Key Points:
- Fitness tracker Whoop will offer U.S. users on-demand video consultations with licensed clinicians directly through its mobile app.
- The health technology company recently raised $575 million, which pushed its total valuation to a massive $10.1 billion.
- A new partnership with HealthEx allows members to store their medical records and track medications inside the Whoop app.
- Most new AI features come free with a membership, but live medical video calls will cost an extra fee.
Wearable fitness company Whoop announced on Friday that it will bring real doctors directly to its mobile app. Users in the United States will soon be able to access licensed clinicians on demand right from their phones. The company pairs this new medical service with a global rollout of artificial intelligence tools that link daily health data with live professional guidance.
The company includes most of these fresh updates at no extra charge for current subscribers. However, U.S. customers who want face-to-face live video calls with doctors will need to pay an additional fee. Whoop plans to release the exact pricing and full details when the video feature officially launches this summer.
Ed Baker works as the chief product officer at Whoop. He stated that the leadership team takes the monthly membership seriously and constantly looks for ways to give people more for their money. Baker called these new additions some of the most meaningful updates the software engineers have ever built for the platform.
The business continues to grow at a massive rate. Whoop currently tracks the daily physical activity of more than 2.5 million users worldwide. Back in March, the company closed a massive $575 million funding round. This huge cash injection raised the startup’s total valuation to an incredible $10.1 billion.
When a user requests a medical consultation, the doctor begins by conducting a thorough review of the numbers. The wearable wrist strap collects biometric data, and the app shares this information directly with the medical professional. If the user provides the files, the doctor also reviews past blood work and complete medical history to build a full picture of the patient.
A company representative clarified that the new video tool is a simple addition to standard care. The company does not want this tool to replace a traditional primary care doctor. Users should still visit their local clinics and absolutely call emergency services if they experience a severe health crisis. The spokesperson also noted that details on whether these in-app doctors can write actual medical prescriptions are currently unavailable.
Will Ahmed leads Whoop as the chief executive officer. He explained to reporters that the company’s coaching tools grow smarter and more personal every single year. Ahmed sees this medical addition as the clear next step in the product’s journey. He wants to give users a total, comprehensive understanding of their actual health status at all times.
The major update also brings a brand new partnership with HealthEx, a company that manages personal health records. Through this connection, users can now safely store and track their personal medical diagnoses directly inside the Whoop app. They can also log daily medications and record past surgical procedures right next to their normal workout data.
Once the user inputs all this medical history, the artificial intelligence software goes to work. The app creates highly personalized daily coaching plans based on the user’s specific health needs. It even sends proactive check-in reminders to ensure the person takes their medication on time or rests properly after a tough medical procedure.
This aggressive push into medical services comes less than a year after Whoop faced serious regulatory trouble. The United States Food and Drug Administration sent the technology company a warning letter regarding its blood pressure-tracking feature. Federal regulators accused Whoop of marketing an unauthorized medical device that falsely claimed to diagnose, cure, or prevent human diseases.
Fortunately for the tech company, federal regulators recently updated their strict rules. In January, the FDA issued new guidance regarding health electronics. The government now allows companies to use optical sensing technology for blood pressure measurements in basic wellness devices. The only catch is that companies must avoid making strict medical-grade diagnostic claims when selling the products to regular consumers.
With the FDA issues resolved and $575 million in fresh funding, Whoop clearly wants to dominate the wearable health market. The transition from a simple workout tracker to a pocket-sized medical clinic shows exactly where the fitness industry heads next. Millions of users will soon decide if talking to a doctor through a fitness app truly improves their daily physical health.
