Consumer-directed health technology is allowing people to be more involved their own health care. This week Apple turned on the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4. So many who have never seen a rhythm strip now can generate one on their wrist. Apple watch can help identify afib,the most common form of irregular heart rhythm. As one of the first diseases screened with a ... Continue Reading about Afib and Apple Watch – The Physician’s Emerging Role
Eko Core Digital Stethoscope – Analog Dressed for Digital?
Digital health startup Eko has a product that can detect murmurs more reliably than humans. At the recent American Heart Association meeting they presented a clinical study revealing the first murmur detection algorithm to outperform cardiologists. Predictably, the digital Twitterati touted the Eko Core Digital Stethoscope as the next great thing. Evidence of ... Continue Reading about Eko Core Digital Stethoscope – Analog Dressed for Digital?
5 Reasons We’re Unprepared for Apple Watch ECG
Today Apple released the Apple Watch Series 4 watch. Later this year they will add functionality that allows users to record an ECG. This would make Apple Watch one of the first FDA-cleared over-the-counter devices with an electrocardiogram. Here are 5 reasons we’re not ready for this. 1. No bandwidth Right now the idea of individuals taking personal tracings is ... Continue Reading about 5 Reasons We’re Unprepared for Apple Watch ECG
Data Confrontation – Who is Responsible for a Patient’s Data?
This week marks the release of the Apple Watch Series 4 with the capability of EKG. From their wrist, users can record a rhythm that they can send to their doctor. Through most of history, data like EKGs were collected by hospitals and health professionals. This changes things. As watches move from fitness trackers to medical devices, questions emerge such as, what ... Continue Reading about Data Confrontation – Who is Responsible for a Patient’s Data?
Apple Watch Series 4: Intelligent Guardian for Your Health
After today’s Apple Watch Series 4 announcement, CNBC reporter Chrissy Farr reported, “Apple stressed a lot today that this isn’t a physician replacement.” But Intelligent guardian for your health is pretty damn close. It’s a product that’s smart, always there and it has your back. Kind of like doctors used to be. I’m pretty certain that the Apple intelligentsia ... Continue Reading about Apple Watch Series 4: Intelligent Guardian for Your Health
The Health Technology Outcomes Gap
This analysis in Health Affairs shows that EHR adoption initially results in higher patient mortality but in the long run lowers mortality. Having gone through the transition from paper to digital, it’s easy to imagine. Initially you think, ‘how do I do this?’ Then you say, ‘how did we do it with paper?’ There’s a period of adaptation that happens with new ... Continue Reading about The Health Technology Outcomes Gap