Is Apple moving into healthcare? 4 thoughts

Jessica Kim Cohen -

Apple is making its way into the healthcare market, according to an analysis by The Washington Post technology writer Hayley Tsukayama.

Here are four thoughts from Ms. Tsukayama.

1. The tech giant partnered with Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to allow select patients to check out iPads during their hospital stay, for free, as part of a pilot program rolled out last year. Patients use the iPads to access health data and view educational materials about upcoming procedures through a hospital app.

2. Apple has made a few moves into the consumer healthcare market in the past few years, including the launch of its Health app and the Apple Watch. The company also acquired Beddit, a sleep monitor and mHealth app, earlier this year.

3. Apple employs 13 exercise physiologists and specialists and 29 nurses and medics to test its fitness technology, according to Ms. Tsukayama.

4. Ms. Tsukayama suggested the transition into healthcare enables Apple to focus on services, rather than products, as consumers have slowed their purchasing behaviors.

When The Washington Post reached out to Apple for comment, the company directed Ms. Tsukayama to recent remarks Apple CEO Tim Cook made this past spring.

"The things that interest us the most are things where we can bring our ability to integrate hardware, software, services into something that's magical and enriches people in some way," Mr. Cook said. "If you look at some of the things that do not drive revenue, but have massive interest in them from our teams, health is very much one of those."

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