Creating mobile applications that handle Protected Health Information (PHI) necessitates adherence to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This entails implementing specific technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic PHI. As an example, a fitness application that collects user heart rate data and shares it with a physician must be designed and operated to be within the bounds of regulatory requirements.
Adhering to these regulations is paramount for protecting patient privacy and avoiding substantial financial penalties. The regulatory landscape is constantly evolving, requiring continuous monitoring and adaptation. Historically, organizations addressed these requirements primarily with on-premise systems, but the rise of mobile technology has necessitated the development of robust processes tailored to mobile environments.
