Royal Philips recently announced that some of its clinical, population health management and personal health and wellness solutions will be integrated with American Well’s mobile telehealth services. HCB News had the chance to speak with Egbert van Acht, the CEO of Philips’ personal health businesses, about this new partnership and the role of personal health in the future of medicine.

HCB News: As we push for value-based care, how does that change the role of consumer/personal health?

Egbert van Acht: Value-based health care is mostly focused on patient outcomes, and what is best for the patients is also in the interests of the health system. Their costs are exploding and we’re seeing an aging population and more people living with chronic diseases. So keeping patients healthy is helping everybody.

We believe that the way to make the next step in transforming health care is by taking a proactive and patient-centric mindset and offering solutions that help them manage their health in better ways to improve short-term and long-term outcomes.

We’re moving from one-off solutions and products to connected health solutions that help patients over their lifetime. The connectivity of our platform gives insight that helps the patient change their behavior and more easily connect with and follow the recommendation of their doctor.

We believe these intelligent platforms are the future. It’s a combination of devices, sensors, software, smart algorithms as well as the role of artificial intelligence in that.

HCB News: What are some of the areas where consumer/personal health hold the most untapped potential to keep people out of the hospital?

EVA: If a patient suffers from any chronic condition like heart disease or diabetes, they can benefit from smart solutions with predictive analytics in the background that pick of signs of health deterioration. We try to get ahead of the game by also incorporating patients’ genetic makeup and lifestyle habits, to create a full patient picture and enable individualized, personal coaching.

We launched SmartSleep, which is the first clinically proven sleep solution to improve the quality of deep sleep. We know from research that from age 25 to late 40s, about 40 percent are not sleeping the recommended seven hours per night, which effects concentration, memory and focus.

The introduction of SmartSleep is helping people have a better quality deep sleep. It leads to a better rest and more energy even with less sleep than recommended.

HCB News: How does Philips’ just-announced telehealth partnership with America Well fit into this evolving care continuum?

EVA: We are really excited about the partnership. The embedding of the American Well mobile telehealth services into a wider array of solutions for healthy consumers and patients with a medical need, we believe has a lot of potential.

Stage one for this partnership is the integration of 24/7 telehealth services into our uGrow digital parenting platform. The uGrow app helps the healthy development of your baby over time by tracking information from breastfeeding and nutrition to growth.

In the middle of the night, if the baby has a fever or doesn’t accept the breastfeeding, the patient cannot call or visit their doctor or midwife, but with telehealth they now can get advice and help when needed.

HCB News: Why is American Well the right partner for this endeavor?

EVA: American Well has proven solutions for both consumers and professionals and already works with the 36 top U.S. health insurers, over 70 U.S. health systems comprising more than 975 hospitals and companies such as CVS and Walgreens. American Well and its partners in the U.S., collectively serve more than 150 million American consumers through telehealth.

Philips itself serves many thousands of customers and billions of people across the globe. By working together we can enhance existing and future services as well as leverage the additional channels offered by the extensive American Well ecosystem.

HCB News: Do you see telehealth taking on a much larger role in U.S. health care over the next several years?

EVA: Yes, and not just in the U.S., but globally as well. In the U.S., it can take up to 24 days before you have an appointment with your doctor, which is a long waiting time if you are in need of care. Also, some people live in more remote areas, so for them it can be quite a travel to see their doctor.

Telehealth makes this 24/7, readily available, where and when you need it. We call it democratizing health care and bringing it closer to people and their home.

We will always need hospitals, but a lot of the first line support can be done through telehealth. Over time, I think the ‘tele’ part will drop from telehealth, and it will become health care as we know it in the future.