How to Develop a Doctor’s Appointment Booking App (Step-by-Step Guide)

Believe it or not, we are heavily dependent on applications to complete our day-to-day tasks. Be it taxi booking, grocery, or dating, we need apps to do almost everything.

One such necessity is a doctor’s appointment booking app. Since people are used to getting things done at their fingertips, the emergence of an appointment scheduling app is the cherry on the cake.

According to Research and Markets the medical scheduling software market is projected to reach USD 927.09 million by the year 2028. So, if you are thinking about creating a robust doctor’s appointment booking app, now is the right time.

In this blog, we will discuss:

Let’s get started!

Future of the Digital Health Market

Did you know that in 2018, the eHealth market was valued at $86.4 billion?

One major reason for this growth is that governments around the world are using more digital healthcare tools. Because of this, experts believe the global eHealth market could reach over $207 billion by 2024, growing more than 20% each year.

The COVID-19 pandemic also increased the demand for digital healthcare. As more people start using telemedicine regularly, these numbers might go even higher. A recent survey showed that 58% of people would rather use a digital health solution than visit their doctor in person.

North America stands out as a major player when compared to other regions due to the increased government support for eHealth providers. Additionally, there is a strong foundation for creative solutions in the shape of cutting-edge healthcare facilities.

Similarly, the digital health sector in the Asia Pacific area is doing well. This is a result of the widespread usage of mobile healthcare apps by people of all ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and nationalities.

Benefits of a Doctor’s Appointment Booking App

An appointment booking app has turned out to be a boon to patients and doctors because neither of them likes to wait. Hence, it saves time for both.

The app eliminates the crowded scenarios at the hospital receptions and promotes a systematic workflow, which benefits both the hospital management and the patients.

Scroll down to check out some of the major benefits of a doctor’s appointment scheduling application:

1. Time & Cost Savings

As discussed above, having an online doctor’s appointment scheduling system can save lots of time for both patients and doctors. Patients can conveniently book appointments from anywhere and at any time.

As patients will interact via the application for their appointments and require less administrative support on the hospital premises, it will help with cost-cutting.

2. Increased Convenience

A recent study has revealed that convenience is one of the top-most facilities considered by patients. That’s because patients will only continue with the same healthcare provider if they are treated well the first time. Luckily, a doctor’s appointment booking app eliminates the receptionist-patient conversation and promotes a direct way of communication.

3. Improved Communication

With the advent of the doctor’s appointment booking app, patients feel more confident to approach their respective healthcare providers. Thereby facilitating better communication between the two. Also, if patients are not able to make it to their doctor’s clinic/hospital, they can use the app to get virtual assistance from healthcare providers.

4. Fills Appointment Gaps

The manual/telephonic appointment booking system results in patient no-shows, owing to several reasons, one of which is a lack of reminders. However, with an appointment booking app, patients get automated appointment reminders so they don’t miss the appointment. Thus, significantly reducing the appointment gaps.

5. Data Analytics

The doctor’s appointment booking app can generate valuable data on appointment trends, patient demographics, and other metrics. It can also help healthcare providers make data-driven decisions and improve patient care.

Cost of Building a Doctor’s Appointment Booking App

The next important factor to consider while developing a doctor’s appointment booking app is the cost. Several factors influence the cost, like the features, functionalities, and complexity. The average cost can be anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000.

However, before investing in a full-fledged app, we suggest our clients invest in an MVP first, check its response in the market, and then plan for expansion. This way, clients can play fair and still remain on the winning side.

How to Develop a Doctor’s Appointment Booking App?

1. Define Goals and Objectives

2. Hire An App Development Company

3. Finalize Prototypes and Designs

4. Development

5. Testing and Release

6. Maintenance and Support

[Also Read:How Healthcare Mobile App Development Services Are Streamlining Operations]

Features of a Doctor’s Appointment Booking App

Let’s have a quick look at the features of doctor appointment system:

1. Doctor’s Profile

This feature is for doctors, where they can create their profile by entering basic information like name, age, gender, qualification, specialization, time availability, treatment costs, and appointment fees.

