The mHealth refers to the use of mobile devices and medical applications focused on health care. MHealth (Mobile Health) is considered an element of the digital ecosystem health (eHealth). Telemedicine services, such as Movistar Salud, are already working to provide support through these systems. A service that you can also find out from the Movistar Salud Living App.
Mobile medical applications stand out for their accessibility and ease of use. They use already widespread services such as text messaging (SMS) and voice messages. Here a little more about it.
MHealth Technology brings health from your pocket to hand
The use of mobile health services is growing as a result of the massive use of mobile devices. Mobile phones and smartphones are devices commonly used to access mHealth services. But they are not the only ones, they are also used:
- Tablets, sensors or smartwatches (smartwatch) can help your doctor’s diagnosis online.
- Clothes and garments that are used to monitor people’s activity (gadgets and widgets).
- Various devices used by telemedicine for remote monitoring of patients.
Services provided at mHealth include
- Online diagnosis from medical data analyzed with implemented artificial intelligence techniques.
- Monitoring, control and self-control of vital signs.
- Disease monitoring.
- Training and orientation.
- Accompaniment by medical or health care personnel.
- The collection of data for the analysis of sanitary conditions is another of the services supported by mHealth.
mHealth and its Regulation
Medical applications in Spain are regulated by Royal Decree 1591/2009, of October 16. This decree specifies the legislation on sanitary products and was consolidated by the Ministry of Health and Social Policy in BOE-A-2009-17606.
For a software application to be considered a clinically safe medical device, it must meet a set of requirements. These are indicated in the European directives of the certificate or CE marking, among other regulations.
Specifically, for the CE marking of medical devices such as medical devices, there is directive 93/42 / CEE. Thus, it is guaranteed that devices, artefacts, hardware products or software applications used for mHealth, comply with the safety, health and protection requirements demanded by the EU.
Designers of medical applications must also have a license from the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products. The mobile applications, accessories or digital documents that meet the requirements, get the CE Medical APP certificate.
The autonomous communities have also defined their own guidelines for the certification of apps for mHealth. For example:
The Andalusian Health Quality Agency. They certify apps based on 31 recommendations for design, use and evaluation.
Also, the Generalitat of Catalonia. With the participation of their Department of Health and TICSalut Social, they have developed the Appsalut web portal. This website lists validated and accredited medical apps, which can be downloaded for Apple or Android systems.
mHealth has come to grow and bring us closer to wellness
MHealth apps and devices are attractive to both healthcare professionals and patients. The accessibility, ease of use, flexibility, portability, security and reliability information are part of its positive attributes.
The benefits of mHealth are reflected in greater comfort, faster communication and instantaneity. The reduction of costs for the patient and for the medical institution, the efficiency and the improvement of the assistance, are other of its benefits.
In recent months, mHealth, as part of the eHealth ecosystem, has been very relevant. Medical apps such as COVID-19 Assistance and Covid Radar have been useful to manage the control of the pandemic. Mobile medicine increases its potential through the combination of computer applications, mobile devices, medical equipment, big data analytics and the Internet of medical things. Today, more than ever, we can say that with mHealth, health travels in your pocket.