“Apple has considered an expansion into health care clinics, and had talks to buy a start-up called Crossover Health, which works with big employers to build and run on-site medical clinics, according to three sources familiar,” Christina Farr reports for CNBC. “Crossover Health is one of a small number of companies that specialize in working with self-insured employers to provide medical and wellness services on or near to campus. Among its clients are Apple and Facebook. Crossover also has clinics in New York and the Bay Area, and touts its digital features like same-day appointments via a mobile app.”
“The Apple-Crossover talks went on for months but didn’t materialize into a deal, one of the sources said,” Farr reports. “Apple also approached nationwide primary care group One Medical, said two other sources.”
“The discussions about expanding into primary care have been happening inside Apple’s health team for more than a year, one of the people said. It is not yet clear whether Apple would build out its own network of primary care clinics, in a similar manner to its highly successful retail stores, or simply partner with existing players,” Farr reports. “Canaan’s Nina Kjellson, a prominent health tech investor who has no knowledge of Apple’s plans, believes the move is plausible. ‘It would help build credibility with Apple Watch and other health apps,’ she explained. ‘Apple has cracked a nut in terms of consumer delight, and in the health care setting a non-trivial proportion of satisfaction comes from the quality of interaction in the waiting room and physical space,’ she continued.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: This is a logical move given that Apple Watch was born, in part, from Steve Jobs’ health issues.
SEE ALSO:
Apple Heart Study could turn Apple Watch into a ‘must have’ for millions of patients – September 12, 2017
Apple’s health and fitness push picks up steam as it turns 3 – July 13, 2017
Key Stanford researcher joins Apple’s digital healthcare talent pool – June 23, 2017
Apple CEO Tim Cook has been test-driving a device that tracks his blood sugar, connected to his Apple Watch – May 18, 2017
Apple reportedly working on incorporating blood glucose sensor into Apple Watch – May 15, 2017
Apple secret team reportedly working holy grail for treating diabetes; initially envisioned by Steve Jobs – April 12, 2017
Apple patent details Apple Watch smart bands – January 24, 2017
Emails between Apple and FDA hint at future plans – December 1, 2016
Analyst: Apple smartbands are a part of the Apple Watch’s future – April 8, 2016
Apple Watch health and fitness labs, inspired by Steve Jobs, still operating overtime – May 10, 2016
Steve Jobs’ healthcare frustration the genesis for Apple’s ‘iWatch’ – September 8, 2014
The suckedness of our current healthcare system (by that I mean our healthcare insurance industry) is epic! My favorite part of having something more complicated than a checkup is the resulting bills that show a $10,000 charge for a finger splint (categorized as surgery?!?) which is then discounted by $9,000 because of the insurance provider discount!!!! 👍👍👍
Someone give me a term for when a company leaps out of their field of expertise into a field of no expertise, for whatever reason.
I applaud Apple for learning about a field in which their devices are becoming relevant and potentially life saving. If that is what this is really about, it’s an excellent extension of R&D. Keep it up!
But an Apple health clinic? Justify that scenario please. We’re getting into a creepiness zone when health and sales promotion are holding hands.
A company surveying a business space for possible expansion of one of its secondary assets is said to be trawling. If liquid assets are involved it is dowsing.
I don’t care if it’s Apple, I am NOT going to put a tech company in charge of this area of my life. We can do much, much better to be sure, but I do not and will not accept that Silicon Valley has anything beneficial to offer me in this regard. Period.
I hope Apple decides to become an active provider of healthcare, or, as we like to call it, disease mitigation and management. I am certain that once everyone under Apple’s healthcare umbrella purchase an Apple Watch and iPad we will see that all these person’s health and well being soar into the stratosphere.