A bite of Apple’s health strategy

Tech giants, including Apple, are becoming increasingly involved in the healthcare space..

Earlier this month, Apple unveiled a revamped Health app with features like a Longevity tab that gives users a “health age” vs. actual age based on their fitness levels. The company also released a new version of its Apple Watch with enhanced continuous heart rate monitoring and improved step tracking.

The company also announced a partnership with Quest Diagnostics, through which users can book a blood draw appointment through the Health app. Quest is offering tests for more than 50 biomarkers for $119.

Apple’s new health features reflect the rise in popularity of direct-to-consumer (DTC) healthcare services. Almost half of US adults own a wearable, telehealth companies are booming, and even Big Pharma companies are launching DTC businesses.

Healthcare Brew caught up with Sumbul Ahmad Desai, Apple’s VP of health and fitness, to learn more about the work Apple is doing in healthcare.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How would you describe Apple’s philosophy when it comes to its health business?

We’re really focused on how we empower individuals to live their healthiest lives and be proactive around their health. Our philosophy is: How do we democratize more things in the health space so that you can understand more about your body and have [that understanding] with the assurance of a science-based approach? Also, how do we provide it to you in a simple and easy way, so that you can then go advocate for yourself in partnership with your physician?

Which feature in Apple’s updated Health app do you think is going to be the most impactful?

On the Longevity tab, you can take camera-based assessments, where you can test your mobility and your flexibility. You can test your core through a plank test, you can do a push-up test, you can do a sit-to-stand test to look at your balance, you can do a VO2 max test on demand, all using our camera algorithms.

It’s almost like a mini physical at home. The idea is that you can check in on your health and get some insights. We then take those insights, and Apple Intelligence generates daily action insights that you can take to improve in the areas that you have some opportunity for improvement. Our hope is that, by doing that, people have a better longitudinal look at their health. I think that will be really impactful.

What’s your process for deciding which health features to add?

There’s first a feasibility phase. Sometimes we look at technology, especially when it comes to sensors, and we’re like, is it even feasible to measure the signal? And if you get the signal, can you do it in an accurate way? Sometimes it takes us a few years when it comes to that.

If we see that signal is leading to what we’re trying to measure, we then will say, “Okay, is this impactful? If it is impactful, what will it be able to tell you? And what level of accuracy can we give you?” Once we figure that out, then we say, “Okay, is this something we want to build in terms of a product or a feature?”

What is Apple doing in healthcare that’s unique to other tech companies operating in the space?

I don’t necessarily think we’re playing in the healthcare space. I think we’re playing in the health and fitness space. What I mean by that is we’re really focused on empowering an individual around their health and fitness.

What I do think we’re unique about is—and I’m glad that other companies are taking on the approach—introducing clinicians into the design and engineering process. We have scientific experts that we engage, and we don’t build our products without that level of expertise. That’s something that we’ve done that we really are proud of, and I see other companies doing it, and I love that, because I think that’s good for the whole space.