Apple's latest health bets

Hey Health Techies!

Last week I made a short form video about the new Apple announcements that impact the world of healthcare. But 90 seconds isn’t long enough to really get into the details, so in this newsletter I’ll take a deeper dive into how Apple is improving lives and making medical devices more accessible.

🍎 Wait, so Apple does more in the health space besides steps and heart rate tracking?

• Yes! Apple’s Health app was introduced in 2014, and they’ve been building upon it ever since.

• In 2018, Apple introduced Health Records which offered the ability to import medical records.

• In addition, their HealthKit API (application programming interface) allows for the developing and manufacturing of products by other companies that can still interact with Apple Health features.

• Sure, it started as a way to track biometrics and store data pulled in from fitness trackers and smart scales, but it has turned into a much larger project where data storage/sharing and innovation take center stage.

🦻🏻 What’s the point of this new hearing aid capability? And how does it work?

• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 1.5 billion people globally experience some degree of hearing loss (nearly 20% of the global population).

• Apple is clearly addressing a sizeable portion of the market here, and bringing meaningful innovation to the space which should also drive competition in the market. It makes sense the phone already boasts other features that support those who are hard of hearing such as live captions.

• The Air Pods Pro 2 allow you to check your hearing with a simple 5 minute test, then create personalized settings to maximize your experience.

😴 They’re also innovating in the sleep apnea space

• The Apple Watch will soon be able to detect breathing disurbances associated with sleep apnea for wearers. Data will be tracked daily and notifications sent to wearers whose numbers remain elevated over a 30 day period.

• According to Apple it is intended to detect signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea in those without a diagnosis.

• The feature works by tracking body movements associated with sleep disturbances and interrupted breathing patterns.

• A detailed report of how it works and how it was validated can be read here.

❓ Why is this important?

• As we all know, taking care of one’s health is hard enough. Integrating our healthcare into our already established daily routines and habits is a clever and effective way to get people to interact with aspects of their health that they may never even have thought of.

• In addition, building these products into things that many are using everyday reduces the stigma attached with wearing assistive devices.

• It also improves accessibility. Yes, Air Pods are expensive. But at $249, they are much cheaper than the average hearing aid.

• And think about the massive barrier that exists for many to get sleep symptoms checked. Apple does a fantastic job not only educating about the symptoms themselves but also what simple next steps to take.

It’s become increasingly important that clinicians continue to stay in the know about these innovations so that they can continue to have informed conversations with patients. That’s become increasingly hard as innovation continues to move forward and healthcare tends to adapt slowly. You can find out more about these new product offerings and more on the Apple Health site.

I think we’ll see a lot more in this consumer health technology space — of course from other companies as well but don’t think that Apple is done anytime soon. In 2019, Apple CEO Tim Cook told CNBC in an interview “If you zoom out into the future, and you look back, and you ask the question, ‘What was Apple’s greatest contribution to mankind?’ It will be about health.” I think they’re just getting started.

What space are you excited to see some innovation in?

📰 Weekly Wrap-up

• New study reveals patient and clinician sentiments around technology 

• Fierce Healthcare’s recent fundraising roundup highlights several interesting startups

👀 Don’t miss these open roles

• Registered Dietitian - Foodmsart

• Health Operations Enablement Manager - Best Buy Health

• Clinical Programs Manager, Inpatient - Cohere Health

• and more!

Until next time,

Lauren