Apple is planning on bringing HealthKit dev tools to US health professionals

According to a recent report, Apple is currently in talks to bring its HealthKit development tools to medical professionals in the United States.

Reuters (via MacRumors) explains that both HealthKit and the companion Health application are being discussed with healthcare providers at Mount Sinai, the Cleveland Clinic, and Johns Hopkins as well as with Allscripts, “a competitor to electronic health records provider Epic Systems.”

Though many of us had previously contemplated how Health and HealthKit might work with Apple’s long-awaited “iWatch,” Reuters explains that “people familiar with the discussions” have noted how Cupertino “is intent on making health data, such as blood pressure, pulse, and weight, available for consumers and health providers to view in one place.”

The report notes:

Cleveland Clinic associate chief information officer William Morris said the clinical solutions team is experimenting with HealthKit’s beta and is providing feedback to Apple. HealthKit and related services could become a means for some technology teams at budget-strapped hospitals to save time and resources, as mobile developers won’t have to integrate with dozens of apps and devices like fitness trackers or Glucometers as they have to now, he said.

Apple’s Health app and HealthKit will launch later this year with iOS 8, however registered iOS developers can currently take the application and its accompanying APIs for a spin ahead of schedule.

Reuters notes that privacy concerns could inhibit HealthKit adoption, however Cupertino is nevertheless aiming to get its Health app in the hands of both casual users and medical professionals alike in the near future.

We’ll keep you updated with further information as we receive it.

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