Healthcare Low-Code Solutions: Implementation Guide

Low-code platforms are reshaping healthcare by simplifying app development with visual tools and pre-built components. They reduce costs by up to 70% and development time by 90%, while ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations like HIPAA. Here's what you need to know:

• Key Benefits:

  • Speeds up tasks like patient registration (10 minutes to 30 seconds).

  • Automates workflows, reducing errors and improving care.

  • Integrates seamlessly with EHR systems.

• Top Use Cases:

  • Patient care management (e.g., vaccination tracking).

  • Administrative automation (e.g., scheduling systems).

  • Data integration for faster rollout and better system compatibility.

• Platform Features to Prioritize:

  • HIPAA compliance, data encryption, and mobile compatibility.

  • Role-based access control and EHR integration.

• Steps to Implement:

  1. Start with a small, high-impact project.

  2. Train staff with role-specific sessions.

  3. Set up robust security protocols (e.g., encryption, MFA).

  4. Track success metrics like app delivery time and system uptime.

Low-code solutions like OutSystems, Mendix, and Appsmith are transforming healthcare operations worldwide. By 2026, 70% of new applications will be created using low-code platforms, making them a critical tool for modernizing healthcare.

Low Code Brings Specific Benefits to Healthcare, Finance, and Government

Analyzing Healthcare Requirements

Before diving into low-code platforms, it's crucial to assess your operational needs. Studies show these platforms can slash costs by up to 70% and cut development time by 90% [3].

Current Process Problems

Many healthcare facilities face outdated workflows that slow productivity and impact patient care. Here are some common challenges and how low-code solutions can help:

For example, ATC in Kuwait used a low-code platform to bring patient registration times down from 10 minutes to just 25 seconds while cutting file errors by 60% [2]. These kinds of results demonstrate the potential of low-code tools in healthcare.

Top Low-Code Applications

Healthcare providers worldwide are using low-code platforms to improve operations. Take Medtronic, which operates in 150 countries. They implemented low-code solutions for remote monitoring of medical devices, reducing IT costs by 50% and completing deployment in just six months [3].

"Our low-code environment enabled rapid development, testing, deployment, and customer-driven modifications", says Jason Smith, COO and Co-Founder at Kermit PPI [3].

Here are some areas where low-code platforms are making an impact:

1. Patient Care Management

One U.S. healthcare provider built a vaccination tracking system using low-code software. In just ten days, they coordinated vaccinations for more than 10,000 healthcare workers [4].

2. Administrative Automation

Saga Healthcare in the UK revamped its homecare scheduling system with low-code solutions, cutting project costs from $16 million to $333,500 and reducing implementation time from three years to six months [3].

3. Data Integration

Organizations using codeless platforms report 41% better integration between systems and a 53% faster rollout of new applications [5].

These examples highlight the importance of carefully evaluating system requirements before starting any low-code project.

System Requirements Check

Before implementing a low-code solution, ensure your technical infrastructure and compliance are up to par. Address workflow inefficiencies and integration challenges by focusing on these key areas:

"With a HIPAA-compliant low-code tool, you can easily build expertise within your IT department. From there, the power to develop and innovate is in your hands", says Matt Smith, Head of IT at Saga Healthcare [3].

For instance, Luz Saúde accelerated the delivery of its content management and scheduling system. Initially planned for nine months, it was completed in just four months by a seven-person team after carefully analyzing system requirements [3].

Selecting a Healthcare Low-Code Platform

Choosing a low-code platform for healthcare requires careful consideration to meet the industry's strict standards and unique needs.

Key Features to Look For

When evaluating platforms, prioritize these features:

Organizations that adopt these features report 41% better integration and 53% faster app deployment [5].

Comparing Leading Platforms

The healthcare low-code market includes several strong options, each catering to different needs. Here's a quick comparison:

"We wanted a secure platform that would allow us to build the capabilities we needed quickly and easily - and we've got it." - Karel Nouwen, Senior IT Director at Medtronic [3]

Finalizing Your Decision: A Checklist

Use this checklist to guide your platform selection:

1. Security and Compliance
   Ensure the platform includes encryption, access control, and audit trails. Refer to the features table above for specifics.

2. Integration Capabilities
   Verify that the platform connects seamlessly with your existing healthcare systems.

"Low-code platform has been a key digital enabler for Luz Saúde to tackle the challenges raised by our business expansion." - Cristina Freitas, Project Manager at Luz Saúde [3]

3. Scalability
   Think ahead to future growth. Gartner predicts that by 2026, 80% of low-code platform users will come from outside traditional IT roles [3].

Questions to Consider:

• Does the platform provide healthcare-specific templates and tools?

• What kind of vendor support is available for compliance updates?

• How is patient data security handled?

• Are there robust options for integrating with current systems?

Choosing the right platform sets the stage for your organization's digital transformation. Make sure it aligns with both current needs and future goals.

