From watches that read your heart rate to glucose monitors, wearable health technology is more prevalent than ever. At the clinical level, these devices may change healthcare for the better.
That said, wearables still require proper training and oversight for safe use. Below, find out how wearable technology in healthcare may affect your practice.
Types of Wearable Devices in Healthcare
Wearables come in a variety of forms, both consumer-grade and medical-grade. Many people often think of them as fitness trackers, such as a smartwatch or activity monitor. Or, in more recent developments, “smart” jewelry that can read vitals or track sleep patterns.
While consumer products are for general use, medical-grade wearables serve more specialized purposes. Examples include:
- Continuous glucose monitors
- Wearable blood pressure monitors
- Sweat sensors
- Electrocardiogram monitors
- Smart hearing aids and glasses
- Respiratory sensors
Patients and providers may use the data from these devices to better understand overall well-being.
Use of Wearable Technology
Medical providers may use wearables to track various health issues and chronic conditions. Examples include:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Depression
- Allergies
- Anxiety
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Diabetes
Although these devices can be helpful, keep a few things in mind when asking patients to use them.
First, consider the validity of the data, especially from consumer-grade wearables. How is the data collected, aggregated and interpreted?
You may also need to educate patients on proper device use, as that can also affect data collection. Discuss false-positive and -negative results and what triggers an alert prompting medical intervention.
Benefits of Wearable Technology
Wearable health and wellness devices may offer a variety of benefits for both patients and their providers. When used appropriately, wearables can:
- Promote active participation in care: Patients may feel more empowered to manage their health with such technology. These devices may also enhance health literacy and motivate behavior change.
- Save time and money: Wearables may improve convenience and reduce costs by eliminating unnecessary appointments. Remote monitoring can allow physicians to supervise and make adjustments from afar.
- Provide comprehensive data sets: Data collected over time by medical-grade wearables may provide a more accurate picture of a person’s health.
Although wearable technology has limits, it may also improve patient outcomes by encouraging proactive and personalized care.
Possible Challenges of Wearable Devices
Even though wearable devices can be useful, there are important issues to keep in mind. The potential challenges of this technology include:
- Lack of regulation: Currently, consumer-grade wellness trackers have little to no FDA regulation. That means these devices may provide either a false sense of security or unnecessary health anxiety. As a result, patients may delay care, schedule unnecessary appointments or lose trust in providers.
- Data privacy: It may be unclear who can access the data collected by a wearable. Some wellness trackers may store or share health data with questionable third parties.
- Accuracy: It can be difficult to know how accurate the technology is. They may not always be accurate because of device issues or user error, which can lead to inaccurate results.
- Expense: Medical-grade wearables can be costly, which may not be feasible for smaller practices. Additionally, the devices may not integrate with existing technology, which can increase costs.
Despite these challenges, many providers are starting to incorporate wearables into care plans. Through careful monitoring and patient education, the technology could be a helpful tool.