Wearables are smart devices that people wear throughout the day. They can be as simple as a fitness tracker or as complicated as an augmented reality headset.
The newest wave of wearables is transforming healthcare. By monitoring health, they alert patients to any changes and allow them to engage in their own care delivery.
Monitoring
The wrist isn’t just a fashion accessory anymore; wearables like activity trackers and smartwatches are used to collect data on everything from steps taken to heart rate. With that information, clinicians can track a patient’s health over time and alert them to changes in their condition.
The real-time nature of these devices also allows doctors to make a diagnosis more quickly and accurately in the clinic or remotely. This can lead to better outcomes for patients.
However, a number of issues could deter wearable adoption. For example, gamification elements that reward progress and encourage behavior change can be addictive and lead to overuse [80]. Additionally, the technology may appear unwieldy for elderly users. And staff may need additional training to help encourage and support the use of wearables in their care. Nevertheless, healthcare providers should embrace this emerging technology as a way to empower patients and allow them to manage their own wellness. eMarketer Daily is the leading source of news and insight for the global digital economy.
Chronic disease management
Wearables are personal and present at moments when a smartphone isn’t, which means they can help patients form healthy habits as part of their lifestyle. This could include meal planning and tracking steps, which can lead to behavior change that reduces the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes or heart disease.
Unlike consumer devices, wearables can capture detailed information about a patient’s activity over long periods of time, providing clinicians with more data to assess and monitor patient progress. This can also be a way to bridge the gap between a patient’s subjective perceptions of their health and the objective, real-time data that wearables provide [70].
Incentives such as financial rewards for adopting healthier habits or reducing insurance premiums are driving growth in connected fitness and wellness devices. In the long run, these devices can reduce overall demand on healthcare systems by promoting self-management and helping individuals avoid expensive, life-threatening complications from uncontrolled chronic conditions.
Personalised medicine
When thought leaders envision the future of healthcare, it is often a fusion of medicine and ground-breaking technology. They imagine sophisticated AI robots performing noninvasive surgery and curing cancer in a matter of minutes. However, the reality of healthcare is much more complicated than that.
Wearables make a big impact on the healthcare industry by providing a way for patients to monitor their health in real time. They help patients become more engaged in their health and fitness by allowing them to see the effects of their actions on their bodies.
They also reduce the cost of care by preventing medical mishaps that would otherwise go unnoticed. For example, they can detect abnormal heart rates or a change in blood pressure. They can even detect when a patient is at risk of a medical event such as a stroke or cardiac arrest. They can also identify genetic variations that can increase a person’s susceptibility to disease.
Patient engagement
With a vast array of wearables geared for health ailments on the market, medical wearables can be used to help patients manage their conditions. Specialized devices are being designed to solve specific problems, such as a device that supplies insulin and monitors blood sugar levels for diabetic patients. These wearables are transforming the healthcare model from reactive to preventive, and they provide the necessary tools to achieve that goal.
Patient engagement is becoming a priority for healthcare providers, as patients are looking for ways to manage their health and connect with their providers. Digital technology has streamlined patient access to their data and has given rise to various apps that can track vitals or connect them with a doctor. These trends show how important it is for designers to keep up with these changing needs and offer devices that are user-friendly. Otherwise, they risk losing consumer interest. This will be especially true if the wearables don’t have a clear value proposition.
OnePhenix is the only IPAAS software that connects your wearable data to your healthcare professionals. www.Onephenix.com.au