7 Key Features to Make Your Healthcare SaaS Solution Thrive

Back to The Basics: Healthcare SaaS Explained

To ensure we are on the same page, let's first introduce the concept of healthcare SaaS in simple terms.

In a nutshell, SaaS in healthcare stands for cloud-based software solutions designed to address the unique needs of the healthcare industry. Unlike traditional on-premise systems, SaaS platforms operate on a subscription model. Hosted on the cloud, healthcare SaaS solutions enable physicians to access the platform anywhere and anytime they need, regardless of location. The only necessary thing is a stable internet connection. Speaking of the key advantages of healthcare SaaS solutions, it is essential to mention cost efficiency, scalability, and continuous updates. With a healthcare SaaS platform, you do not have to pay for expensive hardware and ongoing maintenance. Over and above that, healthcare providers can add or eliminate features as their requirements grow or decrease. After all, your healthcare SaaS solution always stays secure and compliant, thanks to continuous updates. Needless to say, healthcare SaaS solutions can be implemented in a variety of ways. By way of illustration, hospitals can use a SaaS platform to manage patient records, securely accessing data in real time. Interested in exploring more ways healthcare SaaS solutions can be helpful? Read the following paragraph to see the complete list of healthcare SaaS solutions.

Types of Healthcare SaaS Solutions

Since SaaS is a versatile method of delivering software to end users, it can be applied to nearly every aspect of healthcare.

• Electronic Health Records (EHRs) / Electronic Medical Records (EMRs)
• Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring Solutions
• Practice Management Software
• Healthcare Analytics Solutions
• Patient Engagement Solutions
• Pharmacy Management Systems
• Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS)
• Supply Chain Management Solutions
• Lab Information Management Systems (LIMS)
• Care Coordination and Collaboration Tools
• Health Information Exchange (HIE) Solutions
• Population Health Management Solutions
• Clinical Trial Management Systems (CTMS)
• Medical Imaging Software Health and Wellness Platforms
• Compliance and Regulatory Software
• AI-Powered Diagnostics and Tools
• Home Healthcare and Aging-in-Place Solutions
• Employee Wellness and Occupational Health Solutions

7 Essential Features to Boost Your Healthcare SaaS Solution

Finally, we have reached this point. It is time to explore the secret recipe of a successful healthcare SaaS solution.

01 / Regulatory Compliance

Speaking of the healthcare industry, one cannot help remembering the regulatory compliance. As one of the most important aspects of any healthcare solution, adherence to regulatory standards is a must. While most healthcare organizations, either in the US or Europe, operate under strict legal and ethical guidelines, healthcare SaaS solutions should ensure patient data are 100% protected. For instance, US healthcare organizations follow HIPAA compliance. The cost of a mistake leads to fines of up to $50,000 per violation. Just imagine: some data breaches cost millions. Meanwhile, a Massachusetts hospital had to pay a $1 million fine for failing to encrypt portable devices containing patient data in 2020. Sounds crazy, right? Well, implementing regulatory requirements would be significantly cheaper. European healthcare providers, in turn, should adhere to GDPR. Violations in this field cost up to €20 million or 4% of annual turnover.

Pro Tips on Implementing Regulatory Compliance into Your Healthcare SaaS Solution

• First and foremost, it is essential to establish a detailed compliance program containing all necessary policies and procedures to address regulatory requirements.
• Conducting a compliance gap analysis is also a great initiative to gain valuable insights into areas that require advancement.
• Next, it is essential to maintain proper documentation. Utilize built-in auditing tools that track access to health records.
• Ensure regular updates are in place to meet evolving regulatory standards.
• Last but not least, do not forget about fostering a culture of compliance within your organization.

02 / Scalability

There is no doubt that scalability is a golden rule for developing a successful healthcare SaaS solution. Since the healthcare industry is a dynamic environment with multiple emerging threats and opportunities, adapting to ever-evolving needs is a superpower. Whether it is a small hospital growing into a multi-location facility or unexpected patient influxes during a health crisis, scalability can be a life-saving option. For example, the global pandemic of COVID-19 raised telehealth visits by more than 150% in 2020. Accordingly, it would be impossible to effortlessly manage such a high load without a scalable healthcare SaaS solution.

Pro Tips on Enhancing Healthcare SaaS Scalability

• Implement modular designs. In this way, it would be easier to add or delete features as needed.
• Thanks to cloud-based infrastructure, it is possible to maintain on-demand resource allocation.
• Elastic pricing models allow to scale with usage.

03 / AI-Powered Analytics

Artificial intelligence, mostly known as AI, revolutionizes all aspects of human existence, so the healthcare domain is no exception. When it comes to healthcare SaaS solutions, AI can be utilized in terms of predictive analysis, automated decision-making, enhanced patient care, etc. AI-powered healthcare SaaS solutions allow physicians to identify high-risk patients for chronic conditions in an efficient manner. Moreover, it is easier to optimize staff and resource allocation with AI-enabled scheduling tools. Summing up, the adoption of AI in healthcare is predicted to grow by 41.7% CAGR from 2023 to 2030, raising the need for AI-powered healthcare SaaS solutions.

