AppleInsider Staff
Patients at one Louisiana healthcare provider are combining two of Apple's newest technologies, HealthKit and the pulse-sensing Apple Watch, to enhance monitoring and treatment of hypertension.
Ochsner Health System currently has three participants in the trial program, according to the Times-Picayune. Each patient is given an Apple Watch at no cost — though they are required to purchase a wireless blood pressure cuff — along with training on the use of HealthKit and various fitness apps.
Data from HealthKit can be sent directly to Ochsner's electronic medical record system. This helps with accuracy and allows physicians to diagnose potential issues sooner, notes Dr. Richard Milani.
"We're only getting couple of readings a year on you," Milani told the paper. "We could probably do better if we get more information, and we can course-correct faster. People who do take their (blood pressure) readings will say 'I forgot them at home.' This keeps track of it for you."
The group hopes to expand the trial to a total of 30 participants.
In recent months, Apple has worked to become more deeply involved in medical research and treatment. Along with HealthKit, the company also announced ResearchKit, a framework that allows hospitals to more efficiently recruit participants for and administer clinical trials.
Malcolm Owen
Amber Neely
Christine McKee
Chip Loder
Marko Zivkovic
11 Comments
Careful. Governor Jindal might accuse the participants of 'witchery.'
None of this matters if you're still gonna reach for those Doritos.
Treatment and measuring/monitoring are fine, but I fear we've become treatment-obsessed rather than prevention-smart.
[quote name="AppleZilla" url="/t/186153/apple-watch-healthkit-star-in-louisiana-hypertension-treatment-program#post_2720569"]Careful. Governor Jindal might accuse the participants of 'witchery.' [/quote] no doubt. this guy is such a fraud -- he studied biology and medicine, was accepted into harvard medicine...but here he is writing about spirits and exorcisms: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/08/gov_bobby_jindals_writing_on_e.html ...what a nut.
In the previous article, we learned to our amazement, how the ?Watch was able to analyze people's DNA and alert them to potential defects - if you add the simple DNA sequencing lab accessory. Now we learn the ?Watch can help people measure their blood pressure, with the addition of a blood pressure monitoring accessory.
In the next article, we will learn how the ?Watch is transforming medicine by doing MRI scans - when you add a simple MRI scanner accessory. But that's not all this amazing watch can do, no this is just the start. With the soon to be released Fully Equipped Surgical Theatre accessory, the ?Watch will be helping people who need open heart surgery.
^ not satisfied until we get the human cloning and teleportation accessory. Until then Apple is doomed.