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In the past, the process for diagnosing a patient used to be a cumbersome task, especially in the area of completing patient forms, answering phone calls, and waiting in the queue for consultations for hours. Such times are hard, and reengineering the process should be the starting point for any tech company. Transforming patient care with smart technology helps specialists to provide proper care & attention.
The telemedicine market is growing at a compound annual growth rate of 20%, with nearly 50% of consultations in major cities being conducted via telemedicine. Practo, Zocdoc, and Lybrate have changed the status quo in the referral pattern of healthcare services and provide a value-added service to increase patient trust, satisfaction, and ease of access.
The proliferation of on-demand healthcare applications is no longer at the stage of it, but it has become a must. The application eliminates the need for manual intervention to schedule sets of appointments, structures the workflows, enhances the collaboration of patients and healthcare specialists, and eliminates the transactional nature of healthcare delivery to create a more seamless patient experience.
This guide focuses on drawing insights to create a booking application for appointments similar to Practo.
Practo Success in Digital Healthcare
Practo is defining a great success story in digital healthcare with its modern approach & improved functionalities. In 2008, when Practo was founded, the healthcare system was purely offline, with no technology introduced. Patients called in a specialized doctor, and employees manually noted the patient’s details and data. Most specialists’ research was limited. Practo is found to be a rational businessman, tried to solve the problems in the system with a digital solution. Practo utilizes AI in Fitness & Health to help healthcare organizations to achieve improved health outcomes.
How the Market Validated Practo's Vision
When Practo entered the market, the field of digital healthcare was still nascent. Gradually, the evolution of sophisticated technology in healthcare changed Practo's vision, and the company has, in turn, strengthened its value propositions. Adding remote consultations, mobile scheduling, AI diagnostics, etc., were traits of the distant future then.
Practo has been credited with having advanced its vision of enabling users to consult and communicate with their doctors remotely, even during the pandemic. Practitioners during the lockdown appreciated the safety and supervision, privacy and ease of scheduling, and ease of spanning of controls that were gained.
According to GrandView Research, the global telehealth services market size was estimated at USD 46,032.6 million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 291,366.5 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 30.2% from 2024 to 2030. The appointment scheduling software sector has grown to become an international technology sector. Practo's model values this data & reinforces an important fact that has become the hallmark of the industry-defining innovation.
Common Mistakes Developers Make When Developing A Mobile App
Any projects that lose focus on a particular aspect can be especially troublesome. Doctor appointment booking apps such as Practo are commonplace. Recognizing potential flaws in the early stages avoids wasting time, capital, and ruining one’s image. Here, we will understand the common mistakes developers make when developing a mobile app.
1. Underestimating User Experience (UX) Simplicity
Clutter and the complexity of the appointment booking process can lead to user frustration, especially in the case of a healthcare application. There is a necessary focus on simplicity and user-oriented design.
2. Missing Real-time Updates
Many applications fail because there is no constant synchronization of appointments. The cascading effect of missed appointments and double bookings harms the booking application’s reputation.
3. Not Optimizing for Different Platforms
Choosing a primary system and concentrating on the remaining systems afterwards is highly ethnocentric. The absence of a sophisticated approach for cross-platform usability will result in adversity for users accessing a service through Android, iOS, or the web.
4. Absence of Continuous Optimization Post Launch
An application should be tracked for activity even post-launch. Not employing the necessary tools to assess and understand behavior continuously, feedback.
7. Undermining the Value of a Minimum Value Product
What will surely delay the launch and increase overall expenditure? The expectation is to integrate sophisticated features teleconsultations, artificial intelligence, and even sophisticated systems such as the EHR for desired outcomes.
Top Features in Appointment Booking App Like Practo
Having an app like Practo means there’s more than just a simple booking appointment feature. An app should have core functions of the healthcare system so that it helps in the smooth functioning of the app, legal policies, and the user’s needs.
User Registration & Profiles
- Clear, simple, elegant onboarding experiences for users and physicians.
- Users are the registered individuals who have passed the medical and can set their working hours.
- Users begin to create their own personalized health profiles once they register with their email, phone number, or social login.
Why it matters
Ensures trust, authenticity, and next interactions personalization.
Smart Doctor Search & Filters
- Users have the ability to search and filter consultations by specialty and location, type of consultation, and the consultation rating and fee.
- An AI system that adds prescription-based and booking-based recommendations for doctors. Hire IOS Developers to make the search fast and visible.
Why it Matters
Increased chances of a positive patient-doctor match with fewer search obstacles.
