A Wall Street Journal article today identified Amazon’s efforts to sell software that searches patients’ medical records for data that will help doctors and hospitals improve treatment and cut costs.
It joins others like IBM’s Watson Health and UnitedHealth Group’s Optum in this area.
However, there was another article in today’s FT that showed the results of a joint survey conducted by Apple and large insurer Vitality Insurance which found that customers are prepared to show big increases in their exercise levels if they get tangible benefits in return.
For instance, participants in the study paid an up-front lump sum for an Apple Watch and had a sliding scale of monthly repayments depending on the amount of exercise they did up to £12.50.
The ones who did the most didn’t have to pay.
I think that this is good for everyone as individuals benefit, Apple gets another distribution channel for its wearable devices and insurance companies get motivated customers.
