The American Medical Association, The American Heart Association, HIMSS and the DHX have joined to create Xcertia, collaborative to evaluate and improve the safety and effectiveness of mobile health apps.

The goal of the group is to establish best practices in mHealth app development, officials say. Xcertia aims to create a framework to improve mobile development and will serve as a resource to help consumers and clinicians choose mobile health apps.

"The collaboration builds on each organization's ongoing efforts to foster safe, effective and reputable health technologies, while complementing our mutual commitment to advancing innovation in medicine and improving the health of the nation," Xcertia's founders said in a statement.

"Our combined expertise, along with a diverse membership, will leverage the insights of clinicians, patients and industry experts to help improve patient care and increase access to data," they added.

The collaboration will employ feedback from members to improve clinical content, usability, privacy, security, interoperability and efficacy of data.

Xcertia's governing board will be open to consumers, developers, payers, clinicians, academia, and those with interest in developing guidelines for mHealth apps, officials say. Although Xcertia won't certify apps, it will encourage other groups to apply its guidelines to mHealth app development.

Other organizations across the healthcare industry are invited to join the collaboration.

"Secure, real-time access to accurate electronic health information gives consumers, patients and clinicians the knowledge needed to make informed health-related decisions," said HIMSS Executive Vice President, Carla Smith, said in a statement.

"HIMSS extends its commitment to improving health and healthcare through the best use of IT by championing the creation of guidelines for mobile health apps," she added. "With safe, effective, and reputable mobile health apps, clinicians, caregivers, consumers, and patients can better manage care, and maintain their wellness."

Note: MobiHealthNews is part of HIMSS Media, a subsidiary of HIMSS