Wearable Devices in Healthcare- A Better Future

Wearable devices are modern miracles. But miraculous doesn’t mean perfect. Let’s look at some pros and cons of wearable health devices. 

Key Points

• “Wearables” are devices worn on the body that record and send information in real time or on a continuous basis.
• Most doctors agree that wearables, like fitness trackers and smartwatches, can promote healthy behavior and increase awareness of personal habits
• About 1 in 5 Americans use a smartphone or fitness tracker.  Worldwide, almost 1 billion people (about 1 out of every 7) use a smart wearable to track health
• This boom in popularity has insurance, tech companies, as well as providers taking notice
• Cons include data inaccuracy, technical errors, and privacy concerns

What Can Wearables Do for You?

Consumer wearables, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, can count your steps, track your sleep, and check your heart rate and blood oxygen level.  They are useful for motivation, self-awareness and to help set daily health goals.

These practices can turn into healthier lifestyles and hopefully, fewer trips to the hospital in the future. “Fitness trackers are a great tool for heart health,” says Johns Hopkins cardiologist Seth Martin, M.D., M.H.S.

What has the research shown?

Studies show that in general, patients who use trackers moved more, lost weight and lowered their LDL (the “bad”) cholesterol levels.  Another study showed similar positive effects, including lower BMI (body mass index) and less anxiety, depression and fatigue.  

They can also help catch serious health problems early on, such as high blood pressure or an irregular heartbeat. 

The Healthcare Innovation Lab at Stanford Medicine is currently recruiting for a Covid-19 Wearables study. Recent evidence shows that data from fitness trackers like the Apple Watch and Fitbit, could predict infectious diseases. 

Clinical wearable devices, such as EKG monitors and biosensors can store and send valuable medical data that in the past would require a visit to a doctor’s office.  

These devices can save time and money and provide a better health picture.  Data continuously taken during real life experiences gives a clearer picture that one data point at a given time during an exam. 

What are the Problems?

The biggest drawback is inaccurate readings.  This could be because of technical design or not being used correctly.  There are also privacy concerns because data from wearable devices is not covered by HIPPA laws.  

High costs also can stop some from buying and insurance usually doesn’t cover these devices.  However, there are some insurance programs that could get their members a free smartwatch.  

Things to Consider

The question for the future is how dangerous are privacy issues?  Could these devices be hacked?  And could data be used to penalize policyholders by withholding insurance or raising rates? 

Time will tell but with so much value and interest, companies and healthcare providers are taking a good look at how these devices will play an even larger role in mainstream healthcare in the future.