Dive Brief:
- Fitbit CEO James Park alluded to a strategy that broaden's the company's future in healthcare during the fitness tracker's first quarter earnings call.
- When asked directly whether Fitbit plans to develop regulated clinical devices, Park was "just shy of affirmative," MobiHealthNews reported.
- Park also highlighted successes for the Fitbit Corporate Wellness program, which involves University Hospitals in Cleveland, Beaumont Health in Michigan, and the Ascension Health system.
Dive Insight:
Fitbit suggests the company is in a position to foster consumer healthcare engagement for efforts around population health and disease management.
"I could argue that, better than anyone else, we can help people engage with their health, engage with their family’s health, engage with their insurer and employer and engage with the healthcare system,” Park said during the earnings call.
While Park avoided any specific committment or details on what the company might do in the clinical device space, he noted, "I think it’s a pretty massive opportunity," and "there is obviously a lot of legal and regulatory challenges that we’re going to have to navigate."
Park further suggested Fitbit has the clout to help shape those legal and regulatory matters. "I think the great thing is that, due to our leadership position, we are very visible in Washington and I think we’re going to have a big seat at the table in driving those discussions," he was quoted by MobiHealthNews, "so it’s going to be a pretty big opportunity for us.”
In no small part, the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions highlighted the cardiology industry needs to embrace population health.