Verily’s Onduo, a digital health platform for managing chronic conditions, is sending Fitbits to some of its members. Photo credit: Verily
After Google closed its planned acquisition of Fitbit earlier this year, it’s bringing together two of its digital health efforts. Onduo, a platform for managing chronic conditions, such as diabetes, will offer Fitbit devices to its users to help them get a more comprehensive picture of their activity, sleep and stress levels.
People who access Onduo through their employer will have access to a Fitbit Inspire 2TM device and Fitbit Premium, a subscription service that gives them access to guided workouts and personalized health insights.
For example, people using the device might notice how increased activity can decrease their resting heart rate, Onduo CEO Dr. Vindell Washington said in a news release.
“Together with Fitbit, we’ll be able to better support condition-specific management and our members’ overall health and wellness by providing new tools and actionable guidance to support their health journeys,” he added.
Onduo is a subsidiary of Verily, Alphabet’s life sciences business. It started with diabetes management, and recently expanded into more conditions earlier this year by adding programs for mental wellness and hypertension. It also added a Spanish language option for its users.
Like its peers Livongo and Omada, it pairs app-based tools to manage these conditions with health coaches. But Onduo also has a virtual clinic with pharmacists, endocrinologists and other specialists.
In the meantime, as Google winds down its health division, it’s making Fitbit the focus of its consumer health efforts. In a news release, Fitbit Managing Director Amy McDonough said the company is looking to expand its work with companies like Onduo, and help support condition management.
