Telehealth Platform Architecture: Exploring the Building Blocks of a Robust Custom Telehealth Solution
Did you know that the US Federal Government lifted restrictions on the use of telehealth services by healthcare providers and added more than 80 other digital healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic?
While it was sought out as a temporary measure to provide care, but its relevance, convenience and leveraging the power of technology have made it an eminent part of today’s healthcare delivery. With a staggering 96% patient satisfaction rate and 93% of clinicians accepting as a method of patient care, telehealth has impacted almost every aspect of patient care delivery.
However, given the troubles healthcare providers have had with the use of off-the-shelf telehealth software, a new trend of custom telehealth platform development have become quite prominent in the healthcare ecosystem. Custom telehealth platform features not only enhanced the care delivery process but also allowed the patients to actively participate in their care journey.
Having said that, to build custom telehealth software it is necessary to completely understand the different aspect of care delivery. In this blog, we’ll see the importance of telehealth platform architecture design and how it contributes in ideal custom telehealth platform development.
So, without further ado, let’s deep dive into the exclusive benefits of a custom telehealth solution and the intricacies of how to build a custom telehealth platform.
The Foundation: Core Components of a Telehealth Platform
First things first, let’s make it clear that your telehealth software is a platform of both patients and providers. This is the reason a major focus during the discovery phase of the custom telehealth platform development is given to user interface and user experience also known as UI/UX.
Remember the platform design should to interactive and intuitive for both patients and providers. Some of the key features that you to need to build in this are appointment scheduling, video conferencing, messaging and e-prescribing. Apart from the interactive design these features contribute to the elevating the user experience and generate a sense of complete virtual care.
Along with the UI/UX another core component that one must focus on is patient and provider portals. Since both of the major partices involved in care delivery will be using your platform, it is important to provide both platform with distinctive features for both. One thing that one must remember is EHR integration since it speeds up the care delivery process for providers and embeds transparency for patients.
Essential Features for a Telehealth Platform
Free Checklist DownloadBuilding the Backend: Infrastructure & Technology
Once you’re done with the design aspect to build custom telehealth software, it is time to move ahead with the actual custom telehealth platform development. Apart from coding the application, some of the essential things that you need to understand in this are as follows:
1. Cloud Vs. On-premises Deployment: There are two types of infrastructure that you can opt for custom healthcare software development, namely cloud and on-premise deployment. While both of these options have their distinct advantages and disadvantages, depending on your needs, you should choose the right one. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages you should know:
Cloud Deployment
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Scalability | Internet Dependency |
| Accessibility | Data Security Concerns |
| Cost-effective | Vendor Lock-in |
| Automatic Updates | Limited Control |
On-premise Deployment
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Data Control | High Upfront Cost |
| Security | Maintenance |
| Customization | Scalability Challenges |
| Performance | Disaster Recovery |
2. Data Security and Privacy: Data is the new currency in this digital world; implementing robust security measures to enhance the privacy and security of the software is necessary. Robust encryptions, APIs, and role-based access control are some of the best practices used in telehealth software development. Apart from these measures, compliance with regulatory bodies like HIPAA, GDPR, and HITECH Act are necessary.
3. Scalability and Performance: With time, your healthcare practice is bound to grow, which will increase your patient intake and the software load. To ensure your telehealth software is able to sustain that load, load testing and performance optimizations are a must. Apart from that, cloud-based deployment can be an ideal choice for scalability.
Connecting the Dots: Integration & Interoperability
Custom telehealth platforms for clinics, or even hospitals, for that matter, can function at their maximum capacity only when it is connected with other healthcare systems. Apart from that, it is also important for the software to seamlessly share data with other desperate healthcare systems. And the key to that is integration and interoperability. Here are some of the aspects of this that you should consider to build custom telehealth software for your practice:
1. Integration with EHRs and Labs: As discussed, easier EHR integration will not only bring transparency to your practice but also enable data-backed healthcare practice. Along with EHR integration, integration labs can boost the digital transformation of the practice, closing the gap between care delivery. Apart from that, it also enhances the workflow by allowing seamless data exchange between the systems.
2. Third-party Integration: Apart from the integration with healthcare systems and to provide your patients a complete virtual care experience, integration with the third-party application for payments, appointment scheduling, prescriptions, etc., is necessary. This will not only expand the platform functionality but also empower a complete care delivery experience.
3. API Development: API development is one of the most interconnected industries, and it allows healthcare systems to communicate with each other. APIs bring flexibility to your entire healthcare systems system and play an essential role in the future growth of the practice. Apart from that, the enterprise telehealth platform development enables custom integrations with other systems, allowing healthcare providers to have a complete virtual care experience.
Ensuring Success: Development Methodology & Testing
Once you have created the roadmap for custom telehealth platform development, it is now time to actually build custom telehealth software. Choosing the right development methodology and testing the software plays an important role in this process. Here are some things that you should consider:
1. Agile Development: While there are many development methodologies, the agile development method is most suggested for faster development and for its iterative approach. Apart from that, this development methodology also allows you to make changes in the software while it is being developed. This gives your software the flexibility it requires to easily adapt to those changes.
