Apple watches to track joint replacement surgery patients
Apple has teamed up with Zimmer Bioment to track patients who have undergone hip and knee replacement surgeries—two of the most common surgeries in the nation.
Zimmer Biomet—an Indiana-based company that designs, manufactures and markets orthopedic reconstructive products and other musculoskeletal and surgical products—will engage in a clinical study using its mymobility app that tracks patients through the Apple smartwatch. The app aims to facilitate “a new level of connection between patients and their surgical care teams,” according to an announcement.
The partnership comes as Apple continues to integrate more products and platforms into the healthcare space. Its latest smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 4, received FDA clearance for its ability to conduct an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to record the electrical activity of the heart and potentially detect any irregularities.
Hip and knee replacements are also the two surgeries that qualify for episodes of care under the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement bundled payment model by CMS. The model tests bundled payment and quality measurement for episodes of care related to these replacements, though Apple announced no connection to the model. More than one million hip and knee replacement surgeries occur annually in the U.S.—a figure that is expected to jump to 3.5 million by 2035, according to the announcement.
"We are incredibly excited to work with Apple to transform the knee and hip replacement experience for patients and surgeons," Bryan Hanson, president and CEO of Zimmer Biomet, said in a statement. "At Zimmer Biomet, we are committed to improving care decisions through digital health and we are thrilled to launch one of the largest evidence-gathering clinical studies in orthopaedic history."
Zimmer Biomet is commencing the clinical study, which launched Oct. 15 and will examine how the app impacts outcomes and overall costs for joint replacement patients. As many as 10,000 participants are expected to enroll in the study.
“We believe one of the best ways to empower consumers is by giving them the ability to use their health and activity information to improve their own care," Apple COO Jeff Williams said in a statement. “This solution will connect consumers with their doctors continuously, before and after surgery."
The two companies will act as a virtual connection between patients and their care team, including allowing surgeons to send education and therapy reminders directly to the watch. Patient activity levels can also be monitored before and after surgery.
Several facilities are participating in the study:
- Academic centers: University of Utah Health; Rush University Medical Center; University of Pennsylvania Health System; Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital/Emory Healthcare
- Hospitals: Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Southern California; Newton-Wellesley Hospital, member of Partners HealthCare founded by Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital; Centura Health, Porter Hospital—Colorado Joint Replacement (CJR)
- Group practices/ambulatory surgery centers: ROC Orthopedics, affiliated with Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center; OrthoBethesda; OrthoArizona; Midwest Center for Joint Replacement; Hartzband Center for Hip & Knee Replacement; New Mexico Orthopaedic Associates; The DeClaire LaMacchia Orthopaedic Institute, affiliated with Michigan Institute for Advanced Surgery; Joint Implant Surgeons; Orthopedic and Fracture Clinic; Panorama Orthopedic and Spine Center
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."