Health IT, Hospitals

Apple Watch healthcare app launches accelerate

It may just be the full throttle of the HIMSS news cycle, but everybody and […]

It may just be the full throttle of the HIMSS news cycle, but everybody and their brother seems to be announcing a healthcare app for Apple Watch this month with more on the way. The launches come as pre-orders for Apple Watch hit 957,000, according to data from Slice Intelligence.

There’s been a fair amount of excitement around Apple Watch, particularly by companies keen to extend their apps to the latest device on the iOS network. Alerts and communication are the dominant trends. Developers may anticipate a higher sense of urgency responding to something around the wrist than fishing around a bag, but it’s also a little more discreet than a smartphone. The apps target a mix of clinical and patient focused users and spring from a mix of health IT vendors, startups and insurers.

Doximity, Cerner and Pacer Health are among some of the companies that have already announced plans to roll out apps for Apple Watch.

We’ve compiled a short list of these apps, what they are designed to do and their target audience. We’ll be updating it, so it’s worth checking in to see what we’ve added.

Access health records

CareEvolution collaborated with Anthem on an app to give consumers access to a collaborative family care record. It also providing an app for Trinity Health system patients, and their caregivers. The health system runs hospitals and continuing care facilities across 21 states. Each of the apps give providers and consumers access to their medical history. It also works with Apple HealthKit, to help care managers access consumer health, fitness and diet information.

DrChrono developed a physician-facing tool to let physicians view their schedule, show them conversation threads and messages generated from its EHR app.

Communication

Vocera’s app will help users to view and respond to prioritized calls, alerts, and messages from other care team members. It will also help them respond to alerts from electronic medical records, clinical systems such as critical lab
values and STAT orders. Users will also be able to set their availability so that messages are sent to the most appropriate person. It also allows users to trigger emergency notifications.

Medication management

Medisafe is rolling out an app that will help users respond to updates and prompts faster and acknowledge whether they’ve taken their medication. It also helps users view medication dosages and scheduled reminders.

WebMD’s app claims to be a shift from its smartphone medication management app and shows when users need to take their next scheduled dose. It also transmits an alert when their next dosage is scheduled within two hours or less.

Telemedicine

HealthTap is rolling out an app that provides consumers with high-definition video conferencing at a cost of $2.99 per minute. It seems a little pricey, but then most people probably wouldn’t be interested in sustaining a long conversation from their watch face. Another app grants access to doctors’ answers, tips, and reminders, in response to questions. It’s also developed an app for doctors in its network so they can receive notifications, rate and review medications, and communicate with their peers.

 

 

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