8 Best Healthcare Apps for Patients

Healthcare app development is becoming one of the fastest-growing domains in the tech industry. In recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, patients have started turning to their smartphones more than ever for health advice, video call examinations, prescriptions, and to track their overall health. Using healthcare apps, they can monitor symptoms, diagnose and treat diseases and chronic conditions, or track and improve the user's overall physical or mental health. All this can be done with undeniable convenience that patients value.

The skyrocketing demand for healthcare apps has made them indispensable for healthcare providers looking to offer their patients the desired care and convenience and stay competitive. There are about 350,000 apps available worldwide, including telemedicine and medical care apps, symptom tracking and diagnostic apps, pill reminders, communication apps, etc. Despite this impressive number, many healthcare apps have less than 10,000 downloads. Likely, their functionality and user experience do not meet consumer expectations and requirements. Only a small number of healthcare apps have gained widespread popularity among users.

Below, we will list some of the top healthcare apps for patients that have earned users' trust. These apps can suit your everyday needs or, considering the industry's enormous potential, inspire you with ideas for building your own healthcare solution.

1. MyChart - Best Patient Portal App

MyChart is a patient portal app that allows patients to track their health metrics, schedule appointments, communicate with their physicians and care team, both physically and online, request prescription refills, and even pay bills. The app also allows users to review their health records, such as test results, medications, and immunization history. MyChart has an in-app messaging feature, so users can contact their doctors through MyChart for simple questions and concerns or to share medical records from other physicians. 

One of the app's main benefits is that users can connect their accounts from different healthcare organizations and see all their medical information in one place. They can also add all family members to the same account or incorporate health and fitness data from activity-tracking apps they use into their MyChart account. The main drawback of the app is that patients' healthcare providers must use the same platform to integrate all their information. Moreover, available features may depend on the features enabled by healthcare organizations. So, the app will be less valuable and useful for users whose providers are not signed up with MyChart or use a different patient portal app.

Download MyChart: Android, iOS.

2. Teladoc - Most Affordable 24/7 On-Demand Care

Teladoc is a telehealth app that offers immediate virtual care by connecting patients to doctors, therapists, psychiatrists, nurses, and coaches 24/7 through phone or video visits. Services include primary and pediatric care, dermatology, nutrition, sexual health, and mental health. If necessary, doctors can also prescribe medication through the app and even order it from the local pharmacy of a patient’s choice. 

Teladoc can integrate with Apple Health, enabling providers to form a better diagnosis and import the patient’s most recent medical details. Besides, when users connect with a healthcare provider speaking a different language, a video service creates a three-way connection with an interpreter without extra charge. Most health insurance plans can cover Teladoc’s services, so with insurance, a patient’s visit may cost $0. Without insurance, a primary everyday care visit costs a standard $75.

Download Teladoc: Android, iOS.

3.  Medisafe – Best Medication Reminder App

Medisafe is a top-ranked pill reminder and medication tracker among pharmacists and physicians. It allows users to import prescriptions from major pharmacy chains or enter them manually and set reminders when they should take their medications. A helpful app feature is that the user can tap from the unlock screen from the reminder alert to confirm the dose was taken. If the dose has been missed, Medisafe sends a warning and can even notify selected family members or caregivers.  

Another useful app feature is that it allows the family's medicine schedules to be synchronized in one account. Users can also check their progress report and send it to the doctor or nurse as a PDF file. The app can even provide alerts for potential drug interactions and remind users when to restock their prescriptions. Providers also took care of possible time zone changes during traveling to ensure reminders are always on time. As a note of fun, users can choose various Medtones to make Medisafe playful: have Darth Vader, Dr Evil, Austin Powers, Elsa, or your Nagging Mom characters for reminder alerts. 

Download Medisafe: Android, iOS.

