It’s clear that Apple has been serious about health over the past several years, especially with devices such as the Apple Watch literally saving lives. Apple CEO Tim Cook has been fairly public about the company wanting to change the world with its health initiatives. Today, Apple VP of Health Dr. Sumbul Desai sat down with MobiHealthNews to talk more about Apple’s foray into health.
When asked about the new ECG feature found in Apple Watch Series 4, Desai says that it’s in a physician’s nature to be concerned about how this will effect the medical community. While customers are loving the new feature, doctors are still trying to figure out how to handle the data coming out of the Apple Watch.
She says that the feedback from customers has been “really amazing” in that users are now discovering that they may have atrial fibrillation (a-fib) and that they are getting treated on an issue that they may have never known about.
Desai was then asked about what Apple is doing for doctors themselves with their Health Records initiative and how features such as the ECG in the Apple Watch and Health Records blend together.
In terms of ECG and the new fall detection feature on Apple Watch, many users claim that with fall detection specifically, it’s aimed at a much older crowd. Typically within the 65 or 70 years or beyond age group, noting that those types of users aren’t the ones usually buying an Apple Watch.
Naturally, Desai responds saying that Apple builds products for all demographics. But she quickly says that falling is one of the most common reasons people go to the emergency room.
When asked about Apple’s relationship with the FDA, Desai says that Apple doesn’t get any special treatment. In fact, she says that Apple was asked really tough questions, yet still had answers for them.
The full interview is an interesting read, be sure to check it out in its entirety here.
