Apps in de zorg: wat moet ik weten?

During the current coronacrisis, there is an increasing call for the use of corona-apps. Meanwhile, discussions are increasing about the safety and privacy of our patients, and whether these can be guaranteed when using e-health apps. Though this topic has been relevant for a while, the global corona discussion gives it the attention it should always receive.

Healthcare professionals are often unaware of specific rules and regulations regarding the development and use of e-health applications. When does a mobile app qualify as a medical device? What requirements need to be fulfilled before an app can safely be used in patient care?

This article provides an overview of important steps in the development of e-health apps. The article describes where to start and which rules and regulations to follow. The provided descriptions are not only important in the development and implementation of corona-apps, but in the use of all e-health apps.

Conflict of interest and financial support: potential conflicts of interest have been reported for this article. ICMJE forms provided by the authors are available online along with the full text of this article.