A few years back, a normal software data breach cost a US medical business to lose millions. And it’s just one example! As per Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023, there are more than 500 companies that were knocked by the software data breach. And why does all this happen? Not giving too much attention to accomplishing software interoperability is the reason costing such organizations more than millions. Moreover, the deficient performance of your healthcare software solutions can turn your users from your software and never return.

Wondering how you can prevent such losses or enhance the performance of your healthcare software? Well, the best is to opt for software testing for your healthcare solutions. Opting for custom software development company providing best software testing services and the best QA specialists will help you detect and rectify some significant loopholes in your software solutions. Therefore, healthcare software testing helps launch a user-centric, secure, and effective product that provides greater value to healthcare services. So, healthcare software development companies building these solutions should carry out extensive software testing to ensure that all the requirements are met. 

Curious already?

Well, this article is about understanding some important aspects of software testing in the healthcare industry.

What is Healthcare Software Testing?

Healthcare software testing refers to testing software applications connected to the healthcare industry. These software solutions include anything from hospital administration systems to electronic health records (EHR). Healthcare software testing also helps ensure that healthcare solutions operate and function as expected and adhere to the required protocols and regulations (like, HIPAA, FDA, etc.). They also take care that healthcare software solutions follow the standards for data exchange (DICOM, HL7, etc.), and ensure the safety and security of sensitive patient data.

Significant Benefits of Software Testing in the Healthcare Industry

The following are some major benefits of software testing in the healthcare industry:

• Better Expertise and Execution

To provide the best services to the patients, efficiency, and expertise are the crucial aspects required in healthcare systems. Hence, software testing makes sure that the healthcare solution functions effortlessly, providing a top-notch experience to the patients as well as healthcare people.                    

• Enhanced Application Security

Patients’ sensitive information, including their medical history, their prescription, and current health info, is required to be safeguarded. If your healthcare software solution is not safe and secure, it can lead to some major security breaches (a nightmare, indeed!). Hence, to make your application less vulnerable and secure, software testing is necessary.                      

• Usability Testing

Usability Testing is vital to create and integrate multiple features and user scenarios the doctors and other staff face during their medical careers. Usability testing refers to the emulation of the same user scenarios and is checked in real time as well as digitally.                    

• Big Data Handling

The healthcare industry involves vast amounts of data, including sensitive patient data and their medical history as well as the present situation. This information holds huge significance to healthcare facilities, it helps them create the ideal strategy and follow the ideal approach.

Challenges in Healthcare Software Testing

Following are some noticeable challenges the healthcare sector faces while software testing:

• Cross-Functionality of the Application

Applications are a combination of multiple components and layers. Hence, it gets challenging to understand different types of healthcare software. Moreover, any modifications made in any layer can turn up in another layer. This is the reason you need to hire verified and experienced testers. Moreover, these experts should understand how to line up the software with specific requirements.              

• Lack of domain expertise

When you test or leverage your healthcare devices, it counts as a huge challenge. Why? Because the healthcare sector is quite extensive to understand. Firstly, you need to have good know-how on entities like patients, healthcare professionals, and hospitals. Secondly, you should know healthcare institutions, insurance companies, etc. Since they are the real game changers for healthcare solutions.                

• Testing Center of Excellence

The testing center doesn’t mean any laboratory or place. But nowadays it’s a testing model to ensure scalability and robustness. Several healthcare companies are rising in the market. So, it’s now a necessity to opt for better practices, tools, processes, and testing scope. Moreover, your healthcare software should also undergo maintenance testing regularly.

What is the Cost of Healthcare Software Testing?

Several aspects impact the cost of healthcare software testing, including:

• The Complexity of the Software – The more complicated the software, the more features it has, and the more time and resources will be required to build it, eventually leading to more expense.

• Interoperability with Other Devices – The more integrated your healthcare software is with other devices or software systems, the more expensive the process will be.

• Leveraging Different Testing Tools – The more testing tools and technologies your team will use, the higher the final overall cost of testing software. Opting for software testing automation can get a bit more expensive because of the innovative technologies behind them.

• ⁠The Team Size and Specific Roles – If your team expands so does the overall development cost. However, if you assign the roles and responsibilities mindfully, it will help save resources instead.

• Maintaining Balance Between Insourcing and Outsourcing – The final cost of software testing also relies on whether you opt for outsourcing or insourcing teams.  

Conclusion

Every industry prefers opting for a test-based strategy before the software release. In the case of the healthcare industry, software testing holds greater significance. Patient data security, seamless performance, interoperability of healthcare solutions, ideal turnaround time, and secure application interface are some important aspects that the healthcare industry needs to deal with regularly. This is where quality assurance and software testing begin. Also, it helps healthcare organizations to concentrate better on delivering top-notch solutions to patients and other medical professionals.

And well talking about professionals, you’ll need some professionals for your healthcare software testing. it would be best to hire a reputable healthcare software development company. The experts will help you transform your ideas into successful and resilient solutions integrating some of the best testing practices for your healthcare software.

That’s all about the significant aspects of software testing in the healthcare sector.

I hope this article answers all your questions. Thank you for your time and patient reading.

Happy Learning!

Author details:

Author Name- Mr. Pratik Mistry

Author bio–

I am Pratik Mistry, a rare mix of technologist and Executive Vice President in Technology Consulting at Radixweb. My passion lies in helping companies to grow revenues by delivering top notch custom application development solutions and build value-based partnerships. When not driving high-impact go to market strategies, I love to try new cuisines and going to the movies.

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