21 May 2025
In 2025, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) wearables, 5G connectivity, and cloud computing are converging to make mHealth apps more powerful and pervasive than ever.
This is evident as nearly 90% of healthcare C-suite executives expect the use of digital technologies (including mobile health) to accelerate in 2025. The U.S. healthcare sector is reaching a mobile-first inflection point: 84 million Americans now use healthcare apps, with 30% heavily relying on their smartphones for health.
A recent survey in 2023 found that 40% of U.S. adults have used at least one mobile health app, up from 34% in 2018, reflecting steady growth in consumer adoption. Globally, the mHealth market topped $50 billion in 2022 and is on track to nearly triple by the early 2030s, underscoring robust investment in custom mHealth app development and deployment.
Healthcare executives, policymakers, and CTOs are keenly aware that mobile health is not just a tech trend, it’s a strategic imperative. More than half of U.S. consumers (55%) now prefer using a mobile application to manage appointments, prescriptions, and medical records. Providers and payers are responding by making the mHealth portal and app experience central to care delivery.
Below, we explore five key innovation areas where mHealth apps are driving change in 2025, from cutting-edge virtual care to enhanced patient engagement. We also discuss the benefits of these mHealth applications and the expected patient outcomes, including improved access, quality, and cost-efficiency of care.
In short, policymakers define mHealth (mobile health) as the use of mobile devices and wireless technology to support medical care and public health. From smartphone apps that track fitness to telemedicine platforms, mHealth solutions are at the forefront of healthcare’s digital transformation.
ScienceDirect defines mHealth as “a medical and public health practice that is supported by mobile devices and other wireless devices, such as mobile phones, patient monitoring devices, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). It is aimed at providing cheaper, faster, safer, and more effective health care.”
The global mHealth market is projected to surpass $130 billion by 2025, nearly tripling from 2022 levels, driven by rising chronic disease management and telehealth demand. According to Deloitte, U.S. consumer spending on mHealth solutions rose 23% in 2024, while VC investments in mHealth startups exceeded $8.9 billion that same year.
In 2025, mHealth is a healthcare imperative. With mobile technology reshaping care delivery, mHealth apps are driving innovation across the U.S. healthcare system. Here are five significant ways these applications are transforming patient access, outcomes, and the future of healthcare as we know it.
Telehealth surged during the pandemic and in 2025 it has become mainstream, powered largely by mHealth apps that connect patients and providers remotely. Mobile-enabled telemedicine platforms allow patients to have video visits, e-consultations, and even urgent care triage from anywhere.
This virtual care revolution is improving access to healthcare across the US, particularly for rural areas and underserved communities. 65% of healthcare consumers say virtual care is more convenient than in-person visits, and 94% of patients who have tried a virtual visit are willing to use it again, a massive vote of confidence in telehealth’s value. Leading health systems and startups have invested in user-friendly telehealth apps that make “doctor on demand” a reality.
This trend is reinforced by strategic priorities at the executive level. Nearly three-quarters of health system executives (72%) report that investing in consumer-facing digital platforms (like telehealth apps) is a top priority for 2025.
Providers are extending clinic hours with virtual visits and designing “hospital-at-home” programs delivered via mobile tech. In fact, 63% of health leaders plan to invest in alternative care delivery such as virtual health and remote clinics in 2025. The expected outcomes are significant, telehealth mHealth apps can increase patient satisfaction and retention by offering timely, convenient care.
A Deloitte survey finds patients will even switch doctors if virtual options aren’t available. By integrating telehealth into mHealth apps, healthcare organizations are reducing no-show rates, reaching patients who previously faced access barriers, and cutting down unnecessary ER visits through early remote interventions.
NewYork-Presbyterian’s NYP OnDemand app and Kaiser Permanente’s telehealth services each conduct thousands of video visits weekly, enabling everything from primary care check-ups to post-surgery follow-ups via smartphone.
Policy changes in the U.S. further solidifies virtual care as a standard component of healthcare in 2025, not just an emergency measure. Overall, mHealth-driven telehealth is improving access and convenience, which is expected to lead to better preventative care uptake and lower healthcare costs from avoided acute events.