Appointment Booking System
- Appointment booking provides real-time scheduling with instantaneous intervals between appointments.
- A built-in system for automatic reminders for patients and calendar booking for the physicians.
- Digital notification system for automatic requests for rapid appointment cancellations and rescheduling.
Why it matters
Optimal savings, with higher patient satisfaction rates.
Video Consultation and Interaction
Video teleconsultations with chat.
Shared files include medical documents, prescriptions, and images. Each doctor receives AI-created transcripts and summary documents.
Why it matters
Expanded convenience for patients and improved access to care.
E-prescriptions and electronic medical records
- The patients can also pay directly through the app using credit and debit cards, UPI, and wallets, with the added option of insurance billing for automated payments. Many payment channels are available.
- Invoices, refunds, taxes, and other financial documents are automated to be sent after the payments.
Why it matters
Increased ease of access and operational transparency.
The AI symptom checker
- Chatbots can be used to gather a symptom history.
- Automated primary consultations with the assigned physicians.
Why it matters
- Enhanced triage staff engagement and relief.
- The app enables patients to book tests and prescribe medicines.
App-Based Reminders and Notifications
- Notifications for appointment schedules, health tips, medicine schedules, and general health alerts are available.
Why it matters
- Greater health engagement and better compliance.
- Admin Module and Reports.
Technology Stack For Developing a Doctor Appointment Booking App
The booking application for a doctor’s appointment must have a strong technology backbone that can grow in capability with time and scale without any issues.
1. Frontend Development
The user interfaces can be designed with Flutter and React Native, which are flexible and allow mobile applications to be designed and built with a single code for both iOS and Android. Automation of the processes for transforming interfaces and polishing responsive frameworks to be used simultaneously on various devices saves a lot of time. Hire Flutter developer & hire react native app developers, who are experienced & knowledgeable.
2. Backend Development
The backend serves as the backbone of the appointment booking system. Primary selections would be Node.js, Django, and Ruby on Rails. The system tables of the patient, schedules, and transactions are conveniently organized in PostgreSQL or MongoDB. The integration with Redis for the cache storage, coupled with quick data retrieval, is an advantage.
3. APIs and Integrations
The application needs to work with 3rd party APIs like Google Calendar, Zoom/, Twilio, and Stripe or Razorpay for payments of teleconsultation. Medical data exchange and compliance can be done with FHIR standards for the integration and sharing of medical data.
4. Cloud & DevOps
Pick any of these platforms; AWS, Google Cloud Platform, or Microsoft Azure. You get to host with flexible services, like auto-scaling, and HIPAA-compliant CI/CD pipelines and pipelines.
5. Security and Compliance
As to sensitive health data, use two-factor authentication, OAuth 2.0 and SSL/TLS. Ensure compliance with HIPAA for the United States and GDPR for Europe.
Cost Estimation of An Appointment Booking App Like Practo
Building an application for booking patient appointments tends to be a bit on the expensive side, as it depends quite a lot on location and the implementation of artificial intelligence, video calling, and other technologically advanced features.
Key Expense Components
App Attributes & Operations: Adding components such as teleconsultation and payment gateways considerably increases the cost of developing the application.
App Design & User Engagement: Incorporation of interactive elements to enhance user experience leads to a higher overall development cost.
Tools & Resources: The selection of established frameworks and other competitive methods will be associated with more investment and effort to guarantee functionality, performance, and application scalability.
Integrations: Expenses will increase with the integration of chat, video, and payment functionalities built with Razorpay, Zoom SDK, and Twilio.
Information Privacy & Security: Expenses related to auto-generated HIPAA and GDPR compliance documentation and encryption layers built with the application will be incurred.
Cost Breakdown
MVP Version (Basic Profiles & Booking)
25,000$−40,000$
Mid-Level App (Payments, Video, E-Prescriptions)
50,000$−80,000$
Enterprise-Grade Platform (Multi-Clinic, AI, Analytics)
100,000$−150,000$+
Conclusion
Creating an app like Practo involves much more work than just copying. It needs deep thought and innovation on the empathy and intelligence behind access to healthcare. It has to be an integrated user-focused solution that allows patients, doctors, and healthcare providers to interact and communicate in real-time easily and constantly. Ready to get the build a healthcare app like practo? Get in touch with our team for free one on one consultation.
Advanced applications can move beyond just booking an appointment. Go for the best mobile app development company that designs a genuine digital healthcare solution that enhances care pathways, expands clinician-patient relationships, and actively fosters valuable connections.
