What's New With the Health App in iOS 15: Data Sharing, Lab Result Improvements, COVID Vaccine Records and More

Apple made some notable improvements to the Health app in iOS 15, primarily focused on helping iPhone users care for elderly parents and others who might need additional medical oversight and help.

iOS 15 Health Feature 2
There are extensive sharing features that let users keep an eye on the health data of a loved one, plus bonus features like walking steadiness metrics and improvements to how lab results are presented. This guide highlights all of the new additions in the iOS 15 Health app.

ios 15 health app overview

Walking Steadiness

Walking Steadiness is a new health metric that uses data culled from the ‌iPhone‌ to provide insight into a person's risk of falling down.

ios 15 walking steadiness health app
It uses algorithms that assess balance, strength, and gait, using metrics like walking speed, step length, and walking asymmetry data.

‌iPhone‌ users are able to opt in to receive a notification when walking steadiness risk is high. The feature also offers up curated exercises to improve walking steadiness.

Lab Result Improvements

Lab results imported into the Health app from a healthcare provider now include much more information on what the lab tests for, the result received, what the result received means, and how the result compares to prior tests.

ios 15 health app labs
It provides a clear visual on whether a lab result is normal or out of range so you can see at a glance if something is off. Lab highlights are shown in the health summary, and important labs can be pinned for quick access.

COVID-19 Vaccines and Test Results

iOS 15 supports digital storage of COVID-19 vaccination records. Healthcare providers or states can offer a QR code that ‌iPhone‌ users can scan to upload their vaccination records to the Health app.

ios 15 covid vaccine results
COVID-19 test results are also supported.

Blood Glucose Highlights

Users who monitor their blood glucose levels can receive highlights that display blood glucose during sleep and during exercise. Apple has added interactive charts to make it easier for users to view and analyze their blood glucose data.

In the Health app, the Trend feature analyzes shared data and provides details at a glance on how health metrics are progressing, such as heart rate and activity level. In iOS 15, users can opt to receive notifications when a new trend is detected in health data.

ios 15 health app trend info

Sharing Features

The iOS 15 Health app adds multiple sharing options for sharing your health data with your family members.

Share Health Data

Health data can be shared with others starting in iOS 15, so family members can exchange health info or a child can better care for an elderly parent. ‌iPhone‌ users can choose specific health data to share, including heart health, activity, labs, vitals, medical ID, cycle tracking, research studies, and more.

ios 15 health app start sharing interface
When data is shared, only a summary of each topic trend is shared rather than each data point. So, for example, the person who is seeing shared data with will see an overall heart rate summary if heart rate information is shared, but not all heart rate data.

ios 15 health app sharing details
Data that's shared shows up in the Health app of the other person so it's quick and easy to access. Whenever updated health information is available, the person who is seeing shared data will receive a notification to view it.

ios 15 health app shared data options
Health trend information is also shared when health data is shared, and there's a built-in Messages feature for discussing health changes and metrics.

apple health sharing trends

Share Notifications

Apple will send notifications when shared health info is updated, but notifications are also sent for high heart rate and irregular heart rhythms, so if an elderly parent has an emergency, their caretaker can be notified. Apple warns that notifications are not immediate, and could take time to appear.

Notifications can also be sent for significant changes in shared data categories, such as a large decline in activity or sleep, which is useful for lending extra assistance to those who need it.

Share Health Data with Doctors

Doctor's offices and hospitals that participate in Apple's Health Records feature can sign up to be able to access patient data. From there, patients can choose to share their data with their doctors, and data is viewable in a dashboard in the health provider's health records system.

ios 15 health app sharing doctor
This is opt-in and participating medical facilities need to use both Health Records and the data sharing features.

Guide Feedback

Have questions about the Health app features in iOS 15, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.

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Top Rated Comments

jonnysods Avatar
50 months ago
I tell you all this data just takes on a whole new type of uneasiness for me in light of the CSAM tech.

“What happens on your phone, stays on your phone“

Well not anymore.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SuperCachetes Avatar
50 months ago

Article Link: What's New With the Health App in iOS 15: Data Sharing, Lab Result Improvements, COVID Vaccine Records and More ('https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-15-health-app/')
@arn Is there some deliberate reason that not a single one of these many recent iOS 15 feature posts says anything about how the software is NOT RELEASED YET? It is in beta - developer, public, or otherwise. It would seem like any of the words "upcoming," or "future," or "imminent" could be easily added to the post title or even the post content at very little effort, and could help prevent confusion from new members or casual observers.

I love this site, but I don't get the journalistic apathy on this. This post won't even be on the front page next week - if it's "relevance duration" we're trying to preserve, that ship sailed a long time ago. Please consider any sort of mention of how iOS 15 is NOT a mainstream release as of today. Thanks!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CE3 Avatar
50 months ago
Still no Health app on iPadOS ?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Naraxus Avatar
50 months ago
Can't trust Apple on privacy anymore. Damn sure as **** won't trust them with my medical records
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
prizm Avatar
50 months ago
Why can't I look at all my health data on MacOS? Seems kind of dumb.

Siri is dumb. Health data can't be viewed in a larger format on a desktop. Dumb. Come on Apple.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rocko99991 Avatar
50 months ago
Scanning my images now you want to scan my health data-no.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)