Part 3: Unique Pain Points for Healthcare Domain Testing

Welcome to the final installment of our healthcare software testing blog series, where we explore the unique pain points of testing in this space and uncover the solutions that QA teams can provide. In our last post, we looked at challenges related to integration testing, security testing, and performance testing.

Now, let’s shift our focus to data management and user experience issues.

Data management

In the healthcare space, there is a huge quantity of patient data that is shared between hospitals and physicians, so the chances of having redundant data is high. De-duplication of this data is mandatory to make the systems function without any snags or performance breakdowns. The testing of such re-organized data can lead to challenges like these:

Pain points

1. Excessive time and cost consumption due to bulk data processing.

2. Credibility risk with customers.

3. Healthcare compliance concerns.

4. Storage of historic data and data complexity.

Solutions

Having a team of QA engineers that can efficiently work on validating the pre- and post-merge of master data will help minimize the challenges above. Some of the key areas that QA professionals should focus on are:

1. Efficiently seeding bulk data in a single go using different input methods.

2. Verification of data standardization process that adheres with compliances.

3. Analyzing duplicate data based on logics.

4. Identifying the winner entity based on defined survivorship rules.

5. Auditing de-duplicated data including field level verification.

6. Validating the realignment of dependent or linked objects and transactional data.

7. Having knowledge of different input methods for bulk data seeding and proficiency in master data management tools.

User experience and next generation interfaces

Today, interfaces used by the customer are varied and diverse. Next generation interfaces-think chat bots and voice-based interactions-are the new wave in the digital healthcare space, and QA engineers will need to be equally comfortable with these as they are with graphical user interfaces (GUI). The ability to verify latency, accuracy, and proper user experience is key.

Pain points

1. If the team is not using the Agile approach, it means that teams will need to react strongly to even a small change in the user experience or requirements, think re-planning test strategies and re-testing on different platforms.

2. Checking for consistency in the interface and design format. Any inconsistency can lead to issues down the road and upset customers.

3. Failure to establish testing priorities.

Solutions

1. Using the Agile method is the best way to overcome the challenges listed above. It will help with the planning and prioritizing of all testing activities.

2. QA engineers should focus primarily on GUI-based testing by covering all the required platforms, as this will provide a better user experience.

While performing healthcare software testing, the engineer must comply with the data security and privacy guidelines, and they should always remember that any unexpected information appearing on a patient’s report can have life-altering consequences. In this space, stakes are high-and engineers must always remember that the quality and predictability of the application is closely tied with the health of the customer and the success of the healthcare organization.

Ready to learn more about healthcare software testing? Download our free guide below!