The federal government has developed several mHealth offerings. A USA.gov page lists 85 federal government mobile apps and mobile websites. 21 of them, or 25%, are healthcare related. Of these, 14 are apps, 6 are mobile websites and one is offered as both an app and a mobile website.
Users with mobile devices made by Apple, iPhones and iPads, have the most app choices. Of the 15 healthcare apps on the USA.gov list:
- 10 are available for the iPhone only
- 3 are available for Android only
- 1 is available on both iPhone and Android
- 1 is available on Android and BlackBerry
The apps offer a range of features from lists of healthcare resources to how-to guidance on medical emergency response techniques. The S.O.S. app enables users to “Quickly and confidently respond to common emergency situations” by providing “step-by-step video instructions.” Quit Guide helps users kick the smoking habit. Tactical Breather helps users manage their responses to stress.
My Food-a-Pedia helps users count calories and make healthier food choices while My Dietary Supplements helps users track their intake of vitamins and minerals. T2 Mood Tracker enables users to periodically record their moods and then graph trends to identify any correlations with healthcare activities.
The apps listed on USA.gov, all free of charge, are provided by the following agencies:
|
Agency |
Apps Offered |
Mobile Websites Offered |
|
HHS |
7 |
3 |
|
National Center for Telehealth and Technology |
4 |
|
|
VA |
1 |
2 |
|
EPA |
1 |
1 |
|
DOL/OSHA |
1 |
|
|
USDA |
1 |
|
|
American Red Cross |
1 |
The numbers show that HHS is leading the way in federal healthcare apps. 5 of the HHS apps are provided by components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) including the National Library of Medicine; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the Office of Dietary Supplements; and the National Cancer Institute.
NIH.gov lists another 4 apps not yet included on the USA.gov list. And the number of NIH apps may continue to grow. The pending award of CIO-SP3, NIH’s government-wide acquisition contract for health IT services, could provide a vehicle for developing new mHealth offerings.