Fitbit Teams With Google To Shape Future Of Digital Health

Fitbit, the maker of wearable devices, announced news on Monday (April 30) that it inked a deal with Google in which the two will work together to innovate and shape the future of digital health and wearables.

In a press release, Fitbit said the two companies are working to create consumer and enterprise health solutions, with Fitbit planning to use Google’s new Cloud for Healthcare API to help the company integrate further into the healthcare system. Through this collaboration, Fitbit can connect user data with electronic medical records (EMR), the company said in the press release.

Combining Fitbit data with EMRs can provide patients and clinicians with a more comprehensive view of a patient, resulting in more personalized care. The companies said they will also look at ways to help people better manage chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension by using services such as Fitbit’s recently acquired Twine Health. Through Google’s Cloud Healthcare API, Twine can make it easier for clinicians and patients to collaborate on care, Fitbit said.

“Over the past decade, we have built an incredible foundation as the leading wearables brand, helping millions of people around the world make lasting behavior changes that improve their health and wellness through fun and engaging experiences. Working with Google gives us an opportunity to transform how we scale our business, allowing us to reach more people around the world faster, while also enhancing the experience we offer to our users and the healthcare system,” said James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit in the press release. “This collaboration will accelerate the pace of innovation to define the next generation of healthcare and wearables.”

Fitbit will move to the Google Cloud Platform to advance its products and services. Google Cloud provides Fitbit with next-generation cloud services and engineering support, allowing the company to scale faster, the company said, noting that Google Cloud is also committed to meeting the requirements for security and privacy in the healthcare industry.

“At Google, our vision is to transform the way health information is organized and made useful,” said Gregory Moore MD, Ph.D, VP, Healthcare, Google Cloud, in the same press release. “By enabling Fitbit to connect and manage key health and fitness data using our Google Cloud Healthcare API, we are getting one step closer to this goal. Together, we have the opportunity to deliver up-to-date information to providers, enhancing their ability to follow and manage the health of their patients and guide their treatment.”