NewYork-Presbyterian’s NYP OnDemand app and Kaiser Permanente’s telehealth services each conduct thousands of video visits weekly, enabling everything from primary care check-ups to post-surgery follow-ups via smartphone.
Policy changes in the U.S. further solidifies virtual care as a standard component of healthcare in 2025, not just an emergency measure. Overall, mHealth-driven telehealth is improving access and convenience, which is expected to lead to better preventative care uptake and lower healthcare costs from avoided acute events.
Another major innovation area is remote patient monitoring (RPM) through wearables and connected devices, coordinated by mHealth solutions.
Mobile health apps now integrate with smartwatches, fitness bands, glucose monitors, blood pressure cuffs, and other IoT sensors to continuously track patients’ vital signs and behaviors. This enables a shift to real-time, proactive healthcare for chronic disease management and post-acute care. Doctors and care managers receive regular data feeds and alerts via dashboards, while patients use user-friendly apps to stay engaged in their own care between visits.
Adoption of RPM has skyrocketed. By 2024, an estimated 30 million U.S. patients were using remote monitoring tools, a number that has only grown since. Surveys show 80% of Americans support remote monitoring and over half “strongly favor” incorporating it into standard care. Critically, providers are on board too. 9 out of 10 healthcare providers have already invested in RPM technologies to extend care beyond clinic walls.
These mHealth applications collect data on heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose, oxygen saturation, medication adherence, and more, feeding into AI-driven analytics that can flag early warning signs. For instance, a heart failure patient might use a Bluetooth-enabled scale and blood pressure cuff linked to a mobile app. If the patient’s weight or BP rises above thresholds, the care team is alerted to intervene before a crisis.
Wearable tech integration is a cornerstone of this continuous care model. Nearly 50% of users say they depend on wearable technology in daily life, and over 80% are willing to share their wearable data with healthcare providers.
Popular consumer devices like the Apple Watch have FDA-cleared features (ECG, atrial fibrillation detection) that feed clinically relevant data into mHealth apps. This wealth of real-world data enables truly personalized and preventive healthcare.
Studies are already reporting improved outcomes. For example, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) achieved patient satisfaction scores above 90% by equipping patients with RPM kits and tablet-based apps for home monitoring. Likewise, remote monitoring programs for cardiac and COVID-19 patients have demonstrated 50% reductions in hospital readmissions in pilot studies, thanks to early detection of issues and timely interventions via app alerts.
Leading benefits of RPM-focused mHealth solutions include:
In 2025, we expect remote patient monitoring mHealth apps to further integrate with provider electronic health records (EHRs) and care management workflows. This will create a seamless feedback loop where data flows securely from the patient’s wrist or bedside device into clinical decision support systems. Ultimately, continuous monitoring via mHealth is shifting healthcare toward a preemptive model.
The third innovation area is the infusion of artificial intelligence and machine learning into mHealth applications, enabling more personalized and predictive care. Advanced mHealth applications now leverage AI for tasks. These can include symptom checking, virtual health assistants, medication adherence tracking, and predictive analytics that can stratify patient risk.
In 2025, these intelligent apps are acting as always-available health coaches and triage assistants. mHealth solutions are actively supplementing the work of clinicians and empowering patients with personalized guidance.For example, AI chatbots within mHealth apps can converse with patients to assess symptoms or mental health status and provide advice or route them to care if needed.
Apps like Babylon, Ada, and Woebot use AI-driven question-and-answer algorithms for primary care triage or cognitive behavioral therapy coaching. The patient response has been encouraging too. Surveys indicate about 70% of individuals would feel comfortable seeking mental health support from a chatbot if it could help address barriers like stigma or access. Similarly, generative AI is being piloted to answer patients’ health questions via voice assistants and to translate complex medical information into plain language on patient portals.
On the provider side, AI and analytics in mHealth are enabling precision medicine and operational efficiency. Health plans and large providers are increasingly tapping AI to analyze data from mobile health platforms. In fact, 60% of health plan executives expect digital tech adoption (including AI) to accelerate in 2025, and 53% anticipate generative AI and similar technologies will significantly impact their strategy.
