BOSTON – Deloitte has integrated its ConvergeHEALTH Patient Connect suite of products with Apple HealthKit, CareKit and ResearchKit frameworks, enabling patients to improve adherence to treatment plans while supporting connectivity to clinical research. ConvergeHEALTH is a group of products designed to enable life sciences clients to respond to the shift to value-based, personalized medicine, said Mike Brinker, global Deloitte Digital leader and principal, Deloitte Consulting, in a statement. Deloitte is also expanding its Apple practice, a team of health care app developers in the Deloitte Digital studios. “This dedicated team of engineers will specialize in developing health care-specific digital apps to transform the patient experience,” Brinker said. “There is a convergence happening across the health care ecosystem and Apple devices help put the patient at the center in full control of their health information.” By integrating ConvergeHEALTH Patient Connect with Apple’s health frameworks, care coordinators can better manage their patient population by proactively engaging with their patients using their Apple devices, he said. “Patients’ expectations for more personalized services are one of the driving forces behind health care’s overall transformation toward more patient-centric care models,” said Chris Zant, life sciences and global digital and patient engagement leader and principal, Deloitte Consulting, in a statement.
Apple offers Health Records API to developers
CUPERTINO, Calif. –Apple has delivered a Health Records API for developers and researchers to create an ecosystem of apps that use health record data to better manage medications, nutrition plans, diagnosed diseases and more.
The Health Records feature allows patients of more than 500 hospitals and clinics to access medical information from various institutions organized into one view on their iPhone. For the first time, consumers will be able to share medical records from multiple hospitals with their favorite trusted apps, helping them improve their overall health.
“Medical information may be the most important personal information to a consumer, and offering access to Health Records was the first step in empowering them,” said Jeff Williams, COO of Apple, in a statement. “Now, with the potential of Health Records information paired with HealthKit data, patients are on the path to receiving a holistic view of their health. With the Health Records API open to our incredible community of developers and researchers, consumers can personalize their health needs with the apps they use every day.”
Health Records data is encrypted on iPhone and protected with the consumer’s iPhone passcode. When consumers choose to share their health record data with trusted apps, the data flows directly from HealthKit to the third-party app and is not sent to Apple’s servers.
Developers building health apps can individualize experiences, with the user’s permission, based on the user’s unique health history across key categories, including: medication tracking; disease management; nutrition planning; and medical research.
With the new Health Records API, doctors can integrate patient medical data into their ResearchKit study apps for a more complete view of their participants’ health background. Traditionally, researchers used arduous survey questionnaires to determine pre-existing conditions, which puts the burden on the patient to remember the details. Now, with the participants’ approval, researchers can access that patient-specific information to ensure more comprehensive research.
Apple opens access to patient medical records
CUPERTINO, Calif. – Apple has introduced an update to its Health app that allows users to see their own medical records on their iPhone.
“Our goal is to help consumers live a better day,” said Jeff Williams, COO at Apple, in a statement. “We’ve worked closely with the health community to create an experience everyone has wanted for years—to view medical records easily and securely right on your iPhone.”
Apple is beta testing the feature with 12 health systems, including: Johns Hopkins Medicine; Cedars-Sinai; Penn Medicine; Geisinger Health System; UC San Diego Health; UNC Health Care; Rush University Medical Center; Dignity Health; Ochsner Health System; MedStar Health; OhioHealth; and Cerner Healthe Clinic.
In the past, patients’ medical records were held in multiple locations, requiring patients to log into each care provider’s website and piece together the information manually. Apple worked with the health care community to take a consumer-friendly approach, creating the Health Records section based on Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources, a standard for transferring electronic medical records.
Now, consumers will have medical information from various institutions organized into one view covering allergies, conditions, immunizations, lab results, medications, procedures and vitals, and will receive notifications when their data is updated. Health Records data is encrypted and protected with the user’s iPhone passcode.
“By empowering customers to see their overall health, we hope to help consumers better understand their health and help them lead healthier lives” said Williams.
Aetna offers Apple products to members to improve health experience
HARTFORD, Conn. – Aetna has announced a new program for members using Apple products.
The insurer will make Apple Watch available to select large employers and individual customers during open enrollment season, and will subsidize a significant portion of the device cost, offering monthly payroll deductions. Aetna will also provide the Apple Watch at no cost to its own employees, who will participate in the company’s wellness reimbursement program.
“We are incredibly excited to use iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch to create simple, intuitive and personalized technology solutions that will transform the health and wellness experience for our members,” said Aetna Chairman and CEO Mark Bertolini in a press release.
With support from Apple, Aetna is planning several iOS-exclusive health initiatives, starting with integrated health apps for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch that will improve the ability of consumers to manage their health and increase healthy outcomes. The apps will include: care management and wellness to help guide consumers through health events like a new diagnosis or prescription medication with user-driven support from nurses and people with similar conditions; medication adherence to help consumers remember to take their medications, order refills, and connect with their doctor through their Apple Watch or iPhone; personalized health plan on-boarding, information, messaging and decision support; and integration with Apple Wallet, allowing consumers to check their deductible and pay a bill.
“Aetna’s new initiatives will be a powerful force toward creating better customer experiences in health care,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook.
The program will be available early next year.
