Apple will allow iPhone users to link their medical records with apps that can help them manage their health, according to a Monday press release.
The new application programming interface, or API, automatically shares information from the iPhone Health app to other apps if users elect to do so.
The health app can collect a patient’s data from participating health institutions and send it to his or her phone. This allows the patient to view all of their health records in one interface. (RELATED: Apple’s Tim Cook Keeps Criticizing Facebook)
Previously, there was not a direct API to send medical health records to other applications.
One of the apps users can link to their health records is Medisafe, an app that helps remind patients to take their medication.
Users’ health data is encrypted and will not be shared with apps unless the user choses to do so, according to Apple’s press release. Health data is also not stored on Apple’s servers.
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