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Frost & Sullivan Expert Comment: Apple Rumoured to be Eyeing Athenahealth BuySANTA CLARA, Calif., June 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Comment by Kamaljit Behera, Industry Analyst, Healthcare, Visionary Innovation Group, Frost & Sullivan: This is not the first attempt by a tech company - Google Health (now defunct) and Microsoft HealthVault are earlier examples. While Google Health didn't have sufficient traction, it also may have been too early in the game. Microsoft HealthVault is still available as a service - but how successful it has been is arguable. There are two sides to the story of a tech company attempting to solve the health data interoperability issue: a) B2B Approach: Getting providers / path labs / health systems / primary care physicians to directly upload medical health data to a patients' health account (which is the more difficult one). Part 'a' is naturally difficult - key challenge: interoperable formats of data, apart from HIPAA compliance issues, formal processes to upload data (without increasing administrative burden) and resistance to change / low tech adoption rates. Part 'b' is possible with the fitness bands and sundry home health devices such as blood pressure monitors and weighing scales, but with advanced medical devices, this will remain a challenge. Patient engagement, to encourage them to manually enter data is an even bigger issue - one that the entire industry is grappling with in this age of digitization. Speculating the Apple bet on athenahealth: On a speculative note, it appears yet another frugal snowball attempt to find an official positioning in the vetted healthcare data economy space. Having said that, lack of defined timelines to demonstrate tangible outcomes has gained negative clout for Apple's health initiatives in the recent past (e.g. medical grade wearables). Further, bringing the competitive equation around wearables and mHealth segments providing limitless potential across healthcare applications, Apple cannot underestimate recent deals by Fitbit and other emerging solutions. This may not be the end to the deal chain. In-line to Apple's reputation, one cloud possibly anticipates the next phase of deal-making around blockchain technology. What's there for athenahealth? About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact: twitter: @FS_Healthcare
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