Health IT, Hospitals

New Jersey hospital launches storefront modeled on Apple Genius Bar

A hospital in New Jersey is opening a storefront in its lobby, modeled on the […]

A hospital in New Jersey is opening a storefront in its lobby, modeled on the Apple Genius Bar, in an effort to help patients better utilize health apps and other emerging digital health technologies to manage their personal care.

Morristown Medical Center, part of Atlantic Health System, has dubbed the storefront “HealtheConnect.” It will be staffed by full-time experts who will assist patients with questions on smart phones, tablets and laptops.

The hospital is looking to tap into the seemingly vast potential of consumer-driven mobile health products, citing a Pew Research report that said one in five smart phone owners has a health-related app, while another 500 million people will be using such apps within a year.

The storefront also comes amid a significant shift to make healthcare more retail-oriented, bringing an array of services by way of technology to patients and customers, and by combining the two, Morristown Medical could well be among the first hospitals to jump into the technology retail side.

The effort will also train patients to use and comprehend data from a variety of mobile health devices, including blood pressure monitors, fitness trackers, wireless BMI scales and a bevy of smart phone apps.

In addition to the on-site staff, the service area will be equipped with charging stations and sell other digital accessories, including ear buds and charger cords. In the coming months, HealtheConnect will host monthly seminars to educate the community and physicians about health and wellness technology.

“As the health care field continues to adopt technologies to promote health and well-being, we’re happy to provide this resource to help community members further integrate new applications and technologies to improve their own health management.” said David Shulkin, MD, president of Morristown Medical Center, in a statement.

The launch of HealtheConnect follows other technological initiatives at Morristown Medical, a “Most Wired” hospital for five years running.

Earlier this year, the health system launched Be Well, its first version of four smart phone and tablet apps that allow for quick access to any relevant hospital information and resources, including emergency room wait times. It also deployed PatientSecure, a biometric patient identification solution that ensures the correct health record is used for every patient, every time.

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