Smartwatch data: the missing link in effective doctor-patient conversations

Wearable health devices are now important tools in healthcare, connecting technology with personal well-being. These devices, like fitness trackers and advanced sensors, use modern tech to let people monitor their health easily and all day long. They can track things like heart rate, sleep patterns, and even unusual heart rhythms, which helps you take control of your health. Plus, they provide important data that doctors can use to better diagnose, manage, and prevent health issues.

However, we’re not using these devices to their full potential yet. The main problem is a communication gap between users and doctors. Even though wearables give you detailed health information, this data often doesn’t get discussed with doctors or added to your medical records. This gap stops these devices from helping with timely healthcare decisions. Overcoming this issue is essential for wearable health tech to truly transform personal and professional healthcare.

From gadgets to healthcare tools

Wearable health technology started back in the 1940s, but it’s only recently become a big part of personal and healthcare settings. What used to be hospital-only monitoring tools are now everyday devices giving people new ways to understand their health. These wearables have become part of daily life for many. In 2023, a survey showed that 35% of American adults used wearables, up from 27% in 2018. Amazingly, 61% of those users check their devices daily, showing how much these gadgets are used in everyday life.

The big boom in wearables is thanks to better sensors and data analysis. Today’s devices can track many health points like heart rate, sleep, exercise, breathing, and even blood sugar. This tech makes data more precise and useful. For example, in 2023, MIT created a skin patch that measures blood pressure and sugar levels without needles. Such tech developments make wearables easier to use and available to more people, making it simpler to keep track of health.

Wearables now go beyond just tracking fitness; they are being used in hospitals to improve patient care. Hospitals use high-tech wearables like BioIntelliSense’s BioButton and Flosonics Medical’s FloPatch to continuously watch patients. These tools help catch problems early, lowering risks and aiding in better decisions for care.

The FloPatch, for example, lets doctors track blood flow in very sick patients without invasive procedures, providing a way to manage issues like sepsis. These examples show how wearables have shifted from fun gadgets to important tools for personal and medical use.

Addressing communication gaps

Even though wearable health devices are becoming more popular, there’s still a big problem: users aren’t fully connecting with their doctors. Research shows that while 91% of users are willing to share data with their doctors, only about 25% actually do. This lack of communication limits the benefits these devices could offer for early health interventions and better outcomes.

Dr. Laxmi Mehta, a heart specialist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, stresses how important it is to use wearable data in regular medical care. These devices can spot trends, like rising blood pressure or unusual heart rhythms, that might otherwise be missed. Take 78-year-old Sue VanWassenhove, for example. As a smartwatch user, she noticed her heart rate going down over time. By sharing this data with Dr. Mehta, she got timely care and learned how to use her device’s EKG feature to keep an eye on her heart.

A key reason for this disconnect is the lack of awareness among both patients and healthcare providers about the value of wearable health data. Many users don’t fully understand how their device-generated data can be shared or used effectively for medical purposes. Similarly, some doctors are unfamiliar with the capabilities of these devices or how to interpret the data they produce.

To address this, education and collaboration are essential. Patients need guidance on understanding their health metrics and sharing them with doctors, while healthcare providers must stay updated on wearable technology through training and resources. By working together, patients and doctors can transform raw data into actionable insights, improving early detection, personalized care, and overall health outcomes.

Advancing wearable technology

The future of wearable health technology depends on solving challenges and expanding what these devices can do. Companies, healthcare workers, and researchers are joining forces to make wearables more useful and easier to use for various needs.

A major development area is linking wearable data to electronic medical records (EMRs). This connection helps healthcare providers get a full view of a patient’s health, allowing for more personalized care. With smarter devices, wearable data can guide treatments, monitor long-term illnesses, and even predict health emergencies. For instance, in 2023, researchers from the University of Texas at Austin created an electronic tattoo that uses advanced sensors to keep track of heart health, showing promise for ongoing, hassle-free monitoring.

Wearables are also proving their worth in rehabilitation and disease management. Take Kaiser Permanente as an example; they use smartwatches in home-based cardiac rehab programs. These devices keep track of heart rates and remind patients to exercise, aiding heart recovery. Likewise, wrist sensors are helping manage movement in diseases like ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) by analyzing motion data with machine-learning to monitor disease progression.

Wearables are also branching out beyond regular healthcare. Virtual reality (VR) headsets, first made for gaming, now help with mental health therapy and pain relief. VR exposure therapy, for example, helps patients face their phobias, while immersive VR helps distract burn patients from pain. Another exciting area is smart clothing, which has sensors woven into fabrics to monitor heart metrics, activity levels, and pressure points on diabetic feet.

Enhancing patient engagement and clinical integration

To make the most of wearable health devices, it’s important to focus on user education and how easy the devices are to use. Manufacturers should design devices that are easy and fun to use. Clear instructions on reading and sharing data can help users be more active in their healthcare.

Healthcare providers also need to keep up-to-date with new wearable technology. Knowing what these devices can and cannot do helps doctors guide patients in using wearable data in their healthcare plans. Programs like training sessions or integration pilots can help share this knowledge and build trust in these tools.

Wearable technology can also help with public health since it reaches many people. Data from wearables, when shared anonymously and in groups, can show health trends and help spot outbreaks or manage chronic diseases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, wearables helped track symptoms and identify potential hotspots, showing their potential for big health initiatives.

Final thoughts

Wearable health devices are changing how we approach healthcare, combining convenience with innovation. These devices help people manage their health and improve medical care through early detection and personalized treatment.

But, to make the most of them, we need to bridge communication gaps, improve how they work, and educate both users and healthcare providers. When everyone works together, wearable technology can grow from being a personal gadget to a key part of a connected healthcare system.

As these devices become smarter and more common, their effect on health will continue to increase. With ongoing innovation and better integration, wearable health technology is set to change healthcare’s future, connecting people with their healthcare providers and leading to a healthier world.