There have been a slew of surveys showing Apple’s iPad and iPhone dominance among physicians and other medical staff. So it’s not so surprising that a Reuter’s report has found that hospitals doing remote monitoring pilots are favoring Apple’s platforms over competitors Samsung and Google.
The news service contacted 23 hospitals and found 14 that said they have rolled out a pilot program of Apple’s HealthKit service or are in talks to do one. The pilots are designed to help physicians monitor patients with such chronic conditions as diabetes and hypertension, the report said.
It’s not surprising that Apple is way out in front since it certainly was earlier than its rivals to go after the healthcare market. Physicians have adopted iPhones and iPads in greater numbers than rival products, Manhattan Research and Black Book have indicated.The number of healthcare startups and more established companies developing apps on the iOS network is considerable and it also has an impressive number of collaborators across healthcare. Among HealthKit’s higher profile partners are Mayo Clinic and Epic Sytems.
When Investment Rhymes with Canada
Canada has a proud history of achievement in the areas of science and technology, and the field of biomanufacturing and life sciences is no exception.
But although a pilot is a great achievement and essential for any company interested in getting a foot in the door of a hospital, not to mention influencing other hospitals to evaluate a product, a show of strong interest is far cry from becoming a fully fledged customer. Given the clinical evidence hospitals need to take as much risk out of these tools as possible. But these pilots are a critical milestone and worth noting as a barometer of the direction in which digital health is moving.
