A progressive web application (PWA) is a type of web-based software built using technologies like HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and WebAssembly. PWAs are the perfect choice for delivering digital health solutions designed for both medical providers and the patients they serve.
Slowly but surely progressive web apps are replacing native apps. For many healthcare organizations, the shorter development timelines, lower costs, and quicker time to market make building custom PWAs an attractive option instead of releasing native apps designed exclusively for Android, iOS, and other operating systems.
Native applications are built using Objective-C and Swift for iOS and Java for Android. Instead of requiring developers to work with multiple languages and development parameters, PWAs are built from a single code base. Meanwhile, because they are designed to work with web browsers such as Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge, progressive web apps bypass the release requirements of app stores.
It’s quicker to build, maintain, and update PWAs—instead of waiting and waiting for new releases—to deliver responsive and scalable digital health solutions. Developing a progressive web app (PWA) with React JS is a great choice to release custom healthcare applications.
In this article, learn more about how to build a PWA to deliver user-friendly digital health applications to streamline more efficient interactions between patients, providers, and payers.
Building Progressive Web Apps to Deliver Digital Health Applications
Originally developed by Facebook, React has become the world’s most popular Javascript framework and the best choice for building PWAs with human-centered design principles and a highly responsive user interface to delight end users.
One of the key advantages to building progressive web apps using React is that many consider it much easier to debug and appreciate the massive developer community supporting new releases.
Healthcare PWAs built with React are a great choice for developing accessible and adaptive digital touchpoints linking patient-consumers with their physicians, insurance plans, and other vital links in community health networks.
Here are a few baseline features to distinguish PWAs:
- Quick load times and seamless transitions between pages
- Service workers to support offline usage and push notification delivery
- Web app manifests so it’s easy to add to a home screen
- Responsive and adaptive across all devices
Progressive Web Apps for Healthcare
One of the best reasons to build PWAs for healthcare is that they help to break down barriers to care—instead of requiring users to download an operating system-specific application, all they need to do is type in a web URL.
PWAs deliver the smooth and rich user experience of a native application matched with the ease of use and discoverability of a website. Healthcare organizations can expand their digital front door by releasing user-friendly digital health solutions that reduce friction making it easier for patients and providers to manage care.
Here are some examples of the types of digital health solutions that can be built as PWAs:
- Healthcare customer relationship management (CRM) portals
- Remote patient monitoring solutions
- Patient engagement platforms
- Medical billing applications
- Telehealth software
- Medical practice management tools
- E-Prescription apps
- Mobile patient systems
Why are PWAs the Best Choice for Releasing Digital Health Applications that Deliver a Premium User Experience?
Over the last 10 years, internet usage has doubled—consumers are comfortable using mobile technologies and service providers such as Amazon have made consumers expect seamless digital experiences anytime they visit a website or access an app.
While digital health applications offer the tantalizing opportunity to enhance every aspect of healthcare service delivery, the stakes have never been higher. Healthcare organizations often don’t get a second chance to deliver a delightful digital experience.
It is absolutely essential that patient consumers, providers, payers, and other community stakeholders have access to stable and responsive services that deliver the utility and functionality they need to drive usage.
PWAs are the best choice for releasing digital health applications that are quick, responsive, and highly adaptive. For fast-paced organizations looking to harness the full potential of digital transformation, progressive web apps offer the perfect consumer touchpoint.
Benefits of a Progressive Web Application (PWA) to Deliver a Digital Health Product
Here are the key benefits PWAs offer over native health applications:
Responsive, Compatible, and Adaptive
PWAs are designed to work in a nearly uniform way across all browsers and devices. They are responsive to the needs of users and the demands of specific devices while delivering a singular experience that allows your organization to enhance your branding and deliver a premium user experience.
Online, Offline, and Low-Connectivity Usage
PWAs are designed to provide more robust functionality when in low-connectivity environments and even offline. Native applications require connectivity to deliver their full functionality meaning users without WIFI or access to iOS or Android devices could miss out on vital services.
Modern App-Like Functionality
Though PWAs deliver the searchability of web pages, they deliver the look, feel, and functionality of native apps. Users love using applications that deliver a user experience matching the expectations they have from the other apps they use on a daily basis.
Real-Time Push Notifications
PWAs allow your organization to reach out to patients and providers in real time. Push notifications make it much easier to ensure compliance and promote activities to deliver the best possible medical outcomes.
Continuous Improvement
PWAs deliver the ability to release updates automatically without the need for users to manually complete downloads. Deliver core services faster and improve them on the go by leveraging a more nimble and agile development process.
Security
PWAs offer Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) to secure data transfers and safeguard digital communications. HTTPS encryption acts as a first line of defense against data loss.
Quick Uptime
PWAs are discoverable like websites using normal URLs. This means that users can get up and go with a hyperlink instead of needing to complete a complicated download or install a new type of software.
Progressive web applications deliver the agility needed to release highly responsive tools to improve the efficiency of care delivery. Building PWAs allows healthcare organizations to harness enterprise-wide agility and improve efficiencies at scale.
Deliver digital health products to delight your patients and providers. We’re here to help.
Let’s Build a Custom Healthcare Application Together
Want to schedule a consultation? Asahi Technologies is a custom healthcare software development company headquartered in New York that specializes in building PWAs to deliver end-to-end digital health solutions.
Our healthcare technology solutions architects deliver the technical precision your organization needs to dramatically shorten the software product development life cycle. Get in touch to learn more about our custom software development, staff augmentation, and strategy consulting services.
Our experience is expansive but our focus is precise: we’re on a mission to deliver the future of healthcare. Let’s build a custom software solution together.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Can You Build Progressive Web Apps for Healthcare With React?
Yes, React is the world’s most popular software development framework to build a progressive web application (PWA) for healthcare.
- Why choose a PWA to deliver a digital health application?
PWAs are the best choice for releasing digital health applications that are quick, responsive, and highly adaptive. For fast-paced organizations looking to harness the full potential of digital transformation, progressive web apps offer the perfect touchpoint. - What’s the best way to describe a progressive web app (PWA) in a simple way?
A progressive web application (PWA) is a type of web-based software built using technologies like HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and WebAssembly. - What is the Digital Health PWA Website?
A digital health PWA website is a type of web application that combines the discoverability of a website with the utility of a native application.
