Analytics Magazine Analytics Magazine, July/August 2014 | Page 27

the country, we can expect seamless bi-directional data flow to reach critical mass. This is a prerequisite to build a cloud-based analytics solution that can leverage data hubs at both ends of the flow. This is the reason why Apple’s HealthKit introduction is a key phenomenon, albeit it does not do much in its early incarnation. If Google wants to become a serious player in the healthcare field beyond fitness lovers, they have to think in the same direction as well. Once that happens imagine what sort of revolution the rivalry of these technology companies can usher in! The health data acquisition market is still fragmented, and as a result EMR companies have not shown much interest in opening up their data repository to those players. If Apple and Google can now turn the table and make this a true platform play using their controlling stakes in the mobile device market, then it becomes meaningful for the EMR companies to forge powerful partnerships with one or both of them. In turn that will create the unification of episodic data and continuous user-generated data – the Holy Grail! Interoperability standards will be firmed up and data security solutions will emerge. Most importantly, patients and providers will both benefit from the analytics solutions that will ge Ё