Dive Brief:
- San Francisco app maker Fitbit announced that it has hired Adam Pellegrini to lead the company’s further integration into healthcare systems and clinical settings.
- Pellegrini, who currently heads up digital health at Walgreens Boots Alliance, will assume the role of vice president of digital health at Fitbit, starting September 6.
- During his time at Walgreens, the availability of MDLIVE was expanded to offer telehealth services to 20 more states, totaling 25.
Dive Insight:
The digital health space can expect to see more of these personnel poachings as demand increases for apps that can aid in population health management and patient engagement. The rise in retail clinics is also fueling use of mobile health apps and telehealth services.
Pellegrini has broad experience across the healthcare industry, including providers, insurers, and health technology. While at Walgreens, he oversaw the largest integration of mobile devices at a retailer and launched the chain’s first integration of wearables, including Fitbit, with its Balance Rewards program.
He also presided over a collaboration with Qualcomm Life to power device connectivity with Walgreen’s Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure and blood glucose devices, and expanded availability of MDLIVE telehealth services via the retailer’s mobile app.
Fitbit hopes to draw on that experience to expand its role in disease management, insurance, and wellness programs.
The company also wants to expand the reach of its fitness trackers, and healthcare is one of the markets it’s tapping into, according to MedCity News. It currently is wooing China and plans to break into other Asian countries as well.
“We believe that Fitbit can play a meaningful role in the digital health revolution, and Adam is the ideal person to lead our efforts," Chief Financial Officer Woody Scal said in the press release.
“He brings tremendous experience, leadership and vision to help us further develop and integrate our tools into healthcare, including areas such as behavior change programs, chronic care management, population screening, precision medicine, and remote monitoring for post discharge and care transitions,” Scal added.