HealthKit Enhances Disease Research and Patient Monitoring

Even though iOS 8’s HealthKit has yet to be officially released, it is already helping doctors at Duke University and Stanford University keep track of patient wellness in individuals suffering from cancer, diabetes and other chronic health conditions.

At Stanford, doctors have entered into a partnership with Apple as part of a pilot program to monitor blood sugar levels in diabetic children. The Duke programs include the application of HealthKit’s proprietary health metrics to help doctors improve quality of life for patients with heart disease and cancer.

These applications are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg in terms of what HealthKit may be able to help the doctors of tomorrow accomplish. The platform is poised to improve both the speed and the accuracy of health data reporting, which in turn will help doctors be more proactive about treatment programs and spot potential problems before they have serious consequences.

Apple announced the new initiatives as part of their gala industry event in Cupertino, California on September 9, 2014. Researchers are currently testing the technology on a limited sample size of patients, but hope to expand the pilot program pending the results of the first phase of the initiative.

For Bluetooth iPhone app developers, the sharp increase in health-related mobile applications creates unprecedented opportunity. Doctors, researchers and tech industry experts alike are unanimous in their agreement that mobile apps like HealthKit have the potential to revolutionize the way doctors interact with, care for and treat their patients.

If you’re part of a HealthKit app development company, you can also consider the patient end of the equation. Apple’s new technology empowers people to take greater command of their own health, providing them with a whole new set of tools to help them live healthier lives. There’s plenty of room for software developers to create products that extend the reach of these technologies.