Review Editorial For reprint orders, please contact: [email protected]
An apple a day: changing medicine through technology and engagement
“…the Health Kit, Research Kit and the Apple Watch are giant leaps forward and are just the beginning of a new age of virtual healthcare.”
Kevin R Campbell* The practice of medicine and healthcare in general has become an electronic and increasingly mobile interaction. Patients are better informed, more engaged, more connected and have a much greater virtual presence. In fact, according to Pew Research data [1] , the fastest growing demographic on Twitter are those who are in the 45–65-year-old age bracket. Nearly 50% of all seniors engage online on a daily basis through at least one social media platform and many of these interactions and online engagements occur via mobile devices. Almost 75% of all adults go online within hours of attending a visit with their physician in order to gather more information about their particular medical problem. For healthcare providers – and for patients – the internet and mobile technology presents us all with wonderful opportunities to interact, engage, support and ultimately improve outcomes. Healthcare reform in the USA has certainly altered the way in which medicine in practiced in America. With the increased demands of the Affordable Care Act and other government documentation requirements, time spent with patients for education and engagement has become even more limited. Patients are reaching out to
the Internet to garner information about their particular medical condition and bringing much of it to the office encounter. Physicians must also use cyberspace as an educational tool in order to make up for lost opportunities during the doctor–patient encounter. As our patients move more confidently into cyberspace and seek information, we as healthcare providers must also have a presence. New connected devices and medical applications for mobile devices are on growing exponentially. The world responded favorably to the latest release of the iPhone 6 and the iOS 8 operating system released by Apple in 2014. The new device has many interesting features but one in particular caught my eye early on. Apple has created a standard package for all iOS 8 devices that is called the Health Kit [2] . This particular application allows a user to track calories, steps taken (similar to a pedometer), flights of stairs climbed and other customizable health-related data points. These data can be organized into graphs and charts that allow users to track progress and adjust activity levels to achieve particular goals. More impressively, the device will allow other health-related applications to organize
Keywords
• apple • electronic patient • health kit • research kit • social media • Twitter
“As our patients move more confidently into cyberspace and seek information, we as healthcare providers must also have a presence.”
*Division of Cardiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27705, USA; [email protected]
10.2217/FCA.15.27 © 2015 Future Medicine Ltd
Future Cardiol. (2015) 11(3), 259–260
part of
ISSN
259
Editorial Campbell
“These technologies have the potential to allow clinicians to better assess patients between office visits and provide more directed and timely changes in therapy.”
data in the Health Kit as well. One of the biggest problems with medial applications in the past is that there has never been an easy place to organize, store, collect and view all of the data together. Moreover, this data is not easily shared with healthcare providers. The Health Kit and Apple may revolutionize this entire process of data collection, retrieval and sharing – Apple has partnered with a major electronic medical record service known as EPIC [3] . Work is underway to allow the Health Kit data and applications to easily interact with the EPIC medical record. This would allow for easy downloads of health data during a face-to-face encounter with healthcare providers. Currently, most major hospitals and healthcare systems are moving to the EPIC platform. The data collected and downloaded at one location would subsequently be available to all providers in the system – portability of data allows for better care and less duplication of effort. In addition, in early 2015 Apple announced another innovative application that has the potential to forever change the way in which we conduct clinical research. Dubbed the Research Kit [4] , Apple has partnered with several leading academic institutions to produce a platform to conduct clinical trials via a secure data collection system integrated into the latest iPhone update. Engagement through health applications: bridging the doctor–patient gap I can think of no better way to improve engagement than through the use of real time health applications – these allow patients to receive real time feedback – both good and bad – and respond quickly in order to improve their overall health status. I think that this type of technology will only continue to grow. Apple plans to release the Apple Watch in 2015. I expect that this will also be integrated with Health Kit and allow for
References 1
260
Pew research center, social networking fact sheet. www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheets/social
the measurement of respiratory rate, heart rate, body temperature and other biologic measurements. As these tools continue to develop and applications grow, healthcare providers as well as patients must be receptive to their use. These technologies have the potential to allow clinicians to better assess patients between office visits and provide more directed and timely changes in therapy. Ultimately I believe these technologies will transform healthcare. As we continue to struggle with healthcare cost containment in the era of healthcare reform, the ability to shift care and routine interaction to mobile platforms may very well prove to be a critical piece of the puzzle. This is an exciting time in medicine as well as in healthcare technology. Moving forward, I look to a day where biologic sensors collect data, relay data to mobile devices and then transmit information seamlessly to healthcare systems. The healthcare providers are alerted to any abnormalities and electronic responses are generated – those patients requiring timely in person visits can be identified and scheduled, while those that can be handled virtually can be managed quickly and effectively as well. Ultimately, our goal is to better manage disease and improve outcomes. I think that technologies such as the Health Kit, Research Kit and the Apple Watch are giant leaps forward and are just the beginning of a new age of virtual healthcare. Financial & competing interests disclosure The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.
