Apple Partners with VA to Give Veterans Access to Health Records on iOS

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has teamed up with Apple to give American veterans better access to their medical records. The two organizations have announced that the VA will now support the Health Records feature on the iOS Health app, allowing veterans to view their entire medical history when they sign in through the VA’s patient portal.

The Health Records feature is constantly updated and includes details about immunization, medication, lab results, and other vital medical information. While the app is technically available to all VA patients, the Health app is an Apple product so those patients will need to be iPhone users if they want to utilize the service. 

“Helping veterans gain a better understanding of their health is our chance to show our gratitude for their service,” said Apple COO Jeff Williams. “By working with the VA to offer Health Records on iPhone, we hope to help those who served have greater peace of mind that their health care is in good hands.”

With the addition of the VA, Health Records now has the support of more than 400 healthcare providers and organizations. The VA treats 9 million veterans at 1,243 medical facilities across the country, numbers that make the VA the largest medical system in the United States.

The VA executed a soft launch of the Health Records feature with a smaller handful of patients over the summer, a move that paved the way for this week’s official wide release. Apple Health can be secured with a passcode, or with face and fingerprint biometrics courtesy of Face and Touch ID.

ImageWare Systems currently provides software support services for the VA organization. AMC Health also signed a five-year contract with the VA back in 2013, agreeing to provide a range of telehealth services like electronic health records and patient monitoring.

Source: Apple