Evidence that the world is going mobile is everywhere. The market for connected health technology is projected to hit $117 billion by 2020, and 86 percent of clinicians believe mobile apps will be central to patient health in that time frame. At least 50 percent of smartphone users have downloaded a mobile health app. We also see mobile’s growth with the appearance of tablets, more powerful smartphones and Fitbits. As healthcare patients turn into healthcare consumers, patient portals and apps to enter health information, schedule appointments or even chat with a doctor have become the norm. Most people have their phones on them at all times (or nearly at all times), and that gives healthcare providers the opportunity to interact with them in ways not possible before. That also means availability of data is more critical than ever.
Even HIPAA, the federal law that protects PHI from being mishandled or abused, and which all healthcare providers and their business associates are required to follow, has gotten on board the mobile train and issued guidance specific to mhealth apps and their developers. It offers six scenarios that address two frequently asked questions regarding HIPAA regulations:
- How does HIPAA apply to health information that a patient creates, manages or organizes through the use of a health app?
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