Samsung is set to acquire Xealth, a healthcare integration platform, in a move to “unify fragmented health information and to empower individuals to take control of their own health”. By combining Samsung’s wearables capabilities and Xealth’s platform, the acquisition will reportedly bring together home health monitoring and clinical decision-making to promote preventative care and patient empowerment.
Xealth combines multiple digital health solutions into a single user interface and platform, said to offer real-time monitoring and support for decision-making. It currently has a network of more than 70 digital health solution partners and 500 US hospitals, including Advocate Health and Banner Health, who will gain access through the acquisition to Samsung’s platform.
Mike McSherry, CEO of Xealth, highlighted how customer health data from wearables could help to fill in “context that is missing to hospitals”, offering new data analysis possibilities that were not previously available with just clinical records. He added: “Together with Samsung and our network of healthcare leaders, we will design a bridge between home health monitoring and clinical decision-making, with provider workflow considerations and patient engagement at the core of that effort.”
Xealth also took to LinkedIn to share the news, stating that the company is “thrilled to join together to help bring a seamless, preventative and connected care experience”.
Wearables in supporting patient empowerment and self-care
An HTN panel discussion on digital apps, wearables, self-care, and personalised care, explored the role of digital in improving patient pathways and experiences, and the data points which should be leveraged to enable health and care organisations to deliver tech enabled care now and in the future. Panellists included Rachel Binks, nurse consultant and clinical lead for digital and acute care at NHS Airedale Hub; Saif Ahmed, associate medical director, deputy CCIO, and clinical director for frailty at Tameside and Glossop; and James Maynard, product marketing director at Access.
The UK government awarded £12 million in funding late last year for projects utilising innovative technologies such as AI, VR and wearable sensors in supporting people with drug addictions and reducing drug-related deaths. Projects receiving funding include a remote monitoring platform capable of detecting respiratory issues related to opioid overdose, featuring a biosensor paired with a mobile device which allows for “the immediate alerting” of local naloxone carriers and emergency services. Another project uses a wristband to monitor vital signs such as body temperature and movement patterns to detect a potential overdose, sending alerts via the wearer’s smartphone to an emergency contact.
Join HTN for a panel discussion on digital apps and wearables scheduled for 3 September at 10am, where we’ll be joined by experts from across the health and care sectors to share learnings and best practices, discuss challenges and how to overcome them, and look to the future of tech in this space.
