Apple continues to dabble in healthcare, this time striking a deal with Epic Systems for a Mac-compatible version of its medical records app. As reported by Axios, the deal will see Epic Systems create a version of its health records tool that “is easier to run on Apple devices.”
Apple reportedly pushed Epic to create a “native version of the service” for Apple devices, but the two companies instead opted for this compromise of a version “easier to run on Apple devices.” Apple has not acknowledged this agreement, but Axios says this has been confirmed by a “source inside Epic”.
The agreement comes despite previous disagreements between Epic and Apple over health records and data sharing, Axios Explain. Apple has been pushing to relax health record sharing requirements, which Epic strongly opposes. Epic argued that rule changes focused on “interoperability” will be “too burdensome for our healthcare system and put patient privacy at risk.”
Epic Systems is the largest provider of electronic health records in the United States, with “about half of the population’s medical records” stored in a system powered by Epic software and technology. Epic’s lack of well-developed Mac, iPad, and iPhone software has inhibited Apple’s ability to further tap into the health records industry.
Given the pace at which things are changing in the healthcare industry, particularly with regards to medical records technology, it will likely be some time before we see results from this new agreement. Still, it could end up being good for industry and consumers, especially if it improves data integration with other Apple platforms and services.
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