Motivating Developers to Use Interoperable Standards for Data in Pandemic Health Apps

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Informatics
• Public Health Technology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic spurred significant growth in health application development.
• A critical challenge identified is the lack of data interoperability among these applications.
• This hinders effective data aggregation and utilization during public health emergencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the interoperability gap in pandemic health applications.
• To introduce the COMPASS project's framework for developing standardized health apps.
• To encourage the adoption of open-source technology and best practices in pandemic app design.

Main Methods:

• Development of a framework by the COMPASS project.
• Inclusion of automated conformity checks within the framework.
• Provision of reference implementations for efficient app development.
• Creation of best practice catalogues and design suggestions.

Main Results:

• A framework designed to ensure interoperability in pandemic health applications.
• Automated conformity checks facilitate adherence to standards.
• Reference implementations streamline the development process.
• Open-source technology and guidance support developers.

Conclusions:

• The COMPASS framework promotes efficient and standardized development of pandemic health applications.
• Adherence to interoperable data standards is crucial for effective public health response.
• The project aims to foster a collaborative ecosystem for pandemic-ready digital health solutions.