PS3-52: Heart Health in Your Pocket: Lessons Learned from the Development of a Smartphone App

Abstract

Background/Aims As part of the Million Hearts national initiative to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), there are increasing calls to leverage health information technology. The Marshfield Clinic developed a Heart Health Mobile application (app) that is designed to improve awareness of CVD risk and promote risk factor control among regional smartphone users. It deploys an engaging user interface that provides a brief CVD risk assessment that takes into account self-reported behavioral, familial, and biometric risk factors, including blood pressure and lipids. Users are then directed to nearby community pharmacies, clinics, and other locations where more advanced CVD risk factor screenings can be obtained. Along with social media connections and measurement prompts, basic education materials are provided on key CVD prevention topics such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, weight management, and tobacco cessation. Methods A multidisciplinary team of 24 members was created to develop the app over a 30-day timeframe. This team included a broad cross-section of clinical professionals from medicine, epidemiology, health IT, usability and graphic designers, business analytics, and marketing. An Agile programming method was used to promote adaptive planning and evolutionary development in self-organizing, cross-functional teams. Results The iOS app was successfully developed, tested, and launched within the 30-day timeframe. It was submitted competitively as part of the Million Hearts Risk Check Challenge, a CVD prevention app contest sponsored by Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. The final product is shown in detail at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfESTQipjtw. The app was developed in six different languages, and epidemiologic data on downloads, unique users, geo-segmentation, risk factor profile, and customer loyalty, among other data points, are actively collected. Conclusions Health-related consumer smartphone apps can be developed rapidly and brought to scale as part of healthcare delivery systems' business and clinical strategies. They provide users with important information, education, and directions on CVD prevention and have wide-ranging potential across numerous health conditions. From an HMORN perspective, such apps also provide real-time data collection methods that can be used to identify health trends at a lower cost (and comparable quality) relative to traditional population research methods.