Pro Tips on Empowering Your Healthcare SaaS Solution with AI

• To start with, it is necessary to prioritize areas where AI can add measurable value.
• Additionally, leveraging domain-specific data to train machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models is a great idea.
• Besides, containerization (e.g., Docker) and orchestration tools (e.g., Kubernetes) should be implemented to manage AI workflows efficiently.
• Follow industry-specific standards like ISO 13485 for medical device software.\

04 / Put an Emphasis on UI/UX

While the SaaS delivery model serves as a robust software foundation for your healthcare solution, ensuring the designs also meet your requirements is important. The healthcare ecosystem is highly stressful, so user experiences, along with well-designed interfaces, should ensure end users, including doctors, patients, and other healthcare workers, can focus on the core responsibilities instead of stressing over complicated software. By way of illustration, burnout affects over 50% of healthcare professionals. On the flip side, intuitive interfaces can be helpful in reducing training time by up to 30% while eliminating error rates by 20%.

Pro Tips on Key SaaS Design Essentials

• Role-based dashboards can be a great way to establish tailored views for different users like clinical staff or billing teams.
• Going mobile is always a plus, especially when it comes to such a popular industry as healthcare.
• Apply streamlined navigation to ensure quick access to popular features and tools.

05 / Customizable Workflows

The needs of healthcare organizations significantly vary depending on the healthcare provider's size, specialization, location, etc. Therefore, a healthcare SaaS platform with customizable workflows is a great option for providers seeking to adjust the software to their unique processes. For example, a pediatric hospital can benefit from a healthcare SaaS platform by creating custom vaccine tracking workflows so that no child misses their immunization schedule.

Pro Tips on Implementing Customizable Workflows

• Adopt modular architecture.
• Consider using drag-and-drop workflow builders to allow end users to customize workflows without any technical expertise.
• Use FHIR and HL7 standards to ensure seamless integration with existing systems like EHRs and laboratory systems.
• Incorporate tailored notifications and reminders to boost patient engagement.

06 / Data Encryption

Cyberattacks are on the rise, especially regarding vulnerable patient data. During the previous year, cyberattacks on healthcare increased by more than 90%, with hospitals being primary targets. In this regard, a secure healthcare SaaS platform can be a game changer, helping healthcare providers prevent ransomware attacks and ensuring automated backups and quick restoration capabilities in case of an incident.

Pro Tips on Implementing Data Encryption

• First of all, it is essential to ensure data is encrypted at every stage, from data input to storage and transmission.
• It is better to utilize robust encryption standards like AES-256 for data at rest and TLS 1.3 for data in transit.
• Using immutable storage systems is a perfect way to prevent data tampering or deletion.

07 / Telehealth/Telemedicine

In recent years, telehealth has evolved from a "nice-to-have" to a "must-have" feature in healthcare SaaS. Modern platforms should support virtual consultations, remote monitoring, and online patient engagement. According to studies, an ordinary healthcare provider can reduce ER visits by 30% thanks to integrating telehealth. Speaking of telehealth platform features you should pay attention to, implementing high-definition video conferencing with secure data channels can be a great start. What is more, telehealth healthcare SaaS platforms can be integrated with wearable devices to provide maximum accessibility in terms of remote patient monitoring.

Pro Tips on Integrating Telehealth Platforms

• Use WebRTC for secure and reliable video conferencing.
• Design interfaces with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) to accommodate patients with disabilities.
• Offer flexible payment options, including credit cards, digital wallets, and health savings accounts (HSAs).

Healthcare SaaS Trends You Should Keep an Eye On

At the end of the day, it is time to take a look at technology & healthcare trends since they will shape popular healthcare SaaS features during the following years.

The Undisputed Leader — Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Yes, here we go again. Nowadays, AI is everywhere, so it would be dumb to reject its overwhelming influence. In addition to the standard analytical capabilities, modern AI tools go far beyond tracking chronic conditions and giving general recommendations. In fact, empathy-driven AI algorithms can learn patient preferences, consider environmental influences, and even pay attention to emotional cues — all intended to deliver better patient outcomes. Such a sharp shift from reactive to proactive AI care signifies a significant transformation in patient-provider relationships, bringing the new age of AI-powered healthcare SaaS.

The Invisible Revolution — Ambient Intelligence (AmI)

Ambient intelligence (AmI) is becoming a buzzword in the healthcare SaaS world, reducing the need for invasive monitoring, minimizing hospital visits, and improving patient comfort. Just imagine that sensors embedded in hospital rooms or patient homes can seamlessly monitor vital signs, detect irregularities, and communicate with healthcare teams — all without the patient even noticing. This trend goes hand-in-hand with the growth of zero-interface technologies, where data is collected without requiring explicit input from users.

Augmented Workforce Tools

Sure, it is impossible to replace doctors with modern technology. Hence, this trend is all about empowering them. Augmented workforce tools, powered by AI and machine learning, are gaining momentum in healthcare SaaS. Serving as allin-one assistants capable of generating real-time diagnostic suggestions during telehealth consultations, optimizing operating room workflows, or even automating monotonous administrative tasks like billing, augmented workforce tools bring a multitude of advantages to the table, tracing the trajectory for the development of upcoming trends like haptic feedback systems with virtual environments for training and remote surgical assistance.

Wrapping Up on Healthcare SaaS

A cutting-edge healthcare SaaS solution is more than just a software platform. It can become a strategic foundation for delivering better patient care. By implementing state-of-the-art features like regulatory compliance, telehealth integration, and data encryption, to mention just a few, your healthcare organization can stand out from the crowd by contributing to a technology-powered future.

What is your take on the must-have features of healthcare SaaS? Want to implement tailor-made functionality? In any case, devabit is ready to help. The exclusive mesh multidisciplinary expertise and creative approach to complex challenges allows us to deliver healthcare solutions of any type and complexity. With our custom healthcare development services, you can turn your ideas into functional healthcare solutions in the blink of an eye. Ready for transformation? Contact us and get the most out of healthcare SaaS.