2. Patient’s Profile

This section is for patients, where they can add their basic details, including name, age, gender, disease, allergy, and other specifications.

3. Push Notifications

Push notifications are an essential part of any application. They let both the patients and doctors know about regular updates. Push notifications include reminders, doctor’s availability, missed appointments, and others.

4. Appointment Scheduling

Appointment scheduling is the core feature of a doctor’s appointment app. From here, patients can book appointments with their preferred healthcare experts based on their health concerns.

5. Automated Reminders

Manual or telephonic appointments result in huge patient no-shows. However, with the advent of telemedicine apps, patients can get automated reminders so they don’t miss an appointment, which ensures maximum presence.

6. Health Records

This feature of a telemedicine app helps keep track of the patient’s health history. Patients can find their medical records and plan their appointments accordingly.

7. Appointment Details

This feature allows you to get your appointment details, which include upcoming appointments, completed appointments, canceled appointments, and postponed appointments.

8. Feedback and Support

This feature allows you to provide feedback based on the quality of service. Meanwhile, the support team ensures that your appointment booking app is providing you with seamless service.

[Also Read:Artificial Intelligence in the Healthcare Industry: A Statistical Analysis]

4 Most Successful Doctor’s Appointment Booking Apps

Below are 5 of the best and most successful doctor’s appointment booking apps in the market:

1. Zocdoc

First is Zocdoc, an American on-demand medical app. This app allows users to search for, compare based on reviews, and visit medical experts.

For better patient convenience, the app comes with a healthcare provider filter and an insurance checker. With over 50 different kinds of doctors on Zocdoc, almost any medical issue can be resolved.

The app also allows users to track their annual physicals. Regarding the actual appointments, users can get on a video call with the specialist. Also, the geolocation function makes it possible to locate a doctor in the area.

What Makes Zocdoc Different From Other Apps:

2. HealthTap

Next on the list is HealthTap, a subscription-based app for scheduling doctor's appointments in the USA. Users can text or make audio and video chats with doctors in real time. They can also submit questions and receive a response within a day.

Since the app complies with HIPAA, patient data is protected by appropriate security measures. For added convenience, all of the prescriptions, medical records, and doctor's recommendations are kept in one place.

One of HealthTap's special features is a symptom checker driven by AI. The library of medical advice and information about common ailments is also available to users.

What Makes HealthTap Different From Other Apps:

3. Practo

A medical appointment app called Practo is accessible in several Asian nations. It provides more functionality because users may schedule procedures, order medications, and schedule doctor's appointments, among other things.

Patients can schedule an online consultation or a hospital visit appointment through the company's partnerships with different healthcare providers. Additionally, Practo can be used to schedule check-ups and diagnostic tests.

With a single touch, users may access their medical records. Additionally, it's quite easy to be able to purchase medication directly through the app and have it delivered to you.

4. Doctolib

Access to French medical specialists is made easier via the Doctolib app. It could change the way healthcare is delivered. Patients benefit greatly from automated text message appointment reminders and delay alerts.

Doctors can simultaneously access their patients' consultation notes and medical records in one handy place. Better doctor-patient communication results from this streamlined approach, which raises the standard of care. With the sophisticated Doctolib application

[Also Read:AI In Healthcare: Benefits, Applications, and Common Challenges]

How Protonshub Technologies Can Help You Develop Doctor’s Appointment Booking App?

Doctor appointment apps have become quite important because they decrease wait times, increase patient involvement, and improve accessibility to healthcare. These apps will change how healthcare is delivered in the future by delivering secure and convenient video consultations as well as real-time appointment scheduling.

If you are looking to partner with a reliable doctor appointment app development company to create a doctor’s appointment booking application, feel free to book a free consultation with Protonshub Technologies. With years of expertise creating healthcare software, our team can create a doctor’s appointment app that is efficient, HIPAA-compliant, and best fits your business objectives.

Contact us today for doctor scheduling app development.

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Garima Soni

"Content Writer"

Creative writer by day and binge-watcher by night, Garima Soni brings a unique perspective to her writing. She infuses her work with authenticity and a keen understanding of subjects to enchant and engage readers. Garima believes each piece of writing should leave users feeling inspired and empowered.