Digital health technology framework developed by ACP to assist physicians

The American College of Physicians(ACP), the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and ORCHA, the Organization for the Review of Care and Health Applications, have created a framework for assessing digital health technology. This includes mobile apps and web-based tools used by health care professionals and consumers.

The Digital Health Assessment Framework is intended to support the adoption of high-quality digital health technologies and help health care professionals and patients make better-informed decisions about which digital health tools best suit their needs. The framework includes components to assess privacy and security, clinical assurance and safety, and usability, and was crafted to support U.S.-specific guidelines, regulations and best practices for digital health technologies.

“ACP’s collaboration on this project is an important step forward in identifying and creating digital health tools that are valuable and safe for our members and patients,” said Ryan D. Mire, MD, FACP, and ACP president, in a statement. “Leveraging the clinical expertise of ACP members, the technology expertise of the ATA members, and ORCHA’s experience in assessing apps to create libraries of high-quality apps, this pilot test has the potential to address the needs of many stakeholders.”

“There are literally hundreds of health apps and devices for patients and clinicians to choose from, and our goal is to provide confidence that the health and wellness tools reviewed in this framework meet quality, privacy and clinical assurance criteria in the U.S.,” said Ann Mond Johnson, CEO of the ATA, in a statement.

In addition, the ACP is currently running a pilot test of a library of health apps reviewed against the framework. Feedback from the pilot, as well as input from digital health technology companies, health care professionals, consumers, and other stakeholders will continue to help improve the framework, which will be updated regularly to reflect changes in clinical practice, the latest guidelines and best practices.