Deloitte has integrated its ConvergeHEALTH Patient Connect tool, a patient engagement platform, with Apple HealthKit, CareKit and ResearchKit.
Deloitte’s life sciences clients use Patient Connect to support their patients with diseases like diabetes and cancer.
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Via email, Brett Davis, ConvergeHEALTH general manager and principal at Deloitte, discussed the industry’s shift to patient-centered care. The movement traditionally wasn’t possible from a data perspective, as consumers weren’t given power over their own data. But that’s changing because of the work of Apple and other vendors, he noted.
“As part of the Apple enterprise alliance we announced in 2016, we created a first-of-its-kind Apple practice to focus on transforming industries,” Davis said.
Initially announced in the fall of 2016, the practice includes a group of app developers who focus on healthcare-specific apps.
“We quickly recognized that combining the innovation Apple is driving into healthcare with its healthcare products with Patient Connect would create a powerful combination to support patients more effectively and really start to personalize care in ways that were not previously possible,” Davis added.
He noted that the HealthKit, CareKit and ResearchKit integrations with Patient Connect are currently ready. Additionally, Deloitte has iOS health apps built or being built and connected back to the engagement platform.
Combining the capabilities of Patient Connect and Apple’s resources can help patients better adhere to their medication regimen, collect their data at home and engage with the healthcare system.
From the clinical perspective, the integrated tools can improve care coordination and bring to light the pharmaceutical research value of the digital health data. Additionally, the connected capabilities can help hospitals and insurers manage outcomes in high-risk patient populations.
On top of the Apple integrations, Deloitte has decided to expand its aforementioned Apple practice.
“[W]e saw a big need to make sure we had a scale practice to build new iOS health apps to connect back to Patient Connect to most effectively have the highest impact for patients and their families,” Davis said. “We are building our practice to not just be ready for the age of ‘digital therapeutics,’ but to actively make that day a reality sooner.”
Apple’s most recent work in the healthcare arena has been making headlines lately. Earlier this month, the tech giant released an API that will give developers access to information from the company’s Health Records app. In another (perhaps more unexpected) move, Apple launched a website this winter indicating its interest in medical clinics for its employees.
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