Apple Watch Series 4 vs Medical Alert Systems and Smartwatches

In 2018 Apple released its new Series 4 smartwatch and impressed the world by announcing that the device comes with several features akin to a medical alert unit. The previous models could already make emergency calls, but the latest version is also fitted with fall detection and a built-in electrocardiogram. This begs the question, how does the Apple Watch Series 4 fair when compared to an actual medical alert system?

Similar to a medical alert help button, Apple’s device is capable of initiating an SOS call in a peril by pressing the touchscreen. There is a list of default contacts – such as 911 and country-specific services – but custom contacts can be added as well with adjustable priorities to set which will be number one. What makes this feature truly unique is that the smartwatch sends the contact a text message with your current location attached, so that they will know where to send the emergency personnel.

For years, fall detection has been a concept exclusive to medical alert pendants. However, the Apple Watch Series 4 not only includes a similar feature but Apple boasts 100% accuracy when it comes to determining false alarms; this is a bit of an overconfident statement considering that no technology is failproof. Although the company hasn’t gone too deep into technical details, it claimed that the smartwatch relies on gyroscopes and accelerometers to pick up signs of a fall – just as a fall detection pendant does.

These similarities indicate that the wristwatch also has blind spots and can fail to register falls in certain circumstances. For example, the official description says that you need to lie unresponsively for 60 seconds to trigger the automated emergency message, but when someone hurts themselves after a hard fall they will likely roll around in pain, misleading the device. As such, it’s unlikely the Smart Watch will offer any advantage over a medical alert watch, and so the two systems are equal in reliability.

Like MobileHelp Smart, the Series 4 smartwatch has a built-in electrocardiogram that measures the wearer’s heart rate and catalogs it. This is very convenient for seniors and patients who need to perform the process multiple times a day.

The corresponding app not only stores the data but also shares it with health practitioners or caregivers via a text message. Unfortunately, the feature wasn’t available at launch and smartwatch users outside of the U.S. had to wait even longer to get their hands on it. Nevertheless, only Apple and MobileHelp offer the feature right now, but it’s easy to see how more medical alert companies will add an ECG to their own smartwatches in the future.