to Create a Meditation App: Development & Cost

 

The types of apps may also be differentiated based on the platform and specific devices. You can develop a healthcare app for Android or iOS smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, etc. 

 

Once you've defined your future healthcare app type, it’s time for an in-depth study of your target audience.

 

Define your target audience

The success of any healthcare app hinges on how well it meets the needs of its users. Start by identifying your target audience, whether it's:

 

• Patients seeking remote care
• Healthcare professionals looking for efficient tools
• Chronic disease sufferers needing management support
• Fitness enthusiasts tracking health metrics
• Caregivers managing patient care.

 

Choosing MVP features is always tricky since you will want to address critical areas to attract potential users to your product.

 

A deep understanding of your target audience can help you choose suitable functionalities for your app and curate content specifically targeting users’ needs. 

 

Conduct thorough market research to understand users' pain points, preferences, and expectations for a healthcare app. This insight will help you tailor the MVP to provide value from the outset.

 

Determine your main advantages

Since your task is to create a unique healthcare application that will be better than your rivals, you can first make a detailed list of your future app’s benefits while answering the fundamental question, “Why should people use it?”

 

Answering this question will help you determine which features should be included in your healthcare app and how to ensure flawless app navigation.

 

For example,

 

• if you develop a healthcare app for chronic disease management, highlight features like personalized treatment plans, real-time monitoring, and seamless communication with healthcare providers.

 

• if your app is for mental health support, focus on features like mood tracking, virtual therapy sessions, and mental wellness resources.

 

Choosing the Features for Your Healthcare App MVP

An MVP should focus on delivering the essential features that solve your users' primary problems. Instead of overwhelming your app with features, prioritize the ones with the most impact.

 

The goal is to strike a balance between simplicity and functionality.

 

The core MVP features for a healthcare application include, but should not be limited to:

 

User authentication

Secure login and registration, including password recovery and multi-factor authentication to ensure data protection.

 

Patient profile management

Capability for users to create and update their profiles with essential personal and health information, including medical history and emergency contacts.

 

Appointment scheduling

Functionality for users to book, reschedule, and cancel appointments with healthcare providers, complete with calendar integration and reminders.

 

Communication tools

Secure messaging and video call features to facilitate direct, private communication between patients and healthcare professionals.

 

Health monitoring

Integration with wearable devices or manual input options to track vital signs, activity levels, and other health metrics, providing users with actionable insights.

 

Medication management

Features for managing prescriptions, including medication reminders, dosage tracking, and refill notifications to ensure adherence to treatment plans.

 

Data privacy and security

Robust measures to protect user data, including encryption, compliance with healthcare regulations like HIPAA, and secure storage solutions.

 

User feedback

Tools for users to provide feedback, rate services, and view reviews help improve app functionality and user satisfaction.

 

Basic analytics

Through dashboards and reporting features, users can access insights on their health data and app usage, enabling better decision-making and engagement.

When developing an MVP for any app, including a healthcare app, it’s essential to consider how your product will stand out in a crowded market.

 

While focusing on core functionality is essential, incorporating unique features or innovative functionalities can set your app apart from competitors and capture users' attention.

 

Here are some ideas for features that could distinguish your healthcare app:

 

• AI-driven personalization

Tailored health recommendations and treatment plans based on user data. 

 

• Integrated telehealth services

Seamless video consultations with healthcare professionals.

 

• AI-powered diagnosis support

Tools for assisting healthcare providers with diagnostic suggestions based on patient data.

 

• Machine learning-based predictive analytics

Forecasting potential health issues and treatment outcomes using historical data.

 

• Community support

Forums or groups for users to connect and share experiences.

 

• Voice command integration

Hands-free interaction with the app for improved accessibility.

 

• Augmented reality for medical training

AR tools for interactive medical training and education for healthcare professionals.

 

• Virtual reality therapy

Immersive VR experiences for pain management, physical rehabilitation, or mental health support.

 

• Natural language processing

AI-driven tools for interpreting patient queries and medical records in natural language.