4. CenterWell – Best for Doctor House Calls

CenterWell (formerly known as Heal) is an on-demand healthcare app that allows users to schedule both on-demand physician house calls and virtual telemedicine appointments related to any acute condition, excluding emergencies. House calls were common in the 1930s, but their popularity later declined. CenterWell is committed to reintroducing house calls, especially after we all experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. CenterWell allows patients to avoid visiting doctor's office or emergency room. Additionally, with home calls, doctors can gain a complete picture of all the factors affecting a patient’s health by examining their environment and overall lifestyle. Considering all circumstances  enables doctors to provide more comprehensive diagnostics and guidance. 

Most insurance plans cover house calls, and the co-pay is typically the same as an office visit to a primary care provider. The home call will cost $159 per visit for patients without insurance. Most insurance plans also cover telemedicine calls at no cost or a very low co-pay. With no insurance, patients have to pay $79. The main drawback of the app is that it is geo-limited and only available in the United States.

Download CenterWell: Android, iOS.

5. GoodRx – Best for Prescription Coupons and Discounts

GoodRx is a healthcare and medication app that enables users to search for prescription medications at more than 75,000 pharmacies and compare prices and discounts to find the lowest prices for their medicine in the area where they want to buy it. 

The app also offers digital coupons and discounts of up to 80%. It will automatically search for free coupons for the selected prescription that users can activate simply by tapping the "Get Coupon" button. Users don't even need to print coupons. They can simply show the GoodRx coupon to the pharmacist on their phone when picking up their prescription. The main drawback of the app, like the CenterWell above, is that it is only available in the US.

Download GoodRx: Android, iOS.

6. Doctor on Demand - Best for 24-Hour Online Urgent Care                    

Doctor on Demand is a telemedicine app that offers 24/7 online urgent care. The app provides access to certified online doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, and other medical experts. They can treat various problems, from colds and flu to asthma, urinary tract infections, headaches, skin conditions, depressions, and chronic disease.

A visit price starts at $89, which is a 15-minute consultation with a board-certified clinician, although the actual price may vary depending on a person's insurance coverage. Sometimes, the consultation may be free, depending on the patient's insurance plan. Doctor on Demand services are available in more than 30 languages, allowing people who do not speak English to access medical care through this platform. Like the previous two apps, this service is limited to the United States only.

Download Doctor on Demand: Android, iOS.

7. WebMD: Best Symptom Checker

WebMD is an informative-purpose app that aims to give patients reliable and relevant information and news. The app has a symptom checker that allows users to enter information about their symptoms and where the problem occurs on the body, learn about potential conditions and causes, and look up treatment and care options. The app also allows users to set medication reminders and save information about diseases, medications, doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and healthy lifestyle articles for safe and easy access and reference.

WebMD is primarily an information resource and does not connect patents with a doctor like some other apps on this list. Instead, it offers a Doctor Directory so patients can find the closest doctors and specialists based on their current location or search by city, state, or zip. The WebMD healthcare app partners with huge pharmacy chains so users can search for low-cost drugs, with discounts often beating insurance co-pays. 

Download WebMD: Android, iOS.

8. Healow – Best for Managing Records

Healow is a patient portal app that enables users to communicate with their doctor's office and access up-to-date medical records. The biggest benefit of Healow is that it allows users to keep all of their electronic health records, appointments, prescriptions, and test results in one place safe and organized.  It is also a convenient app for sending and receiving messages and health alerts from doctors, searching for and making appointments with them.

In addition to managing medical records and appointments, Healow offers users features to track and monitor their health indicators, including sugar levels, blood pressure, and Body Mass Index. This app allows users to seamlessly transfer their records between healthcare providers, ensuring continuity of care even if they change doctors or start seeing a new specialist. With Healow, users can manage multiple accounts and access health information for their family members or those they take care of. However, as with myChart, a patient's healthcare provider must be registered with the platform so that patients can access their medical records using this app.

Download Healow: Android, iOS.

Bottom Line: 

It is essential to remember that these apps are not a substitute for regular check-ups with your doctor. However, such events as the coronavirus outbreak have highlighted the importance of technology in healthcare. These apps aren't always perfect, but they can provide users with the help they need when they need it. So, we expect that mobile app development for healthcare will only continue to grow and improve.