iPhone users can send data directly to their doctor
Apple users in America can now share information directly with their doctor from their Health app thanks to an iOS15 update
Currently, patients can upload the file which can then be manually added by someone at the surgery or clinic, however this new update will mean they don’t even have to do this, as they can just choose to share at the push of a button.
Libo Wang, a cardiology fellow at the University of Utah School of Medicine told The Verge that it will make it easier for patients to share information with their doctors.
“The current workflow is mildly laborious, and requires the patient to email the pdf, and a clinician manually uploading that file to create a permanent record in the official electronic medical record,” he said.
Apple has allowed people to add records from some clinics and hospitals to their Health app since 2018, but this new integration will work with six electronic medical records companies in the United States and the company is planning to add more.
What do Apple business customers think?
Cerner, one of the electronic health record companies participating in the initial rollout, was able to test the new Apple feature at its onsite clinic for employees. Sam Lambson, Vice President of Interoperability at the company, told The Verge: “Having secure ways to view and share this information in a clinical context has been helpful.
“I think the key to it is certainly empowering and making the patient feel at the centre and secure, and making it easy for them to share. But also, it’s really presenting the data in a way that’s actionable and relevant to the clinician.”
Meanwhile, the International Air Transport Association launched its digital Travel Pass on the Apple platform in April making it easier for international travel to resume.