ThePublicHeathApp.com - OCV, LLC
Custom Apps to Deliver Public Health Information - ThePublicHealthApp.com

One of the main objectives of public health is to communicate health information to citizens. With the current restrictions imposed on in-person visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic, communication has become a significant challenge for public health departments. Amidst this scenario, an effective channel to reach out to the community with pertinent information is a mobile application.

Several statistics show that 94 percent of Americans in the age group 14-49 have a smartphone even when many don’t possess a computer or internet access. By leveraging mobile apps, public health agencies can extend information such as clinic locations and hours of operations through push-out notifications, facilitating ease of communication. Empowering organizations to utilize mobile apps to easily communicate with their citizens is OCV—the leader in mobile app development for law enforcement, public safety, emergency management, and public health agencies. Through a dedicated brand for public health named ThePublicHealthApp.com, they offer customized mobile apps for iPhone and Android devices that ensure a simple and convenient way for effective communication.

With over a decade of exceptional prowess, ThePublicHealthApp.com has developed more than 1000 apps for different purposes—from county-wide public health departments to state-level health departments and even nonprofits and hospitals. The common features of apps include instant push notifications (alerts), healthcare facility list, community programs, clinics and events, localized language options, and social media integration. Significant communication benefits can be seen in times like COVID-19 or other pandemics. For example, an app could offer the most recent COVID-19 news and updates, community closures, testing locations, and educational information. Another ongoing public health issue that benefits from broader communication is the Opioid crisis. An app developed by the ThePublicHealthApp.com could include quick references for Opioid program locations, support groups, emergency guidelines, syringe programs, and naloxone distribution centers. An app can even offer a step by step visual and audio guide for CPR.

Because the company understands that a one-size-fits-all app does not work for most organizations, ThePublicHealthApp.com develops apps tailored to clients’ specific needs. For instance, the app can include information regarding prescription drug drop-off locations where citizens can dispose of expired prescription drugs. Other custom features can include information regarding communicable disease, animal-related disease, immunization clinics, nursing services, and healthy living education. The apps can be adjusted over time and incorporate additional features and functionalities whenever required by the clients. “Our ability to customize and grow the app is just a way we show value to our customers,” says Eric Halverson, Managing Partner at OCV, LLC. and brand, ThePublicHealthApp.com.

Through its customized apps, ThePublicHealthApp.com helps organizations to become innovative leaders in public health safety and efficiently utilize technologies for seamless operations. With a strong focus on a niche market such as public health, the experts at ThePublicHealthApp.com possess immense knowledge and leverage it to help clients through every step of the process. The company’s skilled team of strategists, designers, and developers work together with medical and law enforcement specialists to understand the needs of the communities and how to apply those needs to app technology. “Very few agencies we work with have previously deployed an app. It is a big part of our consultation to work with them and take them through the possibilities of not just the content but even the funding processes,” explains Halverson. ThePublicHealthApp.com shares knowledge about different funding opportunities to help agencies lacking enough budget for apps.

Illustrating the efficiency of ThePublicHealthApp.com’s solutions, Halverson highlights an instance wherein the company helped the Alabama department of public health to develop an app for the Women, Infant, and Children’s (WIC) program. The public health department required several unique capabilities, such as details of the approved product listing (APL) to be included in the app. This APL listing contained details of the products that were allowed to be purchased through the WIC program. To incorporate this feature, ThePublicHealthApp.com developed a built-in bar code scanner within the app that allowed the program’s participants to determine whether a product is WIC approved or not and ensured a seamless user experience.

Moving ahead, ThePublicHealthApp.com aims to expand deeper into the public health market. With the federal government introducing more opportunities and grants for innovative public health technology, public health agencies are focusing on utilizing smartphone applications to meet the need for remote communication. “We strive to keep innovating, changing, and bringing new features to the public. As the space continues to be uncertain, we have the certainty that we can customize our solution for any public health department regardless of their need,” concludes Halverson.