Whoop wearable adds on-demand clinician access for U.S. users
▼ Summary
– Whoop will offer in-app access to on-demand licensed clinicians for U.S. users, with live video consultation at an additional cost launching this summer.
– New AI-driven features allow users to connect continuous biometric data with medical guidance in real time, many included in the membership price.
– Medical consultations start with a comprehensive evaluation of device data, blood work, and medical history, designed to complement existing care.
– Whoop partnered with HealthEx to let users track diagnoses, medications, and procedures in the app, with AI-powered coaching and check-in reminders.
– The update follows an FDA warning letter for Whoop’s Blood Pressure Insights feature, but new FDA guidance allows optical sensing in wellness devices without medical-grade claims.
Whoop, the popular fitness wearable brand, is rolling out a new feature that lets U.S. subscribers connect directly with licensed clinicians through its app. The company made the announcement on Friday, detailing a broader update that includes a range of health and AI-powered tools designed to turn continuous biometric data into real-time medical insights.
While many of the upcoming features are bundled into the standard membership fee, live video consultations for American users will carry an extra charge. Whoop said it will release pricing details when the service launches this summer.
“Whoop is a membership, and we take that seriously,” said Ed Baker, Whoop’s chief product officer, in a press release. “We’re always asking how we can deliver more value to our members, and these upcoming features are some of the most meaningful we’ve ever built.”
With more than 2.5 million users worldwide, Whoop closed a $575 million funding round in March, pushing its valuation to $10.1 billion. The company is now leveraging that scale to deepen its integration into users’ healthcare routines.
According to the company, each medical consultation will start with a thorough review of the data collected by the device, and when available, blood work and medical history. A Whoop spokesperson told CNBC that the video consultation feature is meant to support a user’s existing care, not replace a primary care doctor or emergency services. On Friday, the company noted that details on whether clinicians can prescribe medication through the service “aren’t available at this time.”
“As our data and coaching insights have become more advanced and personalized, the next step is giving members access to a comprehensive understanding of their overall health,” Whoop CEO Will Ahmed told CNBC.
The update also includes a partnership with HealthEx, a health records platform. Users can now track diagnoses, medications, and procedures directly in the Whoop app, while receiving AI-powered personalized coaching and proactive check-in reminders.
This announcement comes less than a year after the U. S. Food and Drug Administration sent Whoop a warning letter regarding its Blood Pressure Insights feature, claiming the company was marketing an unauthorized medical device intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease. However, new FDA guidance issued in January permits optical sensing blood pressure measurements in wellness devices, as long as they avoid making “medical-grade” diagnostic claims.
(Source: CNBC)
