Health trials using Apple's HealthKit about to start at two US hospitals
Apple's HealthKit is one of the most exciting aspects of iOS 8, but when it launches, the app's focus will be mainly on fitness rather than longterm health. HealthKit still has a long way to go before its full potential is realized, but work is already underway. Reuters is reporting that Stanford University Hospital and Duke University are starting trials that use the service to help treat patients.
Stanford is developing a way to let doctors use the app to track blood sugar changes in diabetic children, while Duke's program aims to develop a way to track blood pressure, weight, and other metrics for heart disease and cancer patients. Apple has been clear since announcing HealthKit that its goal is for the service to serve as a medical aid for doctors, but this is the first time that details of medical trials involving the app have been released.
Reuters was able to speak Stanford's CIO to get a better understanding of what the trials will be like:
Stanford Children's Chief Medical Information Officer Christopher Longhurst told Reuters that Stanford and Duke were among the furthest along.
Longhurst said that in the first Stanford trial, young patients with Type 1 diabetes will be sent home with an iPod touch to monitor blood sugar levels between doctor's visits.
HealthKit makes a critical link between measuring devices, including those used at home by patients, and medical information services relied on by doctors, such as Epic Systems Corp, a partner already announced by Apple.
You can read Reuters' complete report here, including an examination of the privacy issues that may arise from use of the app. We'll keep you updated when more information from the trials becomes available.
