Develop Healthcare Apps with React Native

Mobile healthcare apps are transforming and revolutionizing the healthcare industry. Mobile apps are helping improve communication, efficiency and quality of healthcare services. These apps are being used for online consultation, diagnosis, appointments, supply chain etc. Healthcare professionals can deliver sustainable care when they have such powerful and intuitive tools at their disposal. Such apps have shown that technology helps healthcare professionals connect with patients to provide personalized and efficient care remotely.

React Native is an open source platform released by Facebook in 2015. React Native allows developers to build hybrid applications that can run on both Android and iOS, whereas traditional mobile app development requires knowledge of both Android and iOS platforms and their associated programming languages.

The extension of React is React Native, which is aimed at developing front end applications for both iOS and android.

Apps built using React Native feel and act the same when run on either Android or iOS platforms. If an app was to be compared alongside these platforms they would -

• look and feel identical on either Android or iOS mobile devices
• User interface would be consistent
• Scrolling and search on both devices would work in the same way

React Native is being used in apps developed for companies like;

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Uber
• Coinbase

React Native uses JavaScript to create mobile apps and developers can create a single code base that compiles to Swift and Java both, effectively creating a bridge between web interface components and their operating system counterparts. Native React has a large community of developers and is one of the most popular cross-platform development tools in the market.

Reasons why React Native is a Good Choice for an Developing an Healthcare App

Reduces development time - Healthcare apps have to be developed for multiple platforms. The main advantage of React Native is that it saves on development time, as the same code can be used for different platforms and for web applications. This means that developers don't have to spend time developing code for individual platforms, essentially saving time and costs.

‘Hot reload’ feature is another benefit of React Native, by which any change or a tweak in the code is instantly reflected in apps even if the apps are running. This means that the app or web application does not have to be shutdown and restarted for updates, and can be kept running.

Future ready - React Native is getting regular updates, and any app developed using React Native will be using the latest technology. The learning curve for React Native is also less as any developer who knows JavaScript can develop apps using React Native.

Flexible architecture - React Native uses modular architecture which means that developers can gather different functions and create modules. This is of relevance to creating healthcare apps, as the same modules can be used for future releases of web and mobile APIs.

Stability - There are fewer chances of bugs and errors with React Native updates. This is possible as the framework does not provide a child element in the code. All updates have to be applied independently to update objects during every new release.

Compliance and data security - Huge volumes of sensitive data is generated everyday from various sources including IoT’s, making data security an essential part of the healthcare industry. Apps developed using React Native are HIPAA compliant and offer privacy and security of data.

Some of the Features of HIPAA compliant apps would include

• Authorization for user access
• Active network monitoring
• Automatic log off
• Remediation plan
• Emergency mode and data backup
• Data encryption and decryption

Third party plugin support - Healthcare apps can have a wide range of features. React Native supports many third party libraries enabling developers to use these libraries with smooth integration and flexibility.

Uniqueness - Each healthcare organization is different in its functional areas, speciation, patient care, use of technologies and methodologies. and using off the shelf commercial apps may not meet the requirements. It is beneficial for each healthcare organization to develop its own app and take advantage of its uniqueness.

OTA updates - React Native provides support for Over The Air (OTA) update feature which allows applications to update without the users having to download it manually. The app updates in the background at startup.

Large community - React Native has a large community support and developers can check with the communities on GitHub or Reddit to find solutions to their queries.

In conclusion, while React Native offers many advantages in healthcare mobile app development, it may not be possible to exclude collaboration with iOS and Android developers. A smart healthcare app is essential for all forms of healthcare facilities. It helps in optimizing and digitizing the hospital's operations and activities to enhance patient care, reducing expenses, and streamlining records. Developing a customized app using a React Native app development company can help elevate the pace of medical development, provide data security, provide advanced recovery systems, and elevates the healthcare standard.