Electronic technologies in the healthcare sector allow access to medical services to a broader audience around the clock. Thanks to medical applications, the work of medical personnel is optimized, and timely patient care is ensured.
The difference between testing medical applications and testing ordinary applications
Testing medical applications is a more time-consuming task compared to testing conventional applications. In healthcare applications, mistakes cannot be made. Therefore, developers need to carefully approach the issue of software testing, considering all the nuances associated with security and privacy. In addition, compliance with regulatory requirements must be considered. Following these aspects guarantees the success of the developed products.
This specialized testing provider can test any healthcare application, provide advice on specific products test or according to the vast experience of QA specialists, provide the right team to conduct a comprehensive test within the right period of time.
Next, we’ll look at some of the challenges developers face when conducting product testing.
5 Chellanges in Testing Healthcare Applications
1. Security check
Since medical applications contain sensitive information, security is one of the critical indicators. The development team for quality is obliged to exclude the possibility of cybernetic hacking of the system.
Here are the main security issues:
- Complex software, including multi-functionality, which hinders the interaction between different components;
- Limited access to data by users due to confidentiality, so it is difficult to recreate the most realistic situation for testing;
- Compliance with specific regulatory standards that complicate testing;
- Unforeseen consumer situations because the healthcare application is used by a vast audience: providers, patients, and medical staff with individual needs.
It is why good security testing plays a crucial role in healthcare software.
2. Availability check
Such testing is essential to ensure that it is accessible to users with disabilities. We list the main problems associated with ensuring accessibility:
- No prior experience with accessibility;
- Compatibility with assistive technologies (adaptive switches, screen reading, and the presence of a magnifying glass);
- Adherence to accessibility requirements – Medical application software must take into account accessibility requirements, and this increases the complexity of testing.
For the developed software to meet these requirements, it is necessary to have a qualified and experienced team of developers and medical software quality engineers.
3. Compatibility check
Compliance is necessary to ensure the exchange of information through many programs and devices. Therefore, the developed software must fully function with various systems to guarantee the security of users’ confidential data.
Compliance testing can present several significant challenges for quality engineers:
- Complex systems of medical application programs are due to the presence of various components that must work together without failures;
- Various technologies that are used to create software (programming languages, platforms, systems);
- A large amount of sensitive information – Healthcare software must be able to process massive user data, and testing for compatibility on such a scale is a challenge.
Thus, compatibility testing is an important and complex step in creating a medical application.
4. Sound and video testing
Most consumers of medical applications use to book an appointment followed by the possibility of a medical examination. Therefore, it is essential to ensure high-quality video-audio transmission. Telemedicine can significantly save time waiting in line for an appointment with a doctor.
Here are some of the challenges that developers will have to face while ensuring sound and video quality:
- Network transmission instability depending on location, network infrastructure, and the type of electronic device used;
- Complex application situations that need to be taken into account in test scenarios;
- Limitation of resources during testing – it is only sometimes possible for developers to access the necessary test equipment for testing, which may reduce audio and video quality.
Since video consultations are essential for patients, allowing them to receive timely medical care remotely, ensuring high-quality audio and video signals is vital.
5. Regulatory Compliance
The healthcare application software must be built to comply with many regulations related to security and privacy:
- HIPAA (USA) is a legislative document to protect users’ confidential information.
- GDPR (European Union) – general rules for protecting information, including collecting, storing, and processing information about patients’ health. Medical institutions are required to obtain consent from users for the use of their data.
- PIPEDA is a regulatory document protecting personal data and electronic records. The regulation also requires consent to the processing of patients’ personal data.
- OAIC (Australia) is the Office of the Information Commissioner in Australia. It is a regulatory body that protects confidential information, including the control of health care providers.
In the end
To create healthcare applications requires highly qualified developers and practical experience. In addition, it is necessary to apply innovative technologies to verify and test the developed software. Considering all the above aspects that may arise during the development process, you will be able to create high-quality and sought-after products for a vast consumer audience.