Undoubtedly, Apple has left its mark on the world. More than 2.2 billion iPhones have been sold to date, upending the entire smartphone market. The company not only created a world-class hardware and software product, but also introduced a cultural paradigm regarding mobile phones. Indeed, with the advent of the iPhone, society began to view the mobile phone as a part of the human body – to the point of experiencing a sense of disorientation and loss without the presence of a phone at all times.
The company has since expanded beyond the original iPhone and created an entire ecosystem of apps and software. In particular, Apple has made tremendous strides in the field of health care, especially with regard to its hardware.
One of the most popular achievements of the company is that Characteristic of the electrocardiogram (ECG).. The EKG app “records an electrocardiogram that represents the electrical pulses that make your heart beat. The EKG app checks these pulses to get your heart rate and see if the upper and lower chambers of your heart are in rhythm. If they are out of rhythm, it could be AFib [atrial fibrillation].” The ECG is one of the most commonly used tests in emergency departments internationally. The value of this test is incredible, as it can potentially clarify a number of cardiac pathologies. Indeed, this is one of Apple’s most important and influential additions to the healthcare world.
Apple has continued to create a whole ecosystem about health care through its “health app,” which helps “organize your important health information and make it easy to access in one central, secure place.” Specifically, “Health puts important information at your fingertips, including your health data, medications, labs, activity and sleep. And it makes it simple to securely share that information. [Additionally, the app] collects health and fitness data from your iPhone, sensors built into Apple Watch, compatible third-party devices, and apps that use HealthKit. Most importantly, “The Health app is built to keep data safe and protect your privacy. Your data is encrypted and you are always in control of your health information.”
In its latest endeavor, Apple is also said to be developing a tool for continuous glucose monitoring which is non-invasive and does not require a finger prick, unlike traditional systems. Indeed, this is just another hardware advancement in Apple’s health ecosystem.
This ecosystem has created a huge opportunity for Apple to collaborate with providers. Specifically, it paves the way for the company to partner with hospital systems and physician organizations for a variety of services, including home health monitoring and point-of-care programs. Additionally, with this robust product suite, the company is rich in healthcare data. This can be incredibly useful for payers (eg, insurance companies), who are increasingly using patient data to optimize models of patient care and service delivery. Indeed, both potential partnerships will be revolutionary.
Overall, Apple has positioned itself as a market leader and innovator. Undoubtedly, the company will continue to innovate new technologies and create new ways to provide relevant healthcare services. It will certainly need to develop this technology in a way that maintains patient safety, privacy and in a way that is compliant with regulations. However, if done right, Apple has the potential to deliver tremendous value to humanity in the years to come.