How to Build an MVP for a Healthcare Startup: Key Steps

Well, how to build an MVP for a healthcare app?

 

Below, we describe our step-by-step process on how we build an MVP for a healthcare startup:

 

1. Identify the core problem and solution

We begin by clearly defining the specific problem your healthcare solution aims to address. Conduct market research to understand pain points, user needs, and existing solutions. Your MVP should focus on solving this core problem efficiently.

 

Key considerations:

 

• Engage with healthcare professionals and potential users to validate your problem statement and define your MVP requirements for the healthcare app.
• Ensure your solution is feasible within the current healthcare ecosystem and regulatory framework.

2. Define essential features

Based on your core problem, we outline the essential features to address this issue effectively. Our experts prioritize features that are crucial for solving the problem and delivering value to your users.

 

Key considerations:

 

• Focus on features that provide immediate value and are critical to the user experience.
• Avoid adding non-essential features that can complicate the MVP.

 

3. Develop a prototype

Our specialists create a prototype or wireframe to visualize your MVP’s design and functionality. This helps refine user flows and identify potential issues before development begins.

 

Key considerations:

 

• Use tools like Figma for designing wireframes.
• Gather feedback on the prototype from potential users and stakeholders.

 

4. Build the MVP

After validating the prototype, we proceed to build the MVP. Our developers focus on creating a functional version that includes the core features and meets basic usability standards.

 

Key considerations:

 

• Choose technology stacks and frameworks that allow for quick development and iteration.
• Ensure compliance with healthcare regulations such as HIPAA or GDPR, depending on your market.

Example of HIPAA-compliant mHealth app development by Onix

 

5. Conduct testing

Before launching, we rigorously test the MVP to ensure it works as intended and is free of critical bugs. This includes usability testing, performance testing, and security testing.

 

Key considerations:

Perform user testing with a small group of target users to identify usability issues.

Conduct security assessments to protect sensitive health data.

 

6. Launch and gather feedback

We release the MVP to select users and collect feedback on their experiences. Our experts use this feedback to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.

 

Key considerations:

 

• Monitor user behavior and engagement to gain insights into how your MVP is performing.
• Be open to constructive criticism and ready to make necessary adjustments.

 

7. Iterate and Improve

Based on the feedback, we refine and enhance your MVP. This iterative process helps evolve your product to better meet user needs and market demands.

 

Key considerations:

 

• Prioritize improvements that directly impact user satisfaction and problem resolution.
• Maintain a balance between new features and refining existing ones.

 

8. Plan for scaling

Once you have validated your MVP and gathered sufficient feedback, you can plan to scale your product. This involves expanding features, enhancing performance, and preparing for a broader market launch.

 

Key considerations:

 

• Develop a roadmap for feature expansion and system scaling.
• Consider additional regulatory requirements and compliance measures for a larger user base.

 

By focusing on solving a core problem with essential features, we can efficiently test your concept and make informed decisions for future development.

 

Remember: the goal is to create a viable solution that can evolve based on real-world feedback and ultimately positively impact the healthcare industry.

 

What It Takes to Build a Healthcare App MVP: Time and Resources

Below is an overview of what you can expect in terms of time and resources when developing an MVP for a healthcare app:

 

Time investment

Resource allocation

Development team:

 

• Project manager. Oversees project timelines, coordinates between teams, and ensures milestones are met.
• Developers. Backend and frontend developers who build and integrate the app’s functionality.
• UI/UX designers. Focus on creating a user-friendly design and engaging experience.
• QA engineers. Test the app for bugs, performance issues, and compliance.

 

Technology stack:

There are two main approaches to healthcare mobile app development:

 

• native app development
• cross-platform app development

 

Native app development involves creating separate app versions for each platform (iOS and Android) using platform-specific languages and tools.

Cross-platform app development lets developers write code once and deploy it across multiple platforms.

Budget considerations

The cost of developing an MVP for a healthcare app can vary significantly based on

 

• the team's location
• the app's complexity,
• compliance requirements,
• and the technology stack used.