Many insurers are already using AI in areas such as claims processing and personalized treatment plan recommendations. For instance, an insurer’s app might use machine learning to suggest care management programs to a member based on their app-recorded activity level and clinical history. For clinicians, AI-enhanced mHealth tools can automate routine tasks and provide decision support.
According to Deloitte analysis, combining AI-driven automation with digital workflows could cut in half the time staff spend on mundane administrative tasks and give nurses 20% more time for direct patient care. In practice, this might mean a hospital’s mobile app automatically updates care plans and schedules follow-ups based on algorithmic analysis of patient data, reducing manual work for care coordinators.
The benefits of AI in mHealth include highly personalized health insights, early detection of health issues, and democratization of knowledge. Although challenges like ensuring accuracy and maintaining patient trust exist, about 30% of consumers report not fully trusting AI-derived health information. The trend is clear, intelligent mHealth apps are evolving into an essential layer of healthcare, providing data-driven guidance and augmenting clinical decision-making.
In 2025 and beyond, we expect mHealth apps to increasingly serve as personalized health hubs that adapt to each individual, leading to more proactive care and better health outcomes.
An often underappreciated innovation is how mHealth is transforming patient engagement and the overall healthcare experience. Mobile apps and portals put health information and services literally into patients’ hands, fostering transparency, convenience, and continuous engagement.
In 2025, nearly 75% of individuals in the US will have been offered online access to their medical records by a provider or insurer. In addition, about half of patients who use portals now access them via a smartphone app rather than a desktop site. This indicates that the mHealth portal, the mobile extension of electronic health records, has become a primary touchpoint in healthcare.
Healthcare executives recognize that an engaged patient is often a healthier patient. By using mHealth apps to simplify healthcare management, providers enable patients to take charge of appointments, medication refills, records, and communication with providers.
For instance, with a few taps on a mobile app, patients can schedule or change appointments, receive test results and lab reports in real time, request prescription renewals, and message their care team with questions.
This level of on-demand service was unheard of a decade ago but is fast becoming the norm. It’s no surprise that 55% of U.S. consumers prefer using a mobile app for these healthcare management tasks. Convenience boosts engagement. Patients are more likely to follow through with care when it’s easy to schedule and they receive timely reminders on their phones.
mHealth apps are also enhancing health literacy and shared decision-making. Many hospital systems have rolled out educational content and decision aids within their apps. For example, a heart surgery patient might get recovery exercises and nutrition tips via push notification, or a pregnant patient might track fetal health and receive weekly guidance.
Gamification elements (like daily step challenges) can motivate healthier behaviors. Importantly, mHealth tools help bridge gaps in communication. Providers can send follow-up instructions or check-in surveys after a visit, and patients can report symptoms or side effects without waiting for the next appointment.
The outcome of these engagement efforts is a more empowered healthcare consumer and improved care continuity. Research suggests that patients who actively use portals and apps tend to have better medication adherence and chronic disease control, likely because they are more informed and in touch with their health data. Even simple interventions like automated appointment reminders via app have been shown to reduce no-shows and improve preventive screening rates.
Strong digital engagement also builds loyalty. A positive mobile experience can significantly raise patient satisfaction scores. According to a survey of hospital executives, 28% observed strong and frequent engagement from patients on their portals in 2022, and those organizations often see higher patient retention and referral rates.
From a policy perspective, increasing patient engagement through mHealth could contribute to population health goals. When patients use these tools, they are more likely to attend annual check-ups, manage their vaccinations and screenings, and seek help early for health issues.
The strategic value of mHealth solutions here is in creating a continuous relationship between the healthcare system and the patient. Instead of episodic, fragmented care, mHealth-enabled engagement fosters an ongoing dialogue.
In 2025, look for healthcare organizations to further optimize the user experience of their mHealth portals. The end goal is patient-centered care where informed, engaged patients work in partnership with providers.
