Dive Brief:
- LabCorp, one of the largest commercial clinical diagnostic laboratory companies in the country, announced this week its patients now can sign up to integrate lab test results into Apple's health app.
- Alongside its partnership with Walgreens to expand its retail presence to more than 600 locations, the move to share testing results is the latest by LabCorp to boost its relationship with its patients. Company executives argue that more in-depth and robust engagement is critical to differentiate itself from competitors and stoke growth.
- To utilize the new iPhone feature, patients who have a LabCorp Patient account will have to enable integration with the Health Records app. The clinical lab giant said that the partnership with Apple will make it easier for patients to see their lab data alongside other medical information paired with the app such as allergies, immunizations and medications.
Dive Insight:
LabCorp CEO David King foreshadowed the Apple partnership during last week's Q3 earnings call by stating the company sees an increasing adoption of mobile health technologies and touted its efforts to improve patient tools such as enhanced mobile applications.
"Our multifaceted consumer engagement strategy is advancing at a rapid pace, further differentiating our offering from competitors and creating new opportunities for long-term profitable growth," King said.
According to Apple's website, more than 115 institutions and companies support health records on the iPhone health app. LabCorp rival Quest Diagnostics is not listed.
King argues the move to enable patients to view their testing results alongside other health data in Apple Health comes at a time when individuals are increasingly interested in gaining a "more holistic view of their health."
"Laboratory test results are central to medical decision making, and broadening access to this information will help patients take charge of their health and wellness, and lead to more informed dialogues between patients and their healthcare providers," King said in a statement.
The announcement comes shortly after LabCorp reported a substandard Q3 coming off of a ransomware attack and the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. The company reported $2.83 billion in revenue, but lowered its full year guidance for 2018.
