Mobile health and wellness application framework.
OBJECTIVE
There is an increasing need for user-friendly and interoperable mobile applications in health and wellness domain. The objective of this work has been to provide support for rapid and cost-effective development of such applications.


METHODS
We have introduced an application framework which provides a generic tool for mobile application designers. We have demonstrated the usage of the application framework by providing an example implementation and demonstrating its usage in a Tele-ECG use case. In order to support interoperability we propose a solution compatible with clinical document standards such as the HL7 CDA.


RESULTS
A new mobile platform applicable for a wide range of telemedicine and wellness applications is introduced. The platform provides connectivity between healthcare professionals, patients and measurement devices. It is based on an open application framework that provides interfaces for measurement, user interface, database and network connectivity implementations.


CONCLUSIONS
Mobile application development based on the application framework was demonstrated successfully. The developed UPHIAC platform adopts a new technical approach using a local database solution for caching of information at the mobile terminal. The platform applies a document-based approach providing a versatile and reliable way of sharing and collaboratively complementing of health information including standard information model documents (HL7/CDA), and integration with health information systems and personal storages. The implemented mobile tele-ECG case demonstrates the overall function of the platform. The platform can be used as a basis for developing new applications for specific purposes.
Laakko
T
T
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Vuorimiehentie 3, Espoo, P.O. Box 1000, 02044 VTT, Finland. timo.laakko@vtt.fi
Leppänen
J
J
Lähteenmäki
J
J
Nummiaho
A
A
D034201:Computers, Handheld; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005387:Finland; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D012984:Software; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014584:User-Computer Interface