The issue with a truly shared electronic medical record is hugely important. Apple is trying to give the user the ability to have their medical issues listed so that they can receive proper care in the case of emergency.
I believe that Apple intends to integrate with devices that record health information. The problem that the author brings up is how to integrate this into the systems that hospitals are currently using to provide patient care based on the app's data. In other words, how can this data be transferred to the healthcare provider?
I believe that no third party solution can be implemented due to the fact that the largest EMR systems don't want to interface with their competition.
Apple has a LOT of customers and might have enough power to move the needle some.
Could this end up like the iPhone in the enterprise? Maybe no healthcare company wants to work with iPhones, but their customers (doctors/hospitals) may push to get integration. There is also plenty of PR/political incentive to at least look like you're trying to improve things and demonstrably working with Apple (even though it's a limited circumstance/benefit compared to true EMRs) may bring positive side-effects.
Let's put it this way: Apple will get customers to use their software, and even if it just ends up aggregating a few FitBit like devices that could be good for the consumer (ease of use).
Apple may be able to leverage that to improve healthcare or at least get some good PR (and push the Cerners of the world) trying.
Apple could not make a difference by just trying to make a new EMR system and enter that market directly.
Apple won't make things worse. Seems to me that worst case with HealthBook is that it ends up like Passbook and is useful to a few people but otherwise ignored.
In the US, at least, there is a legal requirement for them to interface with their competition. That's what HIEs are supposed to be for. Whether they actually meet that requirement is another story, of course.
The issue with a truly shared electronic medical record is hugely important. Apple is trying to give the user the ability to have their medical issues listed so that they can receive proper care in the case of emergency.
I believe that Apple intends to integrate with devices that record health information. The problem that the author brings up is how to integrate this into the systems that hospitals are currently using to provide patient care based on the app's data. In other words, how can this data be transferred to the healthcare provider?
I believe that no third party solution can be implemented due to the fact that the largest EMR systems don't want to interface with their competition.