Bringing a healthcare technology product to market is a challenging prospect, even if it is a small project. Healthcare organizations must select the right software development partner to help them successfully launch their products.
But many wonder how they can find the ideal consultant amid the droves of contractors out there. Due diligence is an essential part of seeking a consultancy firm that can optimize your software development system. It also involves reviewing the internal practices of any potential partners, as these always impact software technology development.
High Coding Standards and Practices
Your healthcare technology partner should strongly adhere to the best coding practices within the industry. This way, you can have a product that is efficient and functional and has code that can be reviewed and changed as needed.
Essentially, your technology partner should have a skilled and experienced team with diverse knowledge in software development. There are many areas to focus on within the industry, such as legacy system migration, hospital management systems and patient portals, and health-tracking apps.
Always look for a team that has:
- Technical Proficiency: While programmers can’t be proficient in every language, the consultancy should have experts in your desired programming languages, such as Python or Java.
- Domain-Specific Knowledge: The consultancy firm needs to have experts in the area of healthcare technology in which you are developing software. Managing electronic health records is different from building a health app to check heart rhythm and other diagnostics.
- Readable Code: Healthcare technology consultants should follow the best practices standard for code readability, such as adding comments. This ensures that your team has an easier time making adjustments to the software later.
An Agile Software Development System
The Agile approach to creating a software development system remains popular because it’s an effective way of quickly building technology. Many companies incorporate it into their process, and you might want to consider looking for a healthcare consultancy that also utilizes this system in its technology development process.
Agile has its origins in software development practices dating back as far as the 1950s. The modern-day practice comes from the Manifesto for Agile Software Development, which was published by a group of software programmers in 2001.
Agile focuses on several core practices:
- Having regular meetings with all members of the project team, from software development to marketing
- Collaborating with clients throughout the development process
- Putting the development of working software before documentation
- Adjusting plans and timelines as things change with the project
A Focus on Consistent, Organized Project Management
Your healthcare technology partner should maintain efficient project management practices. Projects without a strong leader and oversight tend to languish, never quite being finished and ready to launch. Finding a healthcare technology partner with a strong drive and focus or a consultancy with experienced project managers is essential.
Here are the signs of a consultancy with consistent and well-organized management:
- Timeline Adherence: Your consultant should be able to create an accurate timeline, and management should adjust project due dates and workload to stick to it.
- Proper Resource Allocation: Project managers should understand proper resource allocation and follow it in practice to ensure that all team members have access to equipment, people, and resources.
- Proactive Communicators: You shouldn’t have to keep emailing or texting your consulting firm for updates. Whether there are issues or not, consultants should keep clients informed and be proactive in resolving any problems as a team.
The Ability to Seamlessly Integrate and Collaborate with Your Team
There’s something to be said for a consultant that can fit in easily with your existing IT department and connect well with other sections of the healthcare organization. This ability to collaborate also ensures enhanced positivity within the team, increased drive, and greater productivity.
Signs of this ability that you can look for in a healthcare software development consultancy include:
- The usage of collaboration tools and platforms for smooth communication and file sharing, such as Slack and GitHub
- Reliance on joint problem-solving and decision-making practices to find solutions to project-related challenges
- The use of written documentation and comments throughout the process for future usage by your team
- A willingness to develop handover procedures to ensure that your team can easily manage the new software technology
Conclusion
The internal software development system of a potential healthcare technology partner has a tremendous impact on the outcome of a project. With a strong focus on best coding practices, adaptable and nimble development, and collaboration, these experts can help bring your plans to fruition.
Here at OtterSoft, we help healthcare technology providers drive innovation and integrate smoothly with legacy systems to keep things in motion, address the challenges of healthcare innovation, and seamlessly keep information in sync. Please get in touch with us today to see how we can help you overcome healthcare innovation challenges by strategically augmenting your team!
