eHealth to mHealth. A Journey Precariously Dependent upon Apps?

Eugenio Mantovani, Barry Barton Guihen, Paul Quinn, Ann-Katrin Habbig, Paul De Hert

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

mHealth describes a particular formulation of eHealth, which allows new methods of patient treatment that are not rooted to traditional locations such as hospitals or doctors' clinics. An ever more important key tool in such efforts is the 'medical app', which utilises generic smartphone platforms to deliver patient care and management on a truly mobile basis. Whilst such methods are beginning to open up new frontiers in healthcare delivery, there are a number of concerns as to the suitability of apps, as they currently exist, for such sensitive uses. The recent Warsaw declaration on 'apps' highlights many currently unresolved problems, especially in the area of data protection. Given the sensitive nature of such medical data this poses important problems. Further question marks arise over the safety of such apps and their use as de facto medical devices. This de facto nature arises from the failure of European authorities to enforce the requirements of the Medical Device Framework, even where the app in question clearly meets the definition of a device. This paper explores these problems and their implications for the development of mHealth. In conclusion, the authors suggest potential approaches that may be able to resolve such problems.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)48-66
Number of pages19
JournalEuropean Journal of ePractice
Volume21
Issue numberhttp://www.epractice.eu/journal/volume/21
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Keywords

  • eHealth

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