Yup, Apple is making the foray into health care.

One of the biggest companies on the planet wants to give you access to your medical records using the popular iPhone. This feature will be available once the iOS 11.3 update rolls out later this year. 

Check out the article link above for details on how it works (basically using a phone app that links with care systems that have opted into an agreement to share records; patients have to opt in as well).

The implications for this development are enormous. Patient portals via web browser have been around for several years but many of these portals are limited in stability and scope. Moreover, clinical researchers have been challenged for years in gathering more patient-reported data to evaluate health interventions. A new phone app like this one may be the break they need.

Maybe the biggest implication is that electronic health records may now finally be streamlined into an easily accessible platform for both patients and physicians. Imagine interacting with patients more often outside of a medical or behavioral health visit. Imagine collecting additional health outcome data from them or family members. 

The rollout for this new app is quite small but hopefully will gain momentum in the near future. Stay tuned listeners …