When wearable health accessories first flooded the market in the 2010s, people dismissed them as a fad that would soon subside. Over ten years later, it’s clear that this isn’t the case, and there are many health benefits from wearable technology that anybody can take advantage of. Among these benefits is the technological potential to change and improve the way healthcare is delivered. Indeed, early wearable health devices have served as the blueprint for new innovations in healthcare cybersecurity and patient-facing technology. Find out how wearable technology is changing healthcare and improving the patient experience in the process.
New Smart Devices
The first generation of wearable health tech introduced the possibility of on-the-body monitors that could be comfortable, accurate, and even fashionable. It’s no surprise that this concept has proven popular in the healthcare sector, too, and inspired a crop of new devices that build on these principles. Examples include the increasingly popular ECG monitors that can be worn by simply placing the device on a patient’s fingertips. This gives medical providers easy and accurate data while ensuring that the patient has a simple and noninvasive experience.
Better Security Features
Simplicity isn’t the only benefit that new health devices can provide. The emergence of wearable devices in a medical setting may also prove beneficial to healthcare cybersecurity. Data that is collected, managed, and accessed by a human healthcare provider might be more susceptible to compromise than information that’s gathered by a device. Generally, the fewer people who interact with patient data, the less likely it is to be compromised. This means wearable tech is a great innovation for patient security.
Less Stress on Staff
It’s no secret that the healthcare field is facing unprecedented staffing shortages. This poses a direct threat to the quality of care that patients receive, and it also causes existing staff members to work excessive hours and face an increased risk of burnout. One of the most effective solutions to this problem is to lessen the workload healthcare providers must shoulder — and wearable medical tech is a great way to do so. Wearable devices can automate many essential processes, such as taking vitals, monitoring blood pressure, and conducting routine patient checks.
Improved Patient Outcomes
Unsurprisingly, all of these benefits add up to improved patient outcomes associated with the use of wearable medical tech. Many patients enjoy the stress-free, automated service that these devices provide, and healthcare workers can provide better care by focusing on tasks that cannot be automated. As this tech continues to evolve, it offers a promising solution to many of the most pressing concerns plaguing the medical industry — and patients will ultimately enjoy better healthcare while reaping the rewards of this progress.
