Putting wearable tech at the heart of healthcare strategies

Healthcare is shrinking.

Don’t worry, this isn’t an attack on the NHS, government policy or UK patient care generally. What we mean by that is wearable technology now presents an opportunity to make diagnosis and treatment more efficient and effective than ever.

A proliferation of portable and wearable devices – from palm-sized ultrasound units used by paramedics, to data-sharing smart watches – has the potential to revolutionise all of the ways in which healthcare is planned and delivered.

We believe tech innovation can – and must – be the beating heart of healthcare delivery. Organisations will be inspired by the way private-sector firms have used technology to pivot, with entire industries adapting to meet changing consumer demands.

Look how smarter use of customer data has shaken up the energy market, allowing consumers to take control by switching to a more suitable option in a few short clicks.

Then consider the wider advertising industry, which has evolved from mass TV marketing to one-to-one, personalised messaging, drawing on data and technology as its fuel.

It’s in this context that we should view the future of healthcare provision in the UK. Technology and the data it delivers in droves can surely make a dent in painful waiting lists; even take a scalpel to the current two-week maximum wait to see your GP.

Driving adoption of wearable tech

Wearables are not new. Around the turn of the 21st century, however, devices from Bluetooth headsets to smart watches were rolled out. They came with a promise to reach critical mass in short order and revolutionise everyday life in the process.

That hasn’t quite happened – but it doesn’t mean the myriad benefits of wearables don’t exist. In fact, investors still believe wearables are the future. Biospace estimates the market for this type of tech will grow from today’s $21.3bn to $196.5bn by the end of the decade.

We think adoption has been slow due to two main factors.

First, cost. As any headset-wearing driver or smartwatch-toting runner will tell you, most devices aren’t cheap. Nor are many subscription services affordable for the masses during a cost-of-living crisis.

Second, set-up. Many organisations – not least the NHS – just aren’t structured in a way that supports the effective capture and use of huge volumes of data. Silos get in the way and too much information falls through the cracks.

These are both significant issues. But we believe the secret to successfully harnessing wearables is quite simple: start small.

How healthcare can be transformed

Your organisation doesn’t need to commit huge budgets to explore wearable healthcare. Small initial steps – focusing on a specific area of your business or embryonic product idea – can reap big rewards.

That’s the way we think the wearable health tech market will grow. Proving patient demand for new forms of diagnosis and treatment is paramount. Investment in – and from – the private sector will be crucial to drive mass adoption of the technology in the public sector.

If the cost of ownership can be made more palatable for organisations interest in self-management of patient health will grow. So, how might this work – and what are the benefits?

In effect, the possibilities are endless. We already have access to devices that monitor our heart rate and alert first responders if sensors detect a health crisis like a stroke or heart attack. Similar technology could be rolled out across society, accelerating critical treatment times.