Data shows wearable technology for the healthcare market will grow at 25.7% per annum up to 2030. About 30% of adults in the US use wearable healthcare devices. The health industry today is driven by innovations that enhance patient care. They provide a personalized approach to individual and corporate health. Doctors provide care to patients through technologies like fitness trackers and smartwatches. These health tech devices are helping make real-time diagnoses. Doctors use the data to provide effective disease treatment and prevention methods.
How has Wearable Technology in Healthcare Changed?
Wearable health technology was not popular until the last decade. This happened after the public began using the technology prompting doctors to see an opportunity. Due to this, the global market for wearable health technology increased quickly. By 2020, the technology’s market worth had reached $16.2 billion. Experts predict it will be worth $30 billion by 2026.
Sensor technology has been a key player in driving the adoption of healthcare wearables. This technology is useful in helping users keep track of their health. The industry is rapidly moving towards preventive and personalized healthcare. This is promoting the adoption of healthcare wearables more. About 30% of US citizens use this technology.
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What is Wearable Health Technology Used For?
Healthcare wearables help people monitor their health status 24/7. Understanding their status helps them make the right decisions about their wellness. These devices are used for different purposes.
- Monitoring sleep patterns and sleep quality improvement.
- Tracking heart rate, physical fitness, blood oxygen, and other vital signs.
- Virtual patient monitoring by doctors and hospitals.
- Managing diabetes, asthma, and other chronic diseases.
- Predicting sickness possibilities like disease outbreaks, heart attacks, etc.
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Benefits of Wearable Technology in Healthcare
Patients, doctors, and the general public benefit daily from using healthcare wearables. The devices are popular for making personalized and enhanced treatment possible. They benefit and impact the sector in many ways.
Telemedicine and virtual monitoring
Doctors nowadays don’t have to wait for patients to visit their physical offices. Technology allows them to consult and monitor patient health remotely. This has given rise to telemedicine platforms. They are tools that collect data and integrate it with wearables for accurate services. This technology makes healthcare more accessible to the public.
Wearable devices in healthcare and chronic disease management
Chronic diseases have often caused sudden death hours before patients reach doctors. Wearable technology is helping to significantly reduce such incidences. They monitor people’s health 24/7 and store all that data. This way, doctors can access the data and tell whether a person is likely to get an attack soon. It helps monitor the possibilities of stroke, asthma attacks, blood pressure, leukemia, and other chronic attacks.
Healthcare wearables and healthcare personalization
Wearables make personalized healthcare possible. These devices use AI and machine learning to collect data and provide insights. They make it possible to monitor the user’s heart rate, blood sugar, sleep, and exercise. This data helps doctors make adjustments and recommend treatment based on every individual. The devices provide predictive healthcare provision which helps doctors to take proactive care approaches.
Accuracy in diagnosis and treatment
Since the adoption of wearable in healthcare, there has been an increase in diagnosis accuracy. This is because the devices monitor an individual’s health 20/7. They store the data or share it with doctors which helps in the detection of significant changes in a person’s health.
The device can tell bigger changes in a person’s sleep patterns, heart rate, or blood pressure. They provide detailed data which helps doctors make accurate diagnoses. When the diagnosis is right, treatment will also be right and the patient will recover quickly. The devices ensure timely intervention which saves more lives and prolongs people’s lifespan. They are important for tailor-made treatment.
Challenges Facing Adoption of Healthcare Wearables
Although about 30% of people use healthcare wearables, their adoption is still low. Several issues should be cared for to allow widespread adoption.
Limited accessibility
Wearables are mainly accessed by urban communities. Many rural communities are lagging in their use and require more awareness campaigns. Most insurance companies have no cover products for these devices. The cost for some of them is higher which limits user adoption.
Data concerns
There have been significant concerns about the storage and use of the health data collected by these devices. There are fears about the data being intercepted by hackers while on transmission. This data is sensitive and mishandling by hospitals and doctors has serious outcomes. There should be elaborate data collection and use guidelines.
User engagement
Many users have yet to develop a consistent habit of using these devices. Some do not wear them all the time which hinders data accuracy. Some users might not have the knowledge to use and understand the data generated. The devices should have detailed education resources in their databases.
Software errors
The device software might suffer attacks, get bugs, or stay long without updating. This is a challenge because these setbacks cause errors in the devices. That causes the generation of inaccurate data which could cause incorrect diagnosis and treatment. This can be corrected through consistent software management and improvement.
Final words – What Next for Healthcare Wearables?
Disease diagnosis and treatment are constantly improving thanks to wearable technology. This technology is also improving due to recent innovations like advanced sensors. AI and machine learning integration into these devices made the outcomes better. Users and doctors today receive real-time accurate data about an individual’s health. This technology might become a healthcare standard soon. It will help people live longer, healthier, and more productive lives.
