Add AT&T to the list of high tech companies seeking to increase their visibility in the medical device industry: The Dallas–based telecommunications giant has appointed digital health notable Eric Topol, MD, as its new chief medical advisor.
Topol will continue as chief academic officer at San Diego–Scripps Health, even as he offers AT&T strategic guidance in areas such as emerging devices, and mHealth products and services, the company said in a Monday news release.
Chris Hill, senior vice president of advanced solutions at AT&T Business Solutions, describes Topol as a "change agent who has dedicated his career to creating awareness and promoting adoption of health IT solutions to improve patient care."
Topol's projects include his work with Axel Scherer, PhD, of Caltech on tiny blood stream nano sensor chips that might sense the precursor of a heart attack—potentially warning a person on their own smartphone that they should immediately see their cardiologist.
Talk to Topol, a practicing cardiologist who is one of the most-frequently cited medical researchers, and it isn't hard to picture a future when some of the traditional medical devices so lauded today will play a less important role in healthcare than they do now. The reason? Novel digital-powered devices will take on an expanded role in preventing and treating serious conditions.
AT&T obviously wants to get more involved in the area, and the multitrillion-dollar U.S. healthcare industry.
Topol's collaboration with AT&T comes at the same time that Apple and Google executives have each been meeting with the FDA. Apple appears to be considering healthcare-related features for the iWatch, while Google says it is developing a glucose-monitoring contact lens.
San Diego–based Qualcomm has been especially seeking dominance in the mobile health space.
Learn about cutting-edge medtech technologies and trends at MD&M West, which is held February 10–13 in Anaheim, CA.
Topol has some of the most lengthy mobile health credentials in the business. More than a decade ago, he was the first physician to serve on the medical advisory board for wireless medicine pioneer CardioNet, which supplies remote heart monitoring technology. In 2007, he joined Sotera Wireless' board; the company has developed a non-invasive blood pressure monitoring device that also captures vital signs.
AT&T started AT&T ForHealth to "accelerate the delivery of innovative wireless, cloud-based and networking services and applications to help the healthcare industry improve patient care and reduce costs," according to an online corporate media kit. Its mobile health offerings seem to be especially focused on smartphone-based chronic disease management and remote patient monitoring, as well as enterprise-based services to help health providers operate more efficiently.