4-Step Implementation Plan

Healthcare organizations need a clear strategy to integrate low-code solutions effectively while ensuring security and compliance.

First Project Selection

Choosing the right initial project is key to showcasing the benefits of your low-code platform. Look for projects that meet the following criteria:

"Mendix offers all the tools needed to develop highly complex applications easily, flexibly, and quickly, without extensive technical knowledge." - Herbert Lebens, Bizzoplan general manager [6]

Once the project is selected, it's time to prepare your team with targeted training.

Staff Training Methods

Effective training ensures your team can maximize the platform's capabilities. Use a mix of general overviews, role-specific sessions, and hands-on practice:

• Basic Platform Training
  Cover platform fundamentals, focusing on visual development tools and drag-and-drop interfaces [5].

• Customized Role Training
  Tailor training to different roles:

  • Clinical staff: Center on patient-facing applications.

  • Administrative staff: Highlight workflow automation features.

  • Management: Provide insights into analytics and reporting tools.

• Hands-On Workshops
  Conduct practical exercises based on real-world healthcare scenarios. Gartner predicts that by 2025, over half of low-code users will come from non-IT backgrounds [1].

This practical training lays the groundwork for implementing strong security measures.

Security Protocol Setup

After training, the next step is to enforce robust security measures. With healthcare data breaches rising by 53% from Q1 2023 to Q1 2024 [7], safeguarding sensitive information is non-negotiable.

To implement these measures, encrypt data both at rest and during transmission, define role-based access levels based on job responsibilities, automate security audits, and create a detailed incident response plan. These steps ensure your organization stays compliant and protected.

Progress Tracking and Updates

Success Metrics

To measure progress effectively, focus on key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with your goals:

"Once you take steps towards digitisation, change management across the organisation becomes much easier. People feel part of the transformation. They see the benefits of the initiatives you are running and are much keener to get involved." - Akash Khurana, CIO, McDermott [8]

Research highlights that 71% of organizations using citizen development have cut application development time by half [8]. Monitor these metrics monthly to showcase ROI and identify areas for improvement. Use the findings to refine strategies and collect user insights.

User Input and Updates

Gathering user feedback is essential for ongoing improvements. PatientSky, a healthcare IT solutions provider, showcases how a structured feedback approach can deliver results. Through their process, they achieved:

• 30% reduction in support workload

• 55% completion rate on NPS feedback campaigns

• 74% acknowledgment rate for platform updates [9]

To emulate this success, consider these feedback channels:

"Appcues has helped us create a robust feedback loop. We can now act upon the constant stream of feedback. For us, this is the first step towards becoming more product-led." - Iselin Johnsen, Product Manager at PatientSky [9]

Expansion Planning

Leverage user feedback to guide platform expansion. The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation offers a great example: their automated referral system now operates six times faster, saving 15,000 work hours annually [10].

Key steps for strategic expansion include:

1. Department Assessment

Analyze each department's readiness for digital transformation. Focus on areas where automation can save time or enhance outcomes, such as patient care.

2. Resource Allocation

Data shows that 29% of companies achieve twice the delivery speed with citizen development [8]. Allocate resources to departments with the highest potential for similar improvements.

3. Integration Planning

Map out system connections and data flows between departments. Ensure new tools work seamlessly with existing systems while meeting compliance standards like HIPAA.

Adopt a phased rollout approach to track progress. Evaluate success at each stage before moving forward, ensuring consistent growth without compromising security or performance.

Next Steps

Implementation Summary

Implementing low-code solutions in healthcare begins by identifying and addressing specific process inefficiencies. For example, Geisinger Health System replaced manual Excel tracking with a custom low-code platform designed to meet their needs.

As these systems demonstrate their value, new trends are shaping how low-code platforms will continue to transform healthcare.

Healthcare Low-Code Trends

The future of low-code in healthcare is driven by emerging trends and growing adoption. By 2026, the global low-code market is expected to hit $46.4 billion [11], with healthcare organizations playing a major role in this growth.

Key trends include:

• AI Integration and Analytics: Low-code platforms are increasingly incorporating advanced analytics and AI tools to cut costs and improve efficiency. The AI in healthcare market is projected to grow to $28 billion by 2025, with an annual growth rate of 41.4% [11]. For instance, Vibrant Emotional Health has used low-code to automate processes and scale operations while keeping costs down.

• Enhanced Security and Compliance: With U.S. healthcare organizations spending over $10 billion annually on cybersecurity [11], low-code platforms are stepping up their security capabilities. Fritz Haimberger, Healthcare Industry Lead at Appian, highlights this collaborative advantage:

  "With platforms such as Appian, professional developers, clinicians, and business owners can better collaborate on custom applications, so it's bespoke to what they're trying to achieve, in a quick iterative process." [12]

• Citizen Development Expansion: By 2025, it's estimated that 70% of new applications will be created by business users through low-code platforms [11]. This shift empowers healthcare organizations to tackle challenges more effectively while staying compliant with regulations.