The US is on the verge of a healthcare crisis. Statistics show that the population is facing more health issues lack of doctors growing costs of care
As patients look for a way to fill the gap, many are turning to digital health devices. A new generation of healthcare tools is allowing patients to manage from home many of the care processes that once required a trip to the doctor. By leveraging those tools, patients can stay on track with their health despite the growing number of barriers they face.
Breaking barriers with remote monitoring A doctor’s appointment typically begins with getting a reading of the patient’s vital signs. Body temperature, body weight, blood pressure, and pulse readings are taken. A doctor might also measure respiratory rate and oxygen saturation. In cases where the patient is dealing with a chronic condition, such as diabetes or heart disease, additional readings, like glucose levels or heart activity, are taken.
Digital health devices empower patients to get these readings at home. The latest devices deliver accurate readings and allow patients to automatically record them, making it possible to track them over time.
By enabling remote monitoring, digital health devices allow patients to track the progress of their health conditions and determine with greater accuracy when professional medical care is needed. For example, a patient with a history of congestive heart failure can use a digital device to track their daily body weight. An unusual increase in weight could be a sign of fluid retention, which is a common indicator that the disease is worsening.
Breaking barriers with medication management As health issues have proliferated, medication management has become more complicated. Polypharmacy, which is a term coined to describe the taking of multiple medications, has become the norm, especially for older patients. Studies
If prescriptions are not taken at the right times or in the right dosages, the results can be ineffective at best and deadly at worst. Stats show that 750 adults age 65 or older are hospitalized in the US for reactions related to medications
Digital health devices help with medication management by providing tools for reminding patients about their medication regimens and documenting their adherence. Digital platforms can receive instructions directly from the patient’s doctor or pharmacist and send reminders to mobile devices. When integrated with vital sign tracking, the platforms can also monitor the impact medications are having on the patient’s health.
Breaking barriers with personalized recommendations Many of today’s patients turn to online sources — colloquially known as “Doctor Google
With traditional medical care, doctors provide guidance that is specific to the patient. They compare the findings of examinations and interviews with personal medical histories and genetic factors to provide personalized recommendations.
Digital health devices allow patients to get personalized guidance with more convenience and efficiency. They give patients the tools needed to reliably identify symptoms such as increased heart rate or temperature, track them over time, assess them in relation to activity levels or diet, and understand their possible implications. The devices provide real-time insights based on the patient’s specific vital signs rather than the generalized list of possibilities they will find in online medical dictionaries.
Breaking barriers with secure data handling Data breaches involving healthcare information have become a major concern for providers and their patients. Two of the biggest healthcare data breaches
The growth of the digital health device industry has brought new stakeholders to the healthcare space, including companies that can contribute to the development of more robust security frameworks. To gain patient trust for their products, companies developing digital health devices must show they are providing secure systems that can safeguard data both when held by the patient and when shared with their doctor.
Overall, digital health devices can enhance the security process by ensuring data is created in a secure environment, transmitted over secure connections, and stored and recalled securely as well. Conventional processes that gather and enter data manually create additional attack vectors. With digital health devices, the data being captured is digital from the start and can be maintained within a secure system.
Digital health devices are transforming the healthcare landscape by giving patients the capability to gather, track, and understand their personal health data. In a time when healthcare has become increasingly difficult to access, the devices promise to provide patients with greater peace of mind and better overall health outcomes.
Marcus Soori Tricorder.Zero™️
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