How to Build a Telehealth App on AWS?

The profound impact of telehealth within the healthcare sector cannot be denied, as recent data paints a compelling portrait of its accomplishments. In January 2023, the US telehealth services grew 7.3%, with claim lines jumping from 5.5%  to 5.9% of all medical claims.

Since the pandemic began, telehealth now represents 10% of outpatient consultations, substantially up from the pre-pandemic eras of less than 1%.

As remote care demand drives this growth, AWS provides the ideal platform for innovative telehealth applications. Specifically, AWS cloud services empower developers to build HIPAA-compliant, scalable, and secure telehealth solutions.

This article outlines the steps for developing a robust telehealth platform on AWS. We discuss the advantages, use cases, and difficulties of telemedicine while emphasizing how AWS enables software developers and medical professionals to produce cutting-edge telehealth apps.

Telehealth app development eliminates the common barriers to care, such as limited access or the hassle in today’s medical ecosystem. It improves the convenience of on-the-go lifestyles. reducing no-show ups. Here’s more to it:

1. Improved access to healthcare

With just 9% of doctors practicing in rural regions, where 20% of the U.S. population resides, telehealth apps reduce transportation costs and health disparities. They improve patient education, medication adherence, and access to physicians, addressing the financial burden of hospital readmissions, especially for chronic diseases.

2. Reduced no-shows and improved patient engagement

Virtual appointments have lower no-show rates, saving time and ensuring a more efficient healthcare system. Telehealth tools, like secure messaging and medication reminders, improve communication between patients and doctors and patients sticking to treatment. Such a patient-centric approach reduces operational costs and increases efficiency. It’s a win-win for patients and providers.

3. Streamlined cost management

Telehealth app development on the AWS saves $361 in savings per patient or $8566 in total service costs over six months, compared to in-home care. Traditional healthcare carries higher costs due to facilities and administrative staff, but telehealth reduces these expenses.

For example, patients with chronic conditions save time and transportation costs with remote monitoring through telehealth apps.

4. Comprehensive record maintenance

Apps for telehealth give medical professionals a more efficient way to keep records. Patient data, medical histories, and treatment plans may be effectively handled and accessed whenever necessary with the use of secure and scalable cloud storage. This effectiveness improves the standard of service while also lessening the administrative strain on medical staff members.

From user registration and authentication forms to geolocation for patient/provider matching and AI-powered chatbots for intelligent assistance, the features of telehealth apps not only define their success but also directly impact the quality of healthcare delivery.

AWS provides specialized services for telehealth apps, including real-time voice and video, AI/ML, personalization, secure cloud storage, Amazon Chime SDK for video conferencing, and many more. Here is how to build telemedicine apps with these purpose-built services.

1. Project analysis

This phase includes analyzing the requirements, understanding the objectives and end-users, and conducting thorough market research. The healthcare app domain offers some specific challenges, such as compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, data privacy, and security concerns.

The analysis further involves outlining the features the telemedicine app will offer, such as video consultations, secure messaging, and appointment scheduling, that we’ve discussed.

Therefore, understanding the specific needs of the telemedicine app and developing a robust plan to address these requirements on AWS is crucial.

2. UI/UX design

Next, the focus should be on setting up an AWS account and creating a user-friendly interface that enhances the overall user experience.

• Amazon Pinpoint can be used for user engagement and feedback collection to gather insights that can inform the design process.
• Wireframing and prototyping tools such as Adobe XD or Sketch can be used to visualize the app’s layout and functionality before moving on to the actual design phase.
• You can consider AWS Cognito for secure user authentication and authorization processes within the app.
• Implementing Amazon S3 for storing and serving multimedia content like images or videos can enhance the visual appeal of the app.

3. Project development

During the actual development of the telemedicine app, AWS services, and SDKs are essential for implementing various functionalities ranging from hosting the backend platform to delivering low-latency video streaming.

