Wearable Benefits For Healthcare
From fitness trackers to sophisticated wearables designed for medical use, these gadgets collect massive amounts of data on a person’s health and lifestyle. Physicians are eager to leverage this data for better patient care.
But some clinicians are hesitant to embrace this technology, fearing inaccurate data. Others are taking a more open-minded approach, believing that patients could benefit from being empowered.
Improved Patient Care
Wearable medical devices are designed to track health and well-being in a variety of ways. Examples include a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device, smartwatches, fitness trackers, and sensors that are embedded in clothing.
For example, some wearable devices monitor heart rate, skin temperature, body posture, single-lead ECG, and fall detection to help reduce the incidence of stroke and cardiovascular disease. Other wearables, such as the Moov Now, detect epileptic seizures and can help doctors optimize antiepileptic therapy to improve quality of life for those with epilepsy.
Incorporating wearable technology into chronic disease management helps patients become more active participants in their own health care by providing them with the data and tools they need to be proactive about their wellness. This shift from passive patient treatment to active health monitoring results in medical cost reduction.
Better Patient Experience
Patients can track their health goals and get personalized recommendations through their wearable device. They can also monitor their symptoms that may not be present during doctor visits, making it easier for doctors to detect problems and provide timely care.
Some medical devices can even detect signs of a life-threatening event, like heart palpitations and respiratory distress. By connecting with electronic health records, these devices can alert patients or their doctors if they are entering risk zones, which can help save lives.
There are numerous fitness and wellness wearables that are available, such as activity trackers, blood pressure monitors, ECG patches, sensor gloves, and more. Researchers are experimenting with other wearables as well, like the Oura Ring, which can predict ovulation in women. Some healthcare organizations are even offering onsite technology assistance, similar to the Apple Genius Bar, for their patients.
Increased Life Expectancy
With the increasing adoption of wearable medical devices, life expectancy is on the rise. For instance, some devices can measure blood glucose levels, track the heart rate, and monitor breathing to help patients manage chronic diseases such as diabetes or Parkinson’s.
The use of sensors enables doctors to monitor and analyze the data from the devices to provide appropriate treatment for the patient. This helps in enhancing the quality of healthcare and improving the patient experience.
For example, in one study, wearing a continuous glucose monitor reduced the time clinicians spent on phone calls with people with diabetes by 50 percent. In addition, the use of wearables can lead to a more holistic approach to healthcare and reduce costs. This is why some companies are focusing on developing smarter wearables.
Reduced Time in Hospitals
The health benefits of wearables can also cut down the amount of time patients spend in hospitals. A study found that people spend an average of 121 minutes for every doctor’s visit, with 64 of those minutes spent waiting for care or filling out paperwork.
Consumer wearables are now capable of collecting data that was only previously available through specialized medical devices like blood pressure monitors and glucose monitors. These devices are able to send their readings directly to the patient’s electronic health record, eliminating the need for a traditional visit with a healthcare provider.
Furthermore, the technology could even enable doctors to detect health issues before they become major problems. This can help to prevent costly hospital visits for patients who might otherwise be unable to afford treatment in the first place.
Personalized Treatment Plan
Wearable technology offers a wide range of health benefits to patients, hospitals and caregivers. These devices are able to track a variety of different aspects of physiology from blood glucose levels to sleep quality and more.
Many of these devices use machine learning to analyze data and make predictions and recommendations for their users. To work best, these algorithms need lots of data from many different people to learn how to recognize patterns and predict outcomes accurately.
However, there is still a significant socioeconomic gap that limits the use of these tools to people with higher incomes. Those without access to these devices often face worse health outcomes, so these technologies could offer a powerful way to help bridge this gap and improve healthcare for all.
OnePhenix the only IPAAS software that connects your wearable data to your healthcare professionals.