In fall 2021, Apple is adding a number of new features to the Health app that will make it easier for users to understand health trends, communicate with doctors, and monitor loved ones.
At the WWDC 2021 Keynote presented Apple is introducing a series of new updates to its Health platform across various devices, including the iPhone. One of these new features includes a new mobility tracking metric called "Walking Steadiness." The metric uses a variety of mobility data—including speed and gait steadiness—to assess how steadily a person walks and how this changes over time. Apple is also adding a range of new and detailed information to the Health app to help users better understand lab test results.
Apple Health – Trends
The new Trends feature also gives users a broader understanding of how their health is changing over time. The feature tracks and displays long-term changes in health metrics like steps, sleep, and more over time. To ensure all this new information supports the user's health care, Apple is also adding the ability to securely transfer user-selected data to a healthcare provider. Doctors and medical professionals will be able to view this data within their own healthcare systems and identify trends over time.
Family Sharing for Health
A similar feature will also be available for families. A new health sharing mechanism will allow users to monitor the health of their loved ones, especially parents or of course children. The feature will be supported by the following health networks at launch:
- Cerner
- Allscripts
- AthenaHealth
- CPSI
- DrChrono
- Meditech Expanse
When enabled, the feature will allow users to view a loved one's health data, such as heart rate and steps. Users can receive notifications when certain metrics change. A built-in system will also make it easy for the user to launch an iMessage about these health metrics with a tap. (Image: Apple)