• Amazon Chime SDK for video and audio call capabilities,
• AWS Amplify for frontend development,
• AWS Cognito for authentication,
• Amazon Connect for contact center integration,
• Amazon API Gateway for creating and managing secure, scalable APIs for communication between various app components

4. Testing and quality assurance

Here, you first need to conduct functional testing to validate the app’s features and functionalities. This includes testing user registration, video consultations, prescription management, and secure data storage.

• AWS Device Farm can be useful in testing the app on real devices to ensure compatibility across various platforms.
• Performance testing should be carried out using AWS LoadRunner to assess the app’s responsiveness under different loads and conditions, ensuring it can handle peak usage without performance degradation.
• Security testing is paramount in telemedicine apps due to the sensitive nature of patient data. AWS Inspector can be employed to identify security vulnerabilities and compliance issues within the app.
• Creating CI/CD pipelines with AWS CodePipeline can automate testing processes, ensuring rapid feedback on code changes and seamless delivery of updates.

5. Deployment

Once the application is tested and ready for production, deploy it to the appropriate platform using AWS CodeDeploy or AWS Elastic Beanstalk. These services help automate the deployment process, allowing for seamless updates and management of your telemedicine app.

Some popular services often used in the deployment process include Amazon Chime SDK for real-time communication, Amazon Connect for contact centers, and Amazon EC2 for hosting your application.

6. Continuous support

AWS infrastructure enables monitoring, support, and scaling of your deployed app through services like Amazon CloudWatch, AWS Systems Manager, and Amazon CloudFront.

• AWS CloudWatch can help monitor the app’s real-time performance, logs, and metrics. By setting up alarms and notifications within CloudWatch, you can proactively address any issues that may arise, ensuring the app runs smoothly.
• AWS CloudTrail can be used to track user activity and API usage, enhancing security and compliance measures. Regularly reviewing these logs can help in identifying any unauthorized access or unusual behavior promptly.
• AWS Lambda functions can automate routine tasks like data backups, database maintenance, and system updates. By creating Lambda functions to handle these tasks, you can streamline operations and reduce manual intervention, ensuring the app’s reliability and efficiency.
• Integrating AWS Trusted Advisor can provide insights into cost optimization, security vulnerabilities, and performance improvements.

The cost of building a telehealth app on AWS can be different based on the complexity of features, level of customization, and developers’ hourly rates.

A basic telemedicine app may include features like video conferencing, text messaging, and simple appointment scheduling. Such an app can cost between $40,000 to $55,000 with a development time of 2 to 3 months.

And when opting for a more advanced app with additional functionalities like advanced search filters, integration with electronic health records (EHRs), or AI-based diagnosis tools, then the development costs can range from $50,000 to $85,000, with a typical timeline of 3 to 6 months.

Meanwhile, high-end telehealth apps with complex features like blockchain technology, advanced AI algorithms, extensive customization options, and integration of various AWS services like Amazon S3, Amazon Chime, and AWS Lambda can range from $90,000 to $200,000, with a development time of 9 months or more.

However, one should keep in mind that these estimates are for a single platform (Android, iOS, or Web), and actual costs may again change based on factors such as additional features, customization, and the development team’s geographical location.

From startups to enterprises, a range of companies are using AWS to power their telehealth applications and transform healthcare delivery. Here are some real-world examples showcasing the tangible impact of these innovative solutions:

1. Philips’ telehealth innovations

Philips’ integration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) has revolutionized healthcare delivery, offering scalable, secure solutions for better patient care and efficient data management. Here’s how AWS services helped Phillips build a robust healthcare platform:

• Philips adopted AWS in 2006, with its HealthSuite Platform leveraging AWS for comprehensive health data management.
• The HealthSuite Platform on AWS includes nearly 10,000 Amazon EC2 instances and initially moved 19 petabytes of data to the cloud, which has now expanded to 44 petabytes.
• A 2013 Philips pilot program demonstrated telehealth’s potential: reducing hospitalizations by 45%, cutting acute and long-term care costs by 32%, and decreasing overall care costs by 27%.
• AWS IoT Core is pivotal for device connectivity, enhancing Philips’ telemedicine capabilities.
• Philips’ strategic cloud focus prevents operational silos and encourages a unified approach for customer-centric healthcare solutions.
• The cloud-based approach extends healthcare reach, particularly in remote areas, making telehealth more accessible and efficient.
• Philips’ ongoing expansion in AWS usage is key to delivering high-quality, connected care, enabling a focus on customer needs and innovative healthcare solutions.

2. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Massachusetts effectively utilized Amazon Web Services (AWS) to develop a telehealth solution during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s how they did it:

• When the pandemic struck, BIDMC collaborated with AWS to rapidly build a telehealth solution for ambulatory patients.
• They needed a simple, scalable, secure telehealth system for 1,250 clinicians, integrating with existing clinical workflows and electronic health records.
• The move to various telehealth platforms initially created challenges for patients, clinicians, and BIDMC operations.
• In response, BIDMC and AWS built a clientless telehealth app within six weeks using the Amazon Chime SDK, focusing on ease of use and integration with existing systems.
• The telehealth solution leveraged AWS services like Amazon S3 and Amazon CloudFront, focusing on user experience and design.

Outcome:

• Since deployment, the solution has supported 300-400 daily telehealth visits, with added features for multi-language support and upcoming screen-sharing capabilities.
• The platform has received positive feedback for its ease of use and integration with clinicians’ electronic health records, confirming its effectiveness and user-friendly design.

3. MICIN

MICIN’s integration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) exemplifies the transformative impact of cloud technology in telemedicine. Here’s a summary:

• Since 2015, MICIN has utilized AWS for its telemedicine service, curon.
• For security and efficiency, MICIN employs AWS Well-Architected Framework Reviews and AWS Control Tower.
• Agile development is supported through Amazon SageMaker and AWS Amplify.
• Curon, launched in 2016, offers a full spectrum of online medical services, enhancing treatment retention and reducing hospital visits.

Outcome:

• The service gained significant traction during the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 5,000 clinics adopting it by February 2021.
• An improved version of Curon was deployed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Medical Association in September 2021.

4. A tweets-driven market intelligence solution for the pharma industry

At Simform, we employed AWS services to craft a tweets-driven market intelligence solution for the pharma industry. This platform efficiently collected and analyzed healthcare data from 25,000 sources, with:

• AWS Lambda handling real-time tweet data processing for timely insights crucial in telehealth solutions.
• AWS RDS optimizing the database performance, reducing query response times and ensuring seamless data handling.
• AWS ECS provides scalability to accommodate increasing data volumes, guaranteeing consistent performance.

We also secured coding environments, leveraging AWS Lambda for Python scripts and API integration for regular data capture. This project showcased Simform’s ability to manage complex data-driven platforms and customize AWS services for healthcare technology challenges.

5. A WHO-backed NGO with a mission to vaccinate 1 million dogs in a year

When faced with the challenge of managing remote vaccination programs, we helped Mission Rabies improve its operations with various AWS services:

• Data synchronization with AWS AppSync to ensure data integrity, even in areas with low or no internet connectivity.
• Efficient network calls with AWS Lambda to optimize real-time tracking.
• Database performance optimization with AWS RDS for handling increasing data volumes.
• Data analytics with Amazon Redshift to enable data-driven decision-making.
• Dynamic form builders to streamline data collection.
• AWS mapping solutions to enhance project execution with detailed maps and geospatial analysis.

As an AWS Healthcare Competency Partner, Simform has demonstrated the expertise needed for telehealth app development. We adhere to strict healthcare regulations and
prioritize best practices like data privacy, interoperability, scalability, and reliability.

Our 200+ AWS-certified experts have delivered countless healthcare solutions globally. Some examples include a tweets-driven pharma platform, a rabies eradication mHealth for WHO, and a clinically validated fitness solution.

At Simform, our experienced professionals will guide you through every stage of healthcare app development, understanding your specific vision, end-users, and healthcare workflows. Our development process ensures your app is HIPAA-compliant, seamlessly integrated, future-proof, and scalable.

Schedule a call with our consultants to know how we have helped clients modernize their healthcare operations and discuss your healthcare requirements.