2
Apple health kit information page. www.apple.com/ios/whats-new/health/
3
EPIC microsystems electronic medical record. www.epic.com/
Future Cardiol. (2015) 11(3)
4
Apple research kit information page. www.apple.com
future science group
An apple a day: changing medicine through technology and engagement
“…the Health Kit, Research Kit and the Apple Watch are giant leaps forward and are just the beginning of a new age of virtual healthcare.”
Kevin R Campbell* The practice of medicine and healthcare in general has become an electronic and increasingly mobile interaction. Patients are better informed, more engaged, more connected and have a much greater virtual presence. In fact, according to Pew Research data [1] , the fastest growing demographic on Twitter are those who are in the 45–65-year-old age bracket. Nearly 50% of all seniors engage online on a daily basis through at least one social media platform and many of these interactions and online engagements occur via mobile devices. Almost 75% of all adults go online within hours of attending a visit with their physician in order to gather more information about their particular medical problem. For healthcare providers – and for patients – the internet and mobile technology presents us all with wonderful opportunities to interact, engage, support and ultimately improve outcomes. Healthcare reform in the USA has certainly altered the way in which medicine in practiced in America. With the increased demands of the Affordable Care Act and other government documentation requirements, time spent with patients for education and engagement has become even more limited. Patients are reaching out to
the Internet to garner information about their particular medical condition and bringing much of it to the office encounter. Physicians must also use cyberspace as an educational tool in order to make up for lost opportunities during the doctor–patient encounter. As our patients move more confidently into cyberspace and seek information, we as healthcare providers must also have a presence. New connected devices and medical applications for mobile devices are on growing exponentially. The world responded favorably to the latest release of the iPhone 6 and the iOS 8 operating system released by Apple in 2014. The new device has many interesting features but one in particular caught my eye early on. Apple has created a standard package for all iOS 8 devices that is called the Health Kit [2] . This particular application allows a user to track calories, steps taken (similar to a pedometer), flights of stairs climbed and other customizable health-related data points. These data can be organized into graphs and charts that allow users to track progress and adjust activity levels to achieve particular goals. More impressively, the device will allow other health-related applications to organize
Keywords
• apple • electronic patient • health kit • research kit • social media • Twitter
“As our patients move more confidently into cyberspace and seek information, we as healthcare providers must also have a presence.”
*Division of Cardiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27705, USA; [email protected]
10.2217/FCA.15.27 © 2015 Future Medicine Ltd
Future Cardiol. (2015) 11(3), 259–260
part of
ISSN
259
Editorial Campbell
“These technologies have the potential to allow clinicians to better assess patients between office visits and provide more directed and timely changes in therapy.”
data in the Health Kit as well. One of the biggest problems with medial applications in the past is that there has never been an easy place to organize, store, collect and view all of the data together. Moreover, this data is not easily shared with healthcare providers. The Health Kit and Apple may revolutionize this entire process of data collection, retrieval and sharing – Apple has partnered with a major electronic medical record service known as EPIC [3] . Work is underway to allow the Health Kit data and applications to easily interact with the EPIC medical record. This would allow for easy downloads of health data during a face-to-face encounter with healthcare providers. Currently, most major hospitals and healthcare systems are moving to the EPIC platform. The data collected and downloaded at one location would subsequently be available to all providers in the system – portability of data allows for better care and less duplication of effort. In addition, in early 2015 Apple announced another innovative application that has the potential to forever change the way in which we conduct clinical research. Dubbed the Research Kit [4] , Apple has partnered with several leading academic institutions to produce a platform to conduct clinical trials via a secure data collection system integrated into the latest iPhone update. Engagement through health applications: bridging the doctor–patient gap I can think of no better way to improve engagement than through the use of real time health applications – these allow patients to receive real time feedback – both good and bad – and respond quickly in order to improve their overall health status. I think that this type of technology will only continue to grow. Apple plans to release the Apple Watch in 2015. I expect that this will also be integrated with Health Kit and allow for
References 1
260
Pew research center, social networking fact sheet. www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheets/social
the measurement of respiratory rate, heart rate, body temperature and other biologic measurements. As these tools continue to develop and applications grow, healthcare providers as well as patients must be receptive to their use. These technologies have the potential to allow clinicians to better assess patients between office visits and provide more directed and timely changes in therapy. Ultimately I believe these technologies will transform healthcare. As we continue to struggle with healthcare cost containment in the era of healthcare reform, the ability to shift care and routine interaction to mobile platforms may very well prove to be a critical piece of the puzzle. This is an exciting time in medicine as well as in healthcare technology. Moving forward, I look to a day where biologic sensors collect data, relay data to mobile devices and then transmit information seamlessly to healthcare systems. The healthcare providers are alerted to any abnormalities and electronic responses are generated – those patients requiring timely in person visits can be identified and scheduled, while those that can be handled virtually can be managed quickly and effectively as well. Ultimately, our goal is to better manage disease and improve outcomes. I think that technologies such as the Health Kit, Research Kit and the Apple Watch are giant leaps forward and are just the beginning of a new age of virtual healthcare. Financial & competing interests disclosure The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.
2
Apple health kit information page. www.apple.com/ios/whats-new/health/
3
EPIC microsystems electronic medical record. www.epic.com/
Future Cardiol. (2015) 11(3)
4
Apple research kit information page. www.apple.com
future science group
