In the past, I blogged about where developers store an app was just as important as the app itself. In particular, I discussed how Happtique, an app store dedicated to healthcare professionals, seemed like an ideal place to find apps for medical purposes. Now, in a move that follows the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Happtique has announced its own guidelines regarding medical mobile app regulation.
Overview of Guidelines
In addition to meeting security guidelines, apps will have to:
- Effectively run on mobile devices and connect to peripherals like WiFi.
- Follow certain speeds, although at this time, the guidelines do not specify particular ones.
- Identify who receives patient information before a consumer downloads them.
- Contain information written for laypersons.
- Come from current and recognizable sources.
Happtique is dedicated to medical apps. By putting guidelines in place, the company shows that it wants to further differentiate itself as the marketplace leader for medical applications. Because of its narrow focus, it has the time to put together detailed guidelines, something the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store cannot do.
With all guidelines, they could hinder or help developers
depending on how stringent everyone reviews the requirements. For some developers, it could mean a longer development cycle. At the same time, Happtique makes
all the factors known upfront. Therefore, developers could use the information as a checklist when developing medical apps. The drafted guidleines also assign accountablity and make credibility focuses. These are factors that are needed considerations as the numbers of medical mobile apps continue to increase.
Happtique is currently accepting feedback from
doctors, nurses, other medical professionals and consumers through Friday,
August 17, 2012.
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