2. Quality Assurance and Testing: Once the software is developed, the custom telehealth platform features need to be rigorously tested to ensure that the platform is reliable enough to provide healthcare services. Apart from that, security testing must also be conducted to ensure its security, and last but not least, UAT or user acceptance testing must be conducted, which will help you ensure that the software is actually useful for the users.
The Human Element: Support & Training
Telehealth software development company only does half the part of your healthcare software development. However, the real work starts after the development is complete and you actually start providing virtual healthcare services to your patients. This is where your custom telehealth software enters the last stage of support and training. Here are some things at this stage that you should consider:
1. Customer Support: The telehealth software development company must provide you with customer support that is quick to respond to. Since there will be a lot of systems that your software will communicate and collaborate with, there are changes that can have some issues. To assure your vendor providers that you check for responsive customer support while deciding on the custom telehealth platform development cost. Along with that, ensure that your telehealth software development company has multiple support channels that you can reach easily.
2. Provider and Patient Training: Apart from the support, you would be requiring training from your telehealth software development company. An onboarding and training program must be in place to ensure your users know how to use the software effectively. Apart from the training programs, you should also provide ongoing support and resources for the users for future reference.
Conclusion
From design to support, all the aspects mentioned above in this blog are the key components of telehealth platform architecture design. Furthermore, with a well-designed platform, you can not only empower your providers to provide quality care but also give them an elevated experience that comes from the comforts of their homes.
So, what are you waiting for? Get started with custom telehealth development today!
Ideal Custom Telehealth Platform Development
Book Your Free ConsultationFrequently Asked Questions
Building a custom telehealth platform offers key advantages over off-the-shelf solutions:
- Tailored features: Precisely match your specific needs and workflows.
- Data ownership: Complete control over patient data and insights.
- Scalability: Easily adapt to growing patient volumes and service expansion.
- Integration: Seamlessly connect with existing systems (EHR, EMR).
- Competitive edge: Create a unique patient experience and brand differentiation.
Developing a custom telehealth platform costs between $40,000 to $200,000. The price depends on features, complexity, design, development team location, and platform. Simpler platforms are less expensive, while complex ones with many features cost more.
Developing a custom telehealth platform typically takes 3 to 6 months. The exact timeline depends on factors like platform complexity, team size, and desired features. Simpler platforms might be ready faster, while complex ones with advanced features could take longer.
Legal and regulatory considerations for a telehealth platform include: compliance with state and federal healthcare laws, licensure requirements for providers, patient privacy and data security under HIPAA, informed consent protocols, malpractice insurance, state-specific telehealth regulations, and potential restrictions on prescribing controlled substances.
A robust telehealth stack typically includes:
- Frontend: React Native for cross-platform app development, ensuring a consistent user experience.
- Backend: Node.js for scalability and real-time interactions, often paired with Express.js for API development.
- Database: MongoDB for flexible patient data storage, or PostgreSQL for complex relational data.
- Video Conferencing: WebRTC for high-quality, low-latency video calls, or integrated solutions like Zoom or Google Meet APIs.
- Cloud Platform: AWS, GCP, or Azure for hosting, scalability, and security.
- Security: Robust encryption (HTTPS, TLS), data privacy compliance (HIPAA), and secure authentication.
Telehealth platforms protect patient data through robust security measures like strong encryption, access controls, and regular security audits. HIPAA compliance ensures adherence to strict privacy standards. Data is often anonymized or de-identified to further safeguard patient confidentiality.
To ensure telehealth platform scalability:
- Employ cloud infrastructure for flexible resource allocation.
- Utilize load balancing to distribute traffic evenly and implement auto-scaling to adjust server capacity based on user demand.
- Optimize database performance, compress video streams, and prioritize essential data for efficient transmission.
Regular performance testing and monitoring are crucial for identifying and addressing bottlenecks.
Cloud-based telehealth stores and manages patient data on remote servers accessible via the Internet. It offers flexibility, scalability, and lower upfront costs. On-premises telehealth hosts data on local servers within an organization, providing greater control over data but requiring higher initial investment and ongoing maintenance.
Monetize your telehealth platform by:
- Charging providers: Offer subscription or per-session fees for using your platform.
- Direct-to-patient fees: Implement pay-per-consultation or subscription models.
- Revenue sharing: Partner with healthcare providers or pharmacies for referral fees.
- Data monetization: Anonymize and sell patient data insights (with consent) for research or marketing.
- Value-added services: Offer additional features like e-prescribing, lab integration, or mental health tools for a fee.
Attract healthcare providers by highlighting benefits like: increased patient access, improved efficiency, cost savings, and streamlined workflows. Offer competitive commission structures, robust patient management tools, and strong data security features. Build trust through clear communication, reliable support, and showcasing successful provider partnerships.
Target market for a custom telehealth platform includes healthcare providers, health systems, and specialized clinics seeking tailored solutions. This includes organizations aiming to improve patient access, streamline workflows, enhance care coordination, and gather valuable patient data for better outcomes.
