Integrate with iOS Health

[so-rich]

Hi there,

I'm really excited about Apple's announcement of the Health App in iOS 8 to be release this fall.  I'm looking forward to seeing a product announcement by Fitbit for a successor to the recalled Fitbit Force, and I'm really hoping to hear some exciting news about Fitbits intigration with Apple's new Health App to be released alongside iOS 8 this fall.  

This is a huge oportunity to make your devices even smarter and more integrated - Please support these APIs!  Thanks!

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity and labels.

[UgoKTjo]

I am a RN and have worked in healthcare for over ten years advocating for integration of mobile apps & wearables with healthcare electronic records.

I'm 100% certain that your company could help patient's who come into the hospital and in some cases save their very lives.

And it’s doable by integrating the Fitbit data with patient's electronic medical records. When this happens, this will be one of the most important technological advancements we've seen in our lifetime.   

 IT CAN BE DONE. 

 Fitbit- you can either lead this change that saves lives or you can sit back and be the follower until a more bold and better wearables company gets the gall to do it.

Ok, let me explain what I mean by Fitbit creating something that could change and save peoples lives.  So, know how Fitbit has the current technology to recognize when you're "restless" vs. asleep and can track what times during the night?

Fitbit is therefore capable of further developing this feature to recognize the moment of onset someone suffers a stroke or heart attack. 

Lets say someone has their fitbit on and they're home alone do laundry.  They suddenly feel that intense pain in their head and it’s a strok instantly causing them to fall to the ground. They’re alone laying on the ground for an unknown amount of time until their son stops by and find them on the ground and calls 911.  And I’ve been the nurse standing their at the doors of the E.R when that person comes in on the gurney.

When I see these patients I can almost hear the clock immediately start ticking because we have very little time to act to save them. There’s a medication that’s been extremely effective to save stroke patient’s lives or prevent them from suffering life long conditions that debilitate them.  However, the downside to this medication (named TPA) is that there’s a very narrow window that it can be given, too much time passes and it can do more harm than help or not work.  But when it’s given in that “window”, it saves people’s lives.  Truly.

So with fitbit, the moment that patient rolls in on the gurney I could sync their device to my electronic medical chart.  I'd immediately have the data to track when and how long ago they fell to the ground.  I would be able to know down to the minute how much time we had left to give TPA before it was too late.  This vital information is what could SAVE THOUSANDS OF LIVES! DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND??

Therefore Fitbit employees and all others reading this, let me remind you that we are not immune to this example I give.  Some of you will suffer heart attacks or maybe a close friend or parent a stroke…it can happen in an instant.  And if it does, will you remember reading this and think "if only”?  "If only I’d clicked to vote yes.”  "If only I’d taken the time to write a response in support of this.”  If only. Maybe they could have lived.  But the good news is it’s not too late. WE CAN DO THIS.  NOW.

So common!  Start “taking those steps!” 

“BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD”

  I’ll be standing with you in this  and I look forward to the day when I have more stroke patients that leave the hospital within a few days than those who never leave.  

Thank you for taking the time to read this.  Spread the word.  

-Kate RN

[MarianCab]

Just moved from a Jawbone Up4 to a Fitbit Alta and then realized that it doesn't synch with AppleHealth. I plan to return my new Fitbit because it is worthless to me without that feature.

[cTan]

It has been years since the Apple iOS Health App came out.  In 2014 you said you were NOT going to develop anything for integrating a user's data into Apple's Health App, nor would you develop anything for integrating other device informaiton into the FitBit ecosystem. Rather  you said you would wait and see how Apple's Health Kit matured.

Since that time you have added "smart" functionality to your devices, and the iOS has grown and matured.   Please re-examine the utility of creaing a syncing service between your devices and Apple's Helath Kit.

I personally am interested in the ability to use my Aria to store my weight in the Health App and the iWatch to store (and compete) my steps in the FitBit ecosystem.

If I may make two suggestions as a solution.

1)  Purchased Hardware:  If someone has a registered device (wearable), or is part of a household with a shared device (Aria), the data could be shared between digital ecosystems. 

2)  Paid Service:  Make true Apple Health syncing part of paid service, similar to Premium.

[cTan]

I have updated the request for the latest OS.  While I know that this is most likely a useless attempt, I wanted to show that this is still as relevant as ever and that it needs a new evaluation.

Every new iOS we should request this functionality.

Please vote up iOS 10 Health App Integration (https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Suggestions/Integrate-with-iOS-10-Health-App/idi-p/1579365)...

[Nisse]

It's incredible that a company like Fittbit don't listen to 1000+ users asking for a simple integration with one of the worlds biggest OS for personal use.

It's a 1000+ users that's going with another brand next time they purchase a fitness device.  

[Sherri0]

I am not interested in paying for a premium service.  I am interested in integration with AppleHealthNet as other as other activity monitors provide.  My next tracker will be a brand that does.

[Markdel2105]

I have been a Fitbit customer for many years, owning both the Charge HR and an Aria. I have recently purchased an Apple Watch, and am very disappointed to see the lack of intergration for existing customers. I would be interested to know why FB are unwilling to create better integration allowing for customers to sync Apple Watch data in to the Fitbit app. As a customer who own's FB products, I would like the ability to pick when I use them, over others, but still have all my data count towards challenges. I would even be willing to pay a small price for an intergration app. Please address your lack of intergration with IOS 10!! Or rick alienating your customers.

[eshirvana]

Its embaressing , Just decided switching to Apple watch Nike edition , because it is integrated into Apple healthcare

good bye Fitbit ,Im gonna return my product and get my money back .

[SamLute]

Yes, please!

