Article of the Month – November 2021
November 1, 2021
FDA clears RapidAI’s occlusion-spotting stroke software for CT scans
November 1, 2021Apple Inc.
Apple Inc. is a renowned company founded in April 1976 under the name Apple Computer Company by the technology legends Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. Since then, Apple Inc. has gone through several restructurations as a company but has never lost its core principle, “Think differently.” Famous for many of its products and profitable inventions in informatics, technology, and telecommunications, Apple is one of the leaders in new technology development with breakthrough features that use Machine Learning incorporated in their products.
This company has been dedicating efforts to creating broader strategies to implement artificial intelligence solutions in healthcare using algorithms incorporated in its devices. These innovative tools can improve the healthcare service by helping patients reach optimal therapeutic compliance, detect early signs of multiple diseases, collect and analyze medical data, and enhance good clinical practice. In August 2019, Apple partnered with Allscripts to make Apple Health Records available on Allscripts Sunrise, an electronic health record platform, thus expanding the health information exchange with different providers.(1)
Medical records at everyone's fingertips
The most used tool is the Medical ID, a basic information record synchronized with the AppleID. Although well known and widely used, this section is in constant improvement, including a new feature like, for example, requiring authorization to share essential information like name, allergies, contact numbers, organ donor status, primary language, and current medications, with emergency services when activated for medical emergencies. The Health app also records useful daily information such as average heart rate, calories burned, hours of sleep, and, in devices supporting iOS 11.3 and up, synchronization of complete medical records in the Health app.(2,3)
A Watch to watch after you
The most used tool is the Medical ID, a basic information record synchronized with the AppleID. Although well known and widely used, this section is in constant improvement, including a new feature like, for example, requiring authorization to share essential information like name, allergies, contact numbers, organ donor status, primary language, and current medications, with emergency services when activated for medical emergencies. The Health app also records useful daily information such as average heart rate, calories burned, hours of sleep, and, in devices supporting iOS 11.3 and up, synchronization of complete medical records in the Health app.(2,3)
The most used tool is the Medical ID, a basic information record synchronized with the AppleID. Although well known and widely used, this section is in constant improvement, including a new feature like, for example, requiring authorization to share essential information like name, allergies, contact numbers, organ donor status, primary language, and current medications, with emergency services when activated for medical emergencies.(2,3)
The Health app also records useful daily information such as average heart rate, calories burned, hours of sleep, and, in devices supporting iOS 11.3 and up, synchronization of complete medical records in the Health app.(2,3)
Watching over movements
Most recent acquisitions include an algorithm that uses the motion sensors present in this watch to detect abnormal movement patterns such as falls, tremors, or even seizures. The Apple Watch Series 4 and newer versions include an alert that appears if the sensor detects a hard fall signal and gives the user the option to call emergency services or dismiss the alert. In an unresponsive user for about a minute, an emergency call will be placed automatically and alert the user’s emergency contacts. All falls detected are recorded in the Health app to document these episodes for better healthcare decisions. This feature is automatically enabled in users 55 years and older, but it is available for manual activation in the Apple Watch app on iPhone.(4)
From the lab to the app
Apple has proven to have a vanguardist vision for patients, healthcare providers, and researchers and is taking active measures to provide these groups with tools to help them reach their full potential. ResearchKit and CareKit are open-source frameworks that allow developers to create applications intended to gather and analyze medical research or yield convenient tools to empower patients. Some companies have developed algorithms combining machine learning, these frameworks, and data from biosensors and gyroscopes in the devices and have developed ideas such as epilepsy detectors and trackers. These allow automatic detection of seizures, documentation of episodes, medications, level of responsiveness, and automated emergency services and notification to relatives when detecting a seizure. An interesting approach is EpiWatch, an app developed by John Hopkins University that serves as a seizure journal for gathering data for research on real-time data-based use of these sensors. Along the same lines, Parkinson’s mPower app provides the same documenting capacities for patients with this movement disorder. While providing research data for developing innovative instruments, both apps have been shown to help patients and physicians better understand these conditions that tend to be highly variable, thereby promoting personalized care.(5,6,7,8)
Collaborations to conquer
Besides development, Apple works with several hospitals nationwide to provide equipment such as iPads for more convenient, professional, and patient-centered care. During the last years, several Hospitals nationwide have adopted the use of the MyChart platform developed by the company EPIC in both its out-patient and in-patient formats (MyChart Bedside) that allow real-time information on conditions, lab results, diagnoses, treatment, and follow-up. These platforms encourage transparency in medical management and reconstruct patient engagement into a more comprehensive health care delivery system.(8,9)
Besides development, Apple works with several hospitals nationwide to provide equipment such as iPads for more convenient, professional, and patient-centered care. During the last years, several Hospitals nationwide have adopted the use of the MyChart platform developed by the company EPIC in both its out-patient and in-patient formats (MyChart Bedside) that allow real-time information on conditions, lab results, diagnoses, treatment, and follow-up.(8,9)
These platforms encourage transparency in medical management and reconstruct patient engagement into a more comprehensive health care delivery system.(8,9)
Other platforms or apps that rely on Apple devices to excel in patient care are Canto/Haiku (for healthcare providers), Qardio, PatientTouch communications, EMPOWER, and the list keeps growing. Many other projects like home-based neonatal remote monitorization of patients (developed by the University of Virginia) and enhanced chronic disease management (powered by Oschner health) have already shown improvement in patient satisfaction, medical control, and reduction in costs for both patients and hospitals. These projects are where technology and human healthcare gather to “Think differently.”(9)
Other platforms or apps that rely on Apple devices to excel in patient care are Canto/Haiku (for healthcare providers), Qardio, PatientTouch communications, EMPOWER, and the list keeps growing.
Many other projects like home-based neonatal remote monitorization of patients (developed by the University of Virginia) and enhanced chronic disease management (powered by Oschner health) have already shown improvement in patient satisfaction, medical control, and reduction in costs for both patients and hospitals. These projects are where technology and human healthcare gather to “Think differently.”(9)
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