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Apple Aiming to Make iPhone 'One-Stop Shop' for Medical Info

It would be nice for patients to have a list of their medicines and dosages easily readable and accessible, along with their past medical history, allergies, maybe even insurance coverage. I can see Apple trying to get the major medical software developers to interact with iPhones, much the way they have gotten the shopping industry to accept Apple Pay. Certainly not an easy task, but what a difference it could make for patient safety.

The biggest problem with the movement towards computerized health information systems was allowing it to become so fragmented.
 
Stefan johansson said:
For me,the problem is,that when I need it most,I could not use my Apple products for these tasks anyway. No existing Apple device works in the environment where I do my job,at 50-75 fathoms depth in polar sea.
Let's hope Apple develop a diver watch/computer,would be appreciated with health surveillance when I work.
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Dude, there's no way Apple is going to develop a product around an infinitesimally small portion of the planet that is working 450 feet underwater in the Arctic or the Antarctic oceans. Your solution is the Rolex DeepSea which has the helium escape valve.
 
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The security for the data must be extremely high!
I do not want apple, insurance companies or hackers unlimited access into my health records, and certainly not my daily health related routines.

I remember twenty years ago when an insurance company in that country, not only wanted full access to my medical records, but also the right to distribute it to a third part if they saw the need. There was no insurance and I moved to another country.
 
Or maybe with Apple pay you bought too many M&Ms and Apple shares that info with your insurance company for a price... or maybe apple will share your health history and script history... nice thought... now that net neutrality may be going to the wayside we have a lot to look forward to....
 
Slightly unrelated but I believe that health is the big step the Apple watch can make from a toy to a must have device and I reckon this is what they are doing with all of this. If it can accurately (and that is key in order to avoid the inevitable class action lawsuits) measure such things like non-invasive blood tests etc.. then it truly becomes a game changer.

Anecdotally, recently I was hospitalised and during the overnight hourly blood pressure and temperature tests I was getting the nurses noticed my resting heart rate was abnormally low. At 3am I suddenly found myself surrounded by a team of specialists asking me all sorts of questions. I was able to quickly produce months and months worth of Heart Rate data stored on my phone from my Fitbit HR, which they reviewed and whilst the accuracy of the data means it could only ever be considered a guide, were able to draw useful conclusions.

It saved them and me a lot of time and had I needed additional care, would have given them a very good idea of what was needed.
 
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I personally would object to having my entire life's medical records either on my phone or in iCloud, leave it where it is thank you! Apple is only doing this to make money, it only does anything to make money.
 
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Plutonius said:
Not interested at all.

Hopefully, they have a setting to turn this off.
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You are not forced to use their health app now, I don't see it becoming mandatory in a future version of iOS.

I'd like that data to be available on the phone, but with a standard format. The same data should be accessible via a web browser or other devices.
 
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Perhaps I'm being naive, wouldn't this create a two-tier system? "Oh you can afford an iPhone, guess what, we got all your medical history, we'll treat you right way", "Ermm you don't have an iPhone, well lets go through standard channels (but you should really get an iPhone).
 
pdaholic said:
It would be nice for patients to have a list of their medicines and dosages easily readable and accessible, along with their past medical history, allergies, maybe even insurance coverage. I can see Apple trying to get the major medical software developers to interact with iPhones, much the way they have gotten the shopping industry to accept Apple Pay. Certainly not an easy task, but what a difference it could make for patient safety.

The biggest problem with the movement towards computerized health information systems was allowing it to become so fragmented.
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In some countries you get a list of that from your doctor,and it's also available in the national health registers.
 
I don't like the idea one bit. Healthcare services should be universal, easily accessible, and patient-centered. If such is a system closed within Apple's own ecosystem, it is nothing but another business strategy to make themselves more money. What about those who don't own an Apple device?

That's why such system should be implemented by the government but not any private company. Healthcare is not just a personal matter.
 
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Stefan johansson said:
In some countries you get a list of that from your doctor,and it's also available in the national health registers.
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Yeah, not so here in the US. If a patient shows up in the ER, I'll be lucky if they pull out a piece of paper with their meds scribbled on it (and that paper usually hasn't been updated for months after several medication changes). I can rest assured, however, that their iPhone has the latest operating system on it.
 
zz2k9 said:
Coming to the NHS.... NEVER
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Probably easier to deal with the NHS compared to all those private healthcare companies in the US.

NHS boards have control of their own IT though so putting something in place that is applied nationally could be difficult.

If anyone can do it, Apple can!
 
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kingjames1970 said:
It might if they make it compatible with Windows XP ;)
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OK, I get it, you're bashing Microsoft on an Apple fan forum. I worked at a Doctors surgery referring people within the NHS. The reason they are still (yes still) using Windows XP is because they bought MRA equipment, or mammogram equipment, stuff that only works with custom built programs designed to run on Windows XP. A MRA machine is half a million pounds (£); Really? Do you think they'll throw that away to be more compatible with the modern World?.
 
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Orange sellers are only in it to make money! People who plant orange trees, grow oranges, pick them, pack them and sell them are only interested in one thing. Money! Disgusting…

I for one will not be eating oranges (or anything else unless it is non-profit and state-controlled) ever again! They say eating is good for you - but they just want your money!!
 
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Data from the phone/watch is so important for health and diagnosis. Most problems are through lack of exercise and lifestyle so now we have a way to capture this data. NHS should use it to help with diagnosis!
 
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