5 Benefits of Custom Healthcare Software
Custom software development offers ‘tailor-made’ software solutions based on each company or organization’s specific needs and requirements. This is opposed to ‘off-the-shelf’ software, which is more of a one size fits all solution, where there are generally less unique requirements and features. Custom software is essential for healthcare organizations because technology such as medical service websites, medication reminder applications, doctor-patient communication platforms and Electronic Health Record systems tend to be more complex.
Here are 5 benefits of custom software development in the healthcare industry:
1. Increased Security
Custom software solutions guarantee the safety of personal data more so than off-the-shelf solutions, as it is personalized to each individual organization and supporting data flows. Moreover, all healthcare software has to legally comply with at least a minimum threshold of specific security standards (HIPAA). Off-the-shelf solutions are an easier target for hackers, because they are more generalized, but custom software solutions can evolve security approaches that are specific to an organization’s workflows, data flows, and solution architecture/infrastructure.
2. User-Friendly Experience & Interface
Custom software solutions are more user-friendly. User Experience designers and User Interface designers take into account the specific target audience of the organization’s desired product, therefore allowing for user-interface designs that are easy to navigate. Designers can consider specific aspects of an application. For example, if its intended use is for seniors then font size and accessibility can be kept in mind during the process of interface design. Off-the-shelf solutions, by nature, have to provide more generalized design to meet a broad set of user types and requirements.
3. Customizable Features
One of the main benefits of custom software in healthcare is that each aspect of the product can be customized during every step of the design process. Feedback from customers can be taken into account and as a result, the product will be streamlined and more efficient according to its intended use. Custom software addresses very specific problems, such as improving communication between practitioners and patients, with personalized workflows and user experience design. Off-the-shelf software, on the other hand, is focused on getting the most number of users and solving broader problems which may not fit an organization’s specific requirements.
4. Flexible Evolution
The healthcare industry is constantly changing and evolving, and tailor-made software solutions can evolve and adapt quickly. For example, during the COVID-19 outbreak, the need for telehealth medicine skyrocketed and new products and tools were needed, such as remote patient monitoring devices in order to reduce practitioner visits. With this newfound demand, practices and organizations turned towards custom software developers to meet their needs and to make sure that their healthcare information solutions could adjust within the fast-paced environment of a pandemic.
5. Streamline Processes
When custom software teams with deep healthcare solutions experience are outsourced, meaning that the development resources are contracted external to the organization, then money can be saved to invest in other areas of the business. Healthcare professionals from around the globe are able to ensure development expertise in each area of the process, as opposed to having an in-house team which may need additional training in order to fully fulfill the product’s requirements.
Custom Software Solutions and Data Interoperability
Custom healthcare software can also be extremely beneficial in terms of interoperability, as facilities need to have access to patients’ EHRs and this data needs to be shared between various healthcare systems. Off-the-shelf solutions for data sharing are frequently not in line with the specific requirements of each facility, thus inhibiting certain processes like access to EHRs, administrative tasks and finance. Many healthcare systems integrations need to be customized especially for the larger legacy EHRs.
SRG’s ‘No-Shore’ Custom Software Approach
At SRG, we provide clients with best-of-class custom software solutions, using what we call a ‘no-shore’ approach. We have developers and technical resources based in Portugal, while also having USA based project management, so that communication is hassle free and that our team members are experts in what they do. SRG also has over 3 decades of experience in building custom healthcare software solutions.
