Healthcare information technology company Cerner Corp CERN recently announced that its patient engagement app – HealtheLife – will be available on Apple Watch. Technology giant Apple Inc’s AAPL much anticipated device, Apple Watch, is set to hit the stores on Apr 24.
Compatible with Apple’s operating system – iOS 8 – Cerner's newly-released HealtheLife app aims to make it easier for patients to manage their health through the watch. The app, designed with push notification reminders to track health data and a display dashboard for tracked metrics, will help patients manage their own health, thus building a healthier community.
Cerner will begin conducting initial deployments with clients this month to collect biometric values from the Apple Watch-compatible HealtheLife app, including weight, blood pressure and blood sugar values. Emory Healthcare and Agnesian HealthCare will be the first health systems to deploy this technology.
With patients’ consent, the data will be sent directly to the Cerner Millennium Electronic Health Record (EHR). Such information will help providers focus on personalized patient care and population health management. We view Cerner’s population health management and care coordination offerings as important growth catalysts for the company.
We believe strategic deals with companies that have as vast a global presence as Apple will boost Cerner’s business scale massively. By expanding its range of solutions and services, Cerner will not only improve its international presence but will also enhance its top-line growth opportunities.
Recently, Cerner also joined forces with North Kansas City Hospital, K2 Consulting Solutions, LifeWise Renovations and Northland Shepherd's Center to create a joint, public-private community program called ‘Aging in Place’. The program is aimed at providing older adults a safe and comfortable transition from hospitals to their homes.
Since this program will use patient monitoring devices to track data, we feel it will further advance Cerner’s HealtheLife patient engagement solution.
Driven by a strong pipeline and new business opportunities, we believe that Cerner is well positioned for growth in 2015 and beyond. Moreover, multiple industry recognitions earned by Cerner recently will help it gain significant market traction, going forward. It should also enhance visibility of the company’s wide range of services, which, in turn, will drive top-line growth.
Stocks to Consider
Currently, Cerner carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks include Merge Healthcare MRGE in the medical information industry and SurModics Inc. SRDX in the broader medical industry. While SurModics sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Merge Healthcare carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Be the first to comment