New Apple Health Records API open to app developers

Apple Health Records - Apple - Health

Apple’s upcoming software update will have a new mHealth feature.

Apple CEO Tim Cook introduced iOS 12 at the start of WWDC 2018 and revealed the new features of the upcoming software update, among which include an Apple Health Records service update. The mHealth feature, which is designed to help monitor and improve a user’s health and wellbeing, will give users the option to share their medical data with third-party apps.

Apple users will not only be able to access their medical records but share this information with their favorite, trusted aps for the first time.

Back in January, Apple announced it had made a significant update to its Health app, more specifically the app’s Health Records section. Within this section of the app, iPhone users could see their medical records directly on their device.

Bringing together the Health app with more than 500 participating clinics and hospitals (e.g. Johns Hopkins Medicine, Penn Medicine, Cedars-Sinai, etc.), this makes it easier for users to see their available medical data from multiple medical providers, any time they want from their iPhone.

Now, the tech giant is expanding on its Apple Health Records service even more by delivering a Health Records API for developers and researchers. The goal is to create an ecosystem of apps that use a consumer’s health record data to better monitor and improve their health and wellbeing. This can be achieved by helping them manage nutrition plans, medications, diagnosed diseases, and so on.

Sharing personal medical information via Apple Health Records is optional.

Medial data for health-related purposes will only be shared with third-party apps if a user’s permission is given. An example of a health-related purpose is an app reminding you to take your medication, etc. Furthermore, no data that passes from a user to a third-party app will go through Apple’s servers.

With a user’s permission, developers building iOS health apps will have the ability to individualize experiences. These experiences can be based on the user’s specific health history across vital categories that include: medication tracking, disease management, medical research, and nutrition planning.

“Medical information may be the most important personal information to a consumer, and offering access to Health Records was the first step in empowering them,” Apple COO Jeff Williams said in an Apple news release.

Apple Health Records - Apple - Health“With the Health Records API open to our incredible community of developers and researchers, consumers can personalize their health needs with the apps they use every day.”

The new iOS 12 software update with the upgraded Apple Health Records feature is set to roll out later this year. The WWDC 2018 continues until June 8th, 2018.

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