Linked below is a concise but strong post that addresses key issues HealthIT entrepreneurs face when trying to validate their innovation.

Because many health apps incorporate HIPAA protected data, it makes even basic studies tedious. The incredibly slow pace of IRB committees further complicates this. Finally, the specter of the FDA studies scares even the most passionate founders away.

Ultimately, until there is some type of reform or alternate pathway for more technology oriented healthcare innovation, we will continue to see major companies avoiding the healthcare space. We saw this recently with the Google co-founders mentioning that they are not interested in healthcare, and disappointingly, yesterday as we saw Apple, after much hype, shy away from any significant healthcare foray with its watch reveal. Until then, we have to keep fighting the good/painful fight knowing that despite these hurdles, affecting patient health is worth it.

Why you are having trouble testing your health app