Healthcare IT Information Technology

Wearables

PwC just released a report on wearable technology. Some findings from the health field include:

More than 80% of consumers said an important benefit of wearable technology is its potential to make health care more convenient.

Consumers have not yet embraced wearable health technology in large numbers, but they’re interested. More than 80 percent of consumers said an important benefit of wearable technology is its potential to make health care more convenient. Companies hoping to exploit this nascent interest will have to create affordable products offering greater value for both users and their healthcare partners.

While employers and health company executives expect wearables to provide valuable insights, few consumers are interested in using wearables to share health data with friends and family, and, citing concerns about privacy, consumers trust their personal physicians most with their health data. Therefore, companies should ensure privacy policies are crystal clear…Consumers will want to see those high [privacy] standards applied to health wearables data, especially as they become integrated into electronic medical records.

Keeping the consumer engaged beyond the first few weeks of use is an important part of any wearable strategy. Companies should consider novelty, rewards, incentives and truly actionable insights the user experience.

In Pontiac, Michigan, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland hospital has been running a pilot program on Visensia, a patient vital-sign monitoring system that analyzes data streams to produce care recommendations for clinicians. In the first four years mortality rates fell 35%, according
to Crain’s Detroit Business. Length of patient stay fell half a day.12

In general, consumers are concerned about cost, privacy and the ease of use of the technology. Fitness bands (Fitbit, Fuel band) are currently attracting the most attention from consumers. CNET has recommendations on the best of wearable tech, which extends beyond the health field.

1 Comment

  1. Hello Jason,

    Wearable technologies are really helpful to a lot of people. In my own opinion, the government should put a lot of budget on this one.

    John Doe

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