Today, the Healthcare Industry is Relying on Custom Healthcare Software to Improve Personalized Care and Drive More Value

1. Could you explain your perspective on the significance of healthcare software in the context of today’s healthcare industry?

My perspective on the development of healthcare software is that it is a necessity that translates into tailored solutions designed with the entire patient journey in mind. As opposed to operating with data on paper, myriad documents filled with redundant data, long queues in emergency rooms, studies conducted in siloed universities, and inefficient workflows, healthcare is currently harnessing the potential of the digital age.

With healthcare software, patients’ entire journeys are improved, from prevention, through intervention and investigation, through treatment and postoperative care. This also increases the value of healthcare organizations, which are required to remain innovative in such a dynamic healthcare environment.

The outcome? More efficient operations and lifesaving treatments for patients – and this is also another factor that motivates me to be an ambassador for health IT.
 

2. When implementing healthcare software, what are the main challenges that stakeholders face?

Digital transformation in healthcare, and implicitly healthcare software development, is designed to positively impact the current top priorities of the healthcare industry, including patient centricity, compliance, and security. Although some might perceive these as challenges, they are actually catalysts for further innovation.

Essentially, when looking at challenges associated with healthcare software development, technology is not a hindrance, but rather an enabler.

Given the extent to which software is capable of advancing any industry, it is pertinent to acknowledge and understand that we as humans may not always use it in the most advantageous way. In this regard, based on my experience working with such a wide range of healthcare providers, I believe that the primary challenge remains bridging the gap between the concept of technology and its actual use. As part of our efforts, we are focusing on enabling partnerships so that healthcare providers and vendors can work together in a way that empowers patient care and does not overwhelm healthcare providers and healthcare systems.

3. What is the role of a tech partner in healthcare software development, and how are the industry’s key players handling technology innovation?

Tech partners play a crucial role in building reliable healthcare software in today’s context. We can easily claim that a tech partner can achieve innovation in healthcare, even in mission-critical areas where complex and continuous testing is required, if we take a first glance at one of the most visible comparisons, traditional practices versus agile methodologies.

There is a strong need for partners in the healthcare technology industry who have a deep understanding of the sector, its specific objectives, and missions. However, it is also necessary for health tech partners to focus on privacy matters, as emphasized by the industry’s authorities.

Tech partners together with domain clients are responsible for safeguarding privacy information and ensuring that are able to develop apps that are automated and integrated without compromising patient information, especially as healthcare is such a sensitive, potentially life-threatening industry.

4. Considering the skills and mindset of the team, where do you see a common ground between custom healthcare software and outsourced product development?

When it comes to mindsets and skills, there are two main criteria that should be considered in both the design of custom healthcare software and in outsourced product development: experience with a variety of products and experience with multiple industries and technologies.

Experience with multiple products indicates that the team members are familiar with health industry terminology, compliance standards, and complementary features that are important for optimizing the main component. Alternatively, a team that is experienced across multiple industries and technologies will have a broader understanding of potential innovative solutions. Having a dedicated team will give healthcare companies an edge in bringing out-of-the-ordinary solutions, given that most of them lie at the intersection of several fields.

For instance, we at Fortech, as a tech partner experienced across industries but also with expertise in each of the top verticals such as healthcare, place a high value on the professional development of our software engineers. Whether it is to gain a deeper understanding within a vertical or to gain additional knowledge and experience within multiple industries, we are committed to continuous growth.
 

5. How do you see the healthcare industry evolving technologically in the near future?

A comprehensive digital ecosystem is already in place to empower patients, clinicians, medical staff and anyone who has a first contact point with healthcare software.

To improve the patient’s journey and increase the level of personalized care, stakeholders in healthcare are focusing on enabling the exchange of information, along with improved risk management and better cost control as complementary aspects. Enhancing the value of healthcare data is an area we are currently pursuing with high priority, and we expect it to become mandatory soon. An integral part of data value is real-time integration.

In our experience as software development partners, we know that real-time integrations are only possible when there is a well-established strategy to achieve full interoperability across all systems.

In today’s highly interconnected world, robust and reliable integration based on real-time data is the new standard, and key players in the healthcare industry are giving their all to achieve this new burning need.