What are wearables?
The terms “wearables,” “wearable technology“ and “wearable devices“ refer to electronic technologies that are worn on the body or clothing to perform computing tasks. Wearables can be taken on and off easily and so the definition excludes implanted devices. Generally, wearables are able to store and transmit data, and information can be accessed in real-time.
The most commonly used wearables today are fitness trackers worn on the wrist made by FitBit, Jawbone and other competitors. The Apple Watch and Google Glass are other examples of wearables. Smart fabrics, smart backpacks, jewelry, headgear, belts and even diapers are in development. For health care providers, a wearable could be an electronic stethoscope. And a sophisticated hearing aide is an example of a wearable used by a subsection of patients.
What’s the market for wearables?
The wearable sector is relatively new but already hugely influential. The market for wearables is expected to reach $70 billion by 2025, up from $20 billion in 2015, according to IDTechEx. Health care is the dominant sector for wearables, according to an IDTechEx report on the topic.
How are wearables changing the health sector?
Wearables have tremendous potential for versatility and uses. Today, wearables are influencing consumer behavior change in the form of fitness, sleep and diet trackers. Employers use them to track incentive-based wellness program participation among workers. In the healthcare setting, the use of wearables by providers and patients could change information-gathering, tracking of patient progress and workflows.
What are some of the concerns about wearables?
There are many concerns about wearables. These include:
User fatigue: Journalist Steven Petrow wrote a widely circulated column, “Down with the Tyranny of FitBit“ about his short-lived interest in the activity tracker.
Privacy and security: Consumers have concerns about the privacy and security of their data collected and displayed on wearables, especially sharing that information with employers and health insurers.
The smartphone: Consumers already have a device that is already with them at almost all times that can do what most wearable devices can: the smartphone. Getting consumers in large numbers to commit to a second device has proven to be a barrier so far.
Cost: That brings us to the cost of wearables. Personal consumers are faced with price points upwards of at least $100 for most wearables on the market, and far more for more sophisticated devices (the Apple Watch starts at $299).
Data usefulness and interoperability: “For wearables to be useful, they need to deliver data that is not just informative but also prescriptive,“ according to an excellent report on wearables by PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Integrating data from wearables into EHRs and other databases so that the data can be useful for total patient care and population health management is not happening on a broad scale.
Usability: Are product designers thinking about people who will wear these devices? So-called “human-centered design“ is a critical component to the overall success of the wearable sector. Be sure to test out any wearable that you are going to write about to judge for yourself how useful it is.
Possible topics health journalists can explore about wearables
Workplace wellness: How wearables are being integrated into workplace wellness programs, how companies are handling privacy concerns, and how that data is being integrated and used for actionable change. An important question is the longevity of wearables in fitness campaigns, once the initial “newness” factor of the device has worn off.
Home monitoring: With a focus today on reducing avoidable readmissions, hospitals and health systems are looking for innovative ways to keep post-acute patients out of the emergency room. Is your local hospital integrating wearables into its home health or care transition programs?
Health workers: How are local hospitals integrating wearables into providers’ work days? Is the technology creating more work or making their jobs easier?
Don’t forget the “end user:” What is the reaction among patients, employees and just plain humans on wearable technology? This might vary by age, region of the country and income.
Rebecca Vesely, AHCJ’s health information technology topic leader, is writing blog posts, tip sheets, articles and gathering resources to help our members cover the complex world of heath information technology. If you have questions or suggestions for future resources on the topic, please send them to rebecca@healthjournalism.org.