 

Budget estimates range from $50,000 to $250,000+ for a healthcare app.

 

It's important to factor in development costs and expenses related to marketing, user acquisition, and ongoing maintenance.

Onix Experience in Building MVP for a Healthcare App

The most effective way to showcase our expertise is through tangible projects. Let's dive into some case studies that highlight our work:

 

NowWhat

The Onix team started this project from scratch, building a minimum viable product to minimize time and costs for the initial launch.

 

This strategy allowed us to:

 

• test the client's concept with minimal investment
• gather real user feedback,
• and refine the product based on market insights.

 

As a result, our client was able to bring their product to market swiftly and efficiently.

Digital health company

Onix initiated this project from scratch, developing a minimum viable product that helped us understand the target audience's needs and accelerate the time to market.

 

During MVP development, our experts:

 

• Reviewed provided materials
• Negotiated on MVP scope & provided estimation to fit the deadline
• Created roadmap
• Wrote specification
• Worked on UI design
• Developed platform architecture
• Developed backend and frontend development
• Provided QA assurance services
• Prepared for app release
• Ensured app publishing

 

Our MVP solution included the core features:

 

• Authorization
• Questionnaires
• Invitations
• Five roles in the app with different access
• Network (team) with members
• Calendar with tasks
• Simple chat with attachments

 

As a result, we successfully completed the product's feasibility study, did all background work required for successful MVP development, and moved the product under Onix support after the app release.

 

Now, our specialists work on changes and updates based on customer needs and user feedback.

To Recap

Building a minimum viable product is the fastest and most cost-effective way to check whether your healthcare application will be valuable and in demand. However, even an MVP development process should be preceded by user research and competitors analysis.

 

With a well-planned strategy, a detailed list of indispensable and nice-to-have features targeting a user pool as large as possible, and a reliable team of developers, your chances of launching a successful new healthcare app will increase significantly. 

 

Now that you know how to build an MVP for a healthcare app and are determined to proceed, it’s time to look for a team that can do it for you. Besides the designers’ and programmers’ hourly rates, you must look at their expertise and experience in building effective solutions for the mobile healthcare industry.

  

If you are looking for experienced developers, UX/UI experts, and project managers to help you test your idea or build a full-fledged healthcare application without overspending your resources, please contact Onix.

 

With an individual approach for each case, we are always here to consult and assist startups!

A client’s assessment of collaboration with Onix on mHealth app development

 

FAQ

 

Why should I build an MVP for my healthcare app?

Building an MVP helps you validate your app idea quickly and cost-effectively. It reduces the risk of investing significant resources into a product that may not meet user needs. An MVP also allows you to gather valuable user feedback early on, guiding future development and increasing the chances of your app's success.

 

What are the critical steps to building an MVP for a healthcare app?

The key steps include:

 

• Identifying your target audience: Understand who your users are and what they need.
• Defining core features: Focus on the essential functionalities that will deliver the most value to users.
• Designing the user experience: Create a user-friendly interface that supports seamless navigation.
• Developing the app: Build the app using agile development practices, focusing on scalability.
• Testing and iteration: Conduct thorough testing and iterate based on user feedback.

 

How much time and resources are needed to build an MVP for a healthcare app?

Building an MVP typically takes 4-6 months, depending on the app's complexity. Key resources include a product manager, UX/UI designer, developers, and QA testers. The budget can range from $50,000 to $250,000+ or more depending on various factors.

 

How do I ensure my healthcare app MVP is scalable?

As an MVP healthcare provider, we recommend choosing a flexible tech stack and modular architecture to support future growth. Plan for scalability by considering how new features, increased user load, and integrations with other platforms will be handled as your app evolves.

 

What should I do after launching my healthcare app MVP?

After launching your MVP, focus on gathering and analyzing user feedback. Use this information to refine your app, fix any issues, and plan the next development phase. Continuously improve your app by adding new features, enhancing existing ones, and expanding your user base.