[MarianCab]

Just moved from a Jawbone Up4 to a Fitbit Alta and then realized that it doesn't synch with AppleHealth. I plan to return my new Fitbit because it is worthless to me without that feature.

[PKDaba]

@UgoKTjo, I think that you may be expecting too much out of Fitbit. It seems to be fighting many internal fires (e.g. poor quality control, poor UI / UX with the Blaze, increasing customer dissatisfaction) to be able to be forward thinking in researching (much less implementing) the wonderful and potential life saving ideas you’ve outlined.

Fitbit has remained silent about HealthKit for the last 2+ years. More recently, it has even stopped support for Microsoft’s Health Vault. It’s apparent that Fitbit wants to do it all alone. So, I would not expect Fitbit to meet your expectations in the near (or distant) future.

As far as your ideas are concerned, Apple has already established its software frameworks like HealthKit, and more recently ResearchKit and CareKit. These software frameworks have opened the door for device and app developers to meet the needs that you’ve outlined. I’m anticipating that you’ll start seeing devices (specialized within hospitals and even to the general public) coming on market in the next couple of years (if not sooner) that addresses the needs you've outlined. I doubt very much though that Fitbit will be one of the developers that will be making such devices and apps.

[PKDaba]

@cTan, I would actually not even include the version number. Also, integration is not with ‘Health App’ per say, but integration with ‘Apple’s HealthKit’ which is the core iOS software framework that ALL apps interact with as it relates to fitness and health tracking.

The problem with including a version number is that it dilutes the number of votes every time a new iOS version is released and a feature request is made corresponding to that version like you’ve done. HealthKit and its principle of fitness and health tracking is what’s important here. The 'Health' app, and other fitness/health apps (from Nike, Under Armour, Garmin, etc.) are just one of the many apps that integrate with HealthKit. The Fitbit App is the only app not talking to HealthKit to the frustration of many iOS Fitbit users.

If it was me, I would have titled the new feature request as “Integrate with Apple iOS HealthKit” (no version number). Personally speaking, I would continue with this thread as it shows the ridiculous amount of votes and time that has gone by with not one official response from Fitbit. Also, this is the thread that Fitbit directs its users to when they enquire about HealthKit support, with the apparent intention of giving them false hope that integration may happen. I would keep this one going for as long as possible. It would be interesting to see how many years more pass before its status is changed from ‘Under Consideration’ to something else.

[Rowrowrow]

Bump! Very excited to see a Fitbit/aria + health integration finally!!!

[Sabas]

It's depressing that for more than two years people have been politely requesting Fitbit to add support and nothing has changed. 

[eshirvana]

Maybe it's time to get angry 😡 and boycott Fitbit

[ydna]

Here is what I want most from my Fitbit.   "Access to all-day heart rate data in Apple Health."

The Apple Watch is an awesome SmartWatch but for $400+ I will settle for my Firbit Charge HR which cost me only $125.

[PKDaba]

@KellyAPN and @UgoKTjo came across this article today discussing Apple's plans for sleep tracking and future medical and health initiatives: Click here for article.

The article further includes a link to Bloomberg's report for more specifics.

[Guinness1213]

I as well would like to see integration with iOS, specifically health app. I've bought an Apple Watch and forsee me abandoning my Fitbit One once my device reaches end of life unless we see some integration soon.

[RussellNoblett]

I agree, the benefits of having a link to Apple Health, the sharing of steps between the two would be fantastic. I love my Surge but I want an Apple Watch too and it feels like i'm being punished for having both.

[prwood]

 So, here's something fascinating that I just noticed in the Fitbit app. When you go to set up a new Fitbit device, there's an extra option on the bottom.

"No Fitbit Yet?"...

No problem! Fitbit can use Apple's Motion and Fitness data to treat your phone as a Fitbit.

MobileTrack! Ta-da!

Motion & Fitness access granted - now Fitbit can read all the motion sensor data from your iPhone.

So, Fitbit will happily read the motion data that Apple has provided (gyroscope, accelerometer, altimeter, etc measurements) through its Core Motion framework, but they can't be bothered to write any of their computed data (steps, calories, etc) back to the HealthKit framework. I see how it is.

[PKDaba]

 @prwood, thanks for sharing. Like I’ve said before, Fitbit’s relationship with Apple is parasitic. For its iOS users, Fitbit needs the iPhone to survive. It sucks all your fitness data for Fitbit’s benefit, not leaving much for its iOS hosts in return. Many of us have gotten rid of this parasite a while back. We are here to warn you to do the same.

[tacomonster]

As a dedicated Jawbone user I was essentially pushed into Fitbit. Amazed that a feature that was requested in iOS8 has yet to be implemented. This is another formal request to have this integration occur. 

As a technology company that's leading the market on wearables this is rather suprizing and humiliating. Also, find someone to do UI/UX, but throw that on the backburner.

[Nisse]

And so it's goodbye for me - just bought a Jawbone UP3, couldn't be happier! I have never heard or experienced a company that care this little about it's user as Fittbit.

Farewell Fittbit, you will not be missed.

[LeSash]

Honestly - I can't see what's happening here.

Fitbit releases a brand new tracker (Charge 2) and I bought it, because it is advertised as "compatible with iPhone". Sorry but no, it is not. If someone releases a gadget that says it's compatible, then I expect that it supports all features that have been around for a few years. I don't expect it to support all features that came with iOS10, but honestly - HealthKit and app notifications have been around for years?!

[Rich_Laue]

This is a duplicate request of https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Suggestions/Integrate-with-iOS-8-Health-App/idi-p/319432

Please add your comments and votes over there.