Last Updated | February 3, 2023
It is hard to imagine that the watch I’m wearing today could one day potentially save my life. So how exactly can my watch do that?
Well to answer the question, watches like the one I’m wearing, are a part of a broad spectrum of technology, known as wearable technology or simply “wearables“. These wearables belong to a group of electronic devices that can be embedded in one’s clothing, implanted within the body, tattooed on the skin, or worn as accessories.
Once somehow connected to the body the wearable technology needs two things to work: an internet connection and a microprocessor. The wearable then simply keeps a track of whatever function it has been designed to monitor, which includes but not limited to measuring the heart rate, oxygen saturation, the number of steps, etc all while looking chic.
Reasons to Have Wearables Integrated With Health Apps For Patients
We have all heard of health apps whether it be Samsung health or google fit. But why are they important for patients?
1) It encourages a healthy lifestyle
Not only does the health app notify a person when there is something wrong with them but it also helps to prevent the situation from arising. From assigning goals to sending notifications for exercise health apps ensure a steady stream of motivation.
2) Collection of important patient data
In emergencies when a patient is unable to communicate or is rendered unconscious, health apps can serve as valuable tools for healthcare professionals such as doctors and paramedics to quickly and accurately get important patient information such as blood types, allergies, etc, and treat the patient without losing precious time.
3) 24/7 Monitoring
Often non-critical patients are sent home by physicians and are advised to come back in if they develop certain symptoms. Many times it is impossible for family members to monitor them night and day. It is however possible for wearables like smartwatches to keep track of the patient’s symptoms 24/7 in real-time and notify emergency contacts/paramedics in case such a situation arises.
4) Multifunctional
Wearable technology is a versatile piece of hardware, which is equipped with bio-sensors that perform a wide array of functions. These functions include counting the number of steps you take, monitoring blood glucose levels, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and so much more. This multifunctionality allows the patient to get more value out of their purchase and also manage their symptoms along the way.
5) Customizable
Wearable tech was made for the average day to day user so it is unsurprising that it offers a wide range of customization options. Apart from changing the colors and themes, wearable tech offers the patients the ability to add health care features that are of more use to the main watch face which allows better more effective monitoring.
Reasons to Have Wearables Integrated With Health Apps For Doctors
In addition to offering significant advantages to the patients themselves integrating wearable tech with health apps also benefits the medical professionals themselves. It helps in improving patient satisfaction, better communication and so much more.
1) Improved patient-doctor communication
Communication is key while diagnosing a patient. A doctor no matter how good he is at his job will never be able to properly diagnose his patient unless a proper history is obtained.
More often than not key information is left out by patients due to several factors. This leads to misdiagnosis of a patient that can harm both the patient and doctor.
Wearable technology often helps to solve this problem. Both the patient’s history and the current vitals and symptoms of the patient are recorded which are easily accessed by the physician. This helps in the proper diagnosis of the patient’s condition and help save both time and money.
2) Patients Feel In Control
Patients often feel overwhelmed during a medical crisis. They are in this hospital all alone without a clue what is wrong with them while some stranger is poking and prodding them speaking what seems like gibberish.
Wearable technology helps break down this barrier between the doctor and the patient. Instead of being only dependent on various tests prescribed by the doctor the patients monitor themselves which offers a sense of control.
They become more engaged in their health. This improves patient satisfaction while simultaneously increasing the chances of a successful diagnosis as the patient becomes more willing to share what they are experiencing.
3) Prevents the spread of disease
The ongoing pandemic has brought the world to its knees. The healthcare system is on the verge of collapsing. The massive influx of critical patients to hospitals has left little room for non-emergent cases. Patients are forced to go home and keep a track of their symptoms and contact only in the case of an emergency.
Many patients find it hard to differentiate between emergent and non-emergent situations which is where wearable technology comes in handy. The real-time monitoring of the patient’s symptoms plus the ability to send the results to a health care provider immediately. This helps in keeping both the doctors and patients socially distanced while remaining in contact.
4) Remote consults
With the advent of wearable technology, there is a huge spike in remote consults, especially during these trying times. The ability of wearable tech to monitor and send over real-time data instantaneously while maintaining confidentiality has enabled both the doctors and patients to meet remotely. Simultaneously avoiding both the transportation costs and wait times while reducing the risk of infection.
5) Saves time
Perhaps the most important asset to a physician is his time. Wearable technology saves time and improves efficiency, while also reducing the chances of misdiagnosis. Most of the information needed by the physician is already provided by the means of wearable tech.
On top of everything, the healthcare device design is optimized to ensure easier and quicker access to information. This allows the doctor to see more patients and increase productivity.
Folio3 is your Custom Wearable Health app development Partner
The health app industry has taken the world by storm. It has shown exponential growth within the past few years and is expected to grow even more. With the number of health apps increasing day by day it is essential to stand out from the crowd and deliver an app that is loved by clients and investors alike. This is where Folio3 comes in.
Folio3 is your custom wearable health app, development partner. Having completed more than a thousand projects across ten international locations the folio3 team has the relevant experience and expertise to make your health app dreams come to life.
The designed apps are HIPAA compliant and ensure that patient privacy is maintained at all times. All kinds of information being transferred through the app are done so in a fast and reliable manner reducing overall costs and improving efficiency. To know more click here.
Furthermore, the apps are designed in a manner that guarantees HL7 integration which allows for effective and seamless communication that in turn increases engagement between all those involved. The apps also boast customized integration services that ensure simultaneous sync of HL7 data and EMR / EHR + other healthcare data securely. For more information visit this link.
Conclusion :
Love it or hate wearable technology has and will continue to revolutionize the world we live in. It not only offers benefits to those directly linked to it but those that are linked indirectly as well. The benefits of wearable technology far surpass any disadvantages that might be associated with it. So what are you waiting for? Wouldn’t you also love to have a device that might save your life one day?
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