Telus Health launches fall detection monitoring for Apple Watch

Telus Health has launched a monitored emergency service in Canada, one that uses the Apple Watch Fall Detection feature to help take care of vulnerable people.

Announced on Tuesday, Telus Health Companion on Apple Watch is a 24-7 emergency monitoring service operated through Telus Health's LivingWell Companion national response service. Rather than just providing a response when informed of an emergency, the service takes a more proactive approach.

By using the Fall Detection API, the Apple Watch app will detect if the user has taken a hard fall. If detected, the incident and the user's location are sent to Telus Health's monitoring station.

An operator then attempts to contact the customer to confirm there was an emergency, If required, the operator will alert the customer's emergency contacts and dispatch emergency support.

"Supporting Canada's vulnerable population that is at risk of falling or having a medical issue is fundamental at TELUS Health as we strive to deliver innovative technologies that put patients first" said Telus vice president of consumer health Juggy Sihota. "Through collaborating with Apple, we're proud to be the first in Canada to transform how personal emergency response is experienced."

Customers with an Apple Watch Series 4 or later can add the Telus Health Companion service for $30 per month. New customers can acquire the plan with a cellular-enabled Apple Watch for $54 per month, which is claimed to be a saving of $120 on the Apple Watch as an extra cost.

Users are also required to be on a post-paid Telus plan with an iPhone 6s or later, with the latest iOS version installed.

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