Finally, mHealth apps are catalyzing innovation in how healthcare is financed and customized, particularly through integration with health insurance and the development of personalized solutions.
Professionals have recognized the opportunity to leverage mHealth data and platforms to promote wellness and reduce costs. For example, some insurance companies now offer mHealth insurance incentives that reward healthy behavior recorded by apps. Certain insurers provide premium discounts of up to 20% for customers who use wearable medical devices and meet health goals.
Surveys show 69% of Americans would be willing to wear a smartwatch if it led to an insurance discount. Interestingly, nearly half of those would even share their health data for a lower premium. These findings underline how mHealth is becoming entwined with insurance models, often called activity-based or wellness-based insurance.
In 2025, many employer health plans and Medicare Advantage plans use apps to track members’ fitness or chronic condition metrics, offering rewards like gift cards or lower co-pays for engagement. Such programs (e.g. UnitedHealthcare’s Motion, Aetna’s Attain app in partnership with Apple) not only incentivize healthier behavior but also provide insurers with valuable data to personalize interventions and manage risk.
Beyond wellness programs, insurers are integrating core functions into mobile apps, effectively creating a one-stop mHealth portal for members. Through an insurance mobile app, a patient can find in-network doctors, check claims and deductibles, access telemedicine, and even make HSA payments. This improves transparency and member satisfaction. It also streamlines processes, for instance, digital ID cards and instant claims adjudication via app reduce administrative overhead.
Health providers are investing heavily in these digital capabilities. They foresee that widespread mHealth adoption will help contain costs by catching health issues early. They can then steer patients to high-value providers with app-based decision tools. In fact, as mentioned, a majority of insurers’ executives expect accelerated digital tech adoption and AI to reshape their operations in 2025.
Another aspect of this innovation area is custom mHealth app development by mobile app development companies. Recognizing that one size doesn’t fit all, health systems, large physician groups, and even government programs are investing in developing hyper-customized mHealth applications. These custom apps address specific needs. For example, a children’s hospital might build a specialized app for pediatric diabetes management with games and child-friendly interfaces.
Custom app development ensures integration with existing IT systems and allows organizations to craft unique user experiences aligned with their brand and patient population. About 66% of the largest U.S. hospitals have launched proprietary consumer-facing mobile apps, though driving adoption still remains a challenge for some.
The trend in 2025 is toward more feature-rich, interoperable apps. For example, a health system app that not only shows lab results but also pulls in step counts from Google Fit or Apple Health, and allows bill payment and telehealth in one place.
The strategic payoff of integrating insurance and deploying custom mHealth solutions is a more efficient, value-driven healthcare system. When payers and providers harness mHealth data collaboratively, they can implement value-based care programs that improve outcomes while controlling costs.
Custom apps enable innovation in care delivery and in patient engagement for specific communities. As U.S. healthcare in 2025 continues to emphasize outcomes and cost-effectiveness, custom mHealth solutions provide a competitive edge and a pathway to meet those goals.
Kaiser Permanente has integrated its insurance and provider services into a single app. App members can review coverage, schedule appointments, and access virtual care seamlessly, a model of integration that many are following. Similarly, Oscar Health built its business around a user-friendly mHealth app that guides members to appropriate care and a 24/7 concierge team.
For healthcare executives and policymakers, the strategic value of mHealth solutions lies in their ability to drive the “triple aim” of healthcare, namely better care experiences, improved population health, and lower per-capita costs.
As mHealth apps continue to innovate U.S. healthcare in 2025, organizations that embrace these tools can position themselves as leaders in a rapidly evolving landscape. The takeaway is clear, “mHealth isn’t just a technological adjunct to healthcare, but a foundational strategy for delivering patient-centered, outcome-driven care”.
By investing in robust mHealth platforms, ensuring interoperability and security, and focusing on user-centric design, stakeholders will unlock new efficiencies and improve health outcomes at scale. In a healthcare environment challenged by workforce shortages, rising costs, and unequal access, mHealth offers timely solutions empowering patients, augmenting providers, and forging a more connected, innovative, and resilient healthcare system for the future.
