Philips Healthcare, Salesforce partner on connected health app for diabetes patients
Philips Healthcare, in partnership with Salesforce and Netherlands-based Radboud University Medical Center, is testing out an application that could help diabetes patients self-monitor their health and communicate with their doctors.
The app is essentially an incarnation of Philips' HealthSuite, a cloud-based clinical data and analytics platform, equipped with Salesforce's newly launched Health Cloud for patient engagement.
Between specialized mobile apps and smart wearable devices, the healthcare industry is booming with data. But a scenario that really connects the dots between a patient, a doctor and one's treatment plan has yet to fully materialize -- and that's what this app ultimately will try to accomplish.
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The app will enable diabetes patients to monitor things like blood glucose levels, insulin use, and nutrition, while doctors can collect and connect data from a patient's personal health device (glucose meters or activity trackers, for example), electronic medical records, and patient self-reported data.
The patient and the doctor come together in a secure online setting and interact via private messaging or shared posts, allowing patients to receive feedback from their care team using the combined data.
According to Philips, the app is the first of its kind to connect people living with Type 1 diabetes to their clinicians in a secure environment.
"There is a growing need for solutions that enhance self-management and continuity of care for those with chronic conditions such as diabetes to reduce health deterioration, re-admissions and mortality rates," said Jeroen Tas, CEO of Philips Healthcare, in a statement. "This system has been designed by patients for patients and is enabling fully integrated health management and care delivery in a new, connected, efficient and highly patient-centric way."
Philips and Salesforce have been partners since last year, when the companies teamed up on a system that combined Salesforce's CRM system with Philips' HealthSuite Digital Platform. The diabetes app is slated for availability by the end of this year. The companies say they plan to build similar connected care apps that focus on other chronic conditions.