NEW YORK, Dec. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Happtique™, a mobile health solutions company, today announces it has certified 19 health and medical apps through its Health App Certification Program™ (HACP). This inaugural class is the first group of apps in the country to pass the rigorous HACP standards announced earlier this year. Each app that receives certification has passed both technical testing—the verification of privacy, security, and operability standards by global testing leader Intertek—and content testing, as completed by relevant, independent clinical experts.

"One of the major barriers to widespread clinical adoption of health apps is the inability of providers and patients to identify which apps to use. Happtique's Health App Certification Program offers an objective way for users to determine if an app will protect personal information, operate as promised, and ensure that the clinical information included in the app has been documented and verified," said Corey Ackerman, President and COO of Happtique.

With more than 40,000 apps in the marketplace, mHealth remains the one area of healthcare that is largely unregulated and untested.  According to industry leaders, the FDA final guidance for "mobile medical apps" released in September is expected to apply to fewer than 20% of health and medical apps. Operating as a complement to FDA oversight, the HACP provides the market with a means to self-regulate, raising the bar for all developers while increasing consumer and provider confidence in this rapidly growing industry.

"The developers who submitted their apps for this inaugural class are true pioneers in mHealth. By voluntarily subjecting their apps to rigorous HACP testing and making appropriate adjustments to meet the standards, these developers are demonstrating their commitment to improving health for providers and patients," HACP Director Sandy Maliszewski said.

All apps submitted for HACP testing must also include their privacy policies, proof of FDA approval (if applicable), and documentation of content sources. After passing technical testing, the apps are submitted for content review, which is conducted by independent, licensed experts. To maintain objectivity, Happtique requires reviewers to disclose potential conflicts and will reassign apps as necessary.  

"When providers and patients see the Happtique certification seal, they know that they can trust the app," Ackerman concluded. "We believe this type of certification is a critical first step in establishing provider and patient confidence necessary to advance the adoption of mHealth in routine clinical treatment and chronic care management."

Information about Happtique's Health App Certification Program, including the complete registry of the inaugural class of apps and submission processes and pricing, is available at www.happtique.com.  A full list of Happtique's inaugural class of certified apps is attached.

ABOUT HAPPTIQUE
Happtique is a virtual marketplace and distribution platform that enables the discovery, display, and delivery of health apps and digital content. Happtique's mission is to help providers and patients integrate mobile health technology into routine clinical care and daily health management. In 2013, Happtique created the Health App Certification Program (HACP), which assesses the operability, privacy, security and content of medical, health and fitness apps. Happtique was founded by GNYHA Ventures, a wholly owned, for-profit subsidiary of the Greater New York Hospital Association.

SOURCE Happtique