Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) said today it inked a deal with Garmin to integrate data from its wearable devices into Medtronic Care Management Services remote patient monitoring platform.
Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic touted that it was the 1st company to adopt and help launch the Garmin Health software development kit by syncing Garmin Vivofit series activity tracker data into its MCMS NetResponse mobile application.
Medtronic said that activity level tracking can be an important factor in assessing patient health when monitoring chronic conditions or in post-discharge recovery. The company said that the integration will allow clinicians to better evaluate patient health information, consider early interventions and avoid unnecessary costs and time spent.
“Remote patient monitoring is at its best when technology and care coordination can work together seamlessly. Garmin activity trackers have the features and long battery life that will help make at-home monitoring easier for patients. We are excited to bring this unique integration into our industry-leading services to help enhance the healthcare and post-discharge recovery support care providers can give to their patients, especially those living with chronic conditions,” Medtronic care management services GM Sheri Dodd said in a prepared statement.
The integration will allow the Garmin Vivofit activity tracker to be included as a Bluetooth-connected peripheral device for use with MCMS’ remote monitoring services.
“Combining the benefits of Garmin activity trackers with our SDK reduces friction for patients, so Medtronic can use a single interface to collect data. Garmin is excited to partner with Medtronic, a leader in medical technology, to add activity data from our world-class wearable devices,” Garmin worldwide sales VP Dan Bartel said in a press release.