Major industry groups to keenly enhance best practices for mobile app use

3 major provider associations and an advisory firm have devoted to establishing and promoting best practices for mobile app use.

The alliance, known as Xcertia and operating as a not-for-profit corporation, involves the American Heart Association, American Medical Association, Healthcare Information Management and Systems Society, and DHX Group, which works and functions with stakeholders to accelerate development of digital health via industry collaboration. The group seeks more participants, involving developers, consumers, privacy and security experts, and the academic community, among others.

Xcertia will develop and promote best practices for mobile app use selection to foster use of safe, effective and reputable technologies. HIMSS this week debuted Xcertia at its Connected Health Conference at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Md. The alliance hopes to release its 1st content later in the year of 2017.

The driving force behind the step was the need to expand ongoing attempts to foster safe, effective and honorable health technologies to bring clarity and focus to the marketplace, claims Eric Peterson, chair of the American Heart Association Center for Health Technology and Innovation.

The AMA was encouraged to join Xcertia because its House of Delegates has an established policy for the association to assist develop guidance for the mobile space and be part of the digital strategy of the industry, claims Michael Hodgkins, MD, the group’s chief medical officer. “Our significant focus is to make it more convenient for doctors and consumers to choose the right apps.” Those apps, he adds, should be patient-centered, evidence-based and generate actionable information.

Consumers require asking the right questions about mobile app use before buying them, and app developers should support them and provide answers, the AMA asserts. The first job for workgroups will be to look at what kinds of content already are in the market and incorporate instructions, Hodgkins claims. “This is a void that requires being filled given growth in the mobile market and a rapid shift to value-based care.”

Further information on joining Xcertia is available here.