Simple home screening products, such as glucose monitors, have given patients much more control of their healthcare at lower expense. Likewise, they have empowered patients to better decide when – and for what – they see their physician.
New apps, such as the uChek urine screener unveiled at TED 2013, add a new dimension to the home-test market. Using a small urine sample, an immersed test strip and a simple photo, the app can analyze urine color for indicators of acute or chronic diseases that require an actual visit to the doctor. uChek creator Myshin Ingawale believes the test will help “democratize health care” by providing inexpensive access to personal health information.
He has a point. Never before could you secure a comprehensive reading of protein, glucose, and, even bilirubin, levels without a medical intermediary; no less while drinking a cup of coffee in your kitchen. And think what it offers people who can’t afford annual physicals or any type of preventive-health engagement with a medical professional. In the near future, the App Store may replace the physician as the primary gatekeeper to better health.
It’s easy to jump on the mobile app bandwagon. But it’s much more challenging to make an app that will stick with customers. If considering a mobile app strategy for your brand or product, think about:
- Purpose – does the app fulfill an unmet need? Does it reduce a current burden in care?
- Value – what’s the value to the user? What’s the output beyond the app?
- Relevance – what makes it essential now? Who will use it and how?
- User interface and experience – is it simple to use? Is it compelling enough for a 2nd or 100th use?
