How Do Wearable Devices Benefit Health Care?

While the fitness world relies on wearable technology, it is not the only industry that can benefit from monitors. Wearable health trackers are expected to generate $41.3 billion in revenue by 2020, according to Datamation. As the usage of these devices grows, the health care industry can take advantage of the data these wearables collect to provide premium care.

Integrating wearables into existing software
Fitness bands and smartwatches collect a plethora of data, from step count to users' heart rates. This data is already connected to mobile applications that allow the wearers' to monitor their own health. Recently, medical software has been created that allows them to take it a step further. Instead of just using apps that gather health information in one place, wearable device users can upload that data to their patient portals or to their electronic health records, Healthcare IT News explained.

Patient-generated data can help health care providers better diagnose and treat their patients. Wearable devices allow doctors to monitor their patients on a regular basis, as opposed to once a year for physicals or when something is wrong. This method would also provide physicians with more accurate data, as opposed to when patients manually enter their own, Validic CEO and cofounder Ryan Beckland explained to mHealth News. Wearable devices aid doctors in providing more efficient care, while cutting costs and allowing for remote monitoring, the source explained. These gadgets also benefit telemedicine by providing physicians with real-time data.

Self-monitored care
According to a study in Health IT Analytics, 66 percent of patients are willing to use mobile apps to monitor their health. The most popular ones included medication reminders, diet trackers, fitness monitors and symptom checkers. Of those responders, 79 percent also indicated they wouldn't mind wearable devices to help monitor their health.

A separate study in HIT Consultant reported that 46 percent of physicians believe mobile health apps improve patient care. Doctors also think that mHealth will increase patient engagement and advance their knowledge of their patients' conditions. Physicians already receive patient-generated information from 32 percent of the study's responders.

With patients taking a proactive role in their own health through mobile applications and wearable devices, they are receiving a higher level of care in their doctors' offices. By sharing that information through patient portals and their EHRs, patients can receive more efficient and accurate health care from their physicians.

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Ronny Bachrach

Marketing Director at Viztek LLC

Responsible for all marketing activities including, press, advertising, trade show coordination, website management, dealer and customer communications.