Emerging Technology in Healthcare: Wearable Devices

Wearable devices are at the forefront of novel healthcare technology. Specifically, these health-based technologies have the potential to improve the efficiency of medical diagnoses, treatment, and outcomes as well as the quality and access to care. This study attempts to assess the usability, cost, ease of implementation, comprehensiveness, and user satisfaction of health wearable devices. It includes advances in various aspects of wearable devices categorized into distinct application areas, such as social, ethical, and legal components of implementation, technological comprehensiveness, user satisfaction, and applicability to advanced practice nursing. Wearable devices shift care towards patients, which provide greater autonomy and patient-physician coordination. Tracking metrics such as heart rate, sleep patterns, and glucose and blood oxygen levels allows for continuous monitoring and a shift towards preventative medicine. However, the costs associated with the devices make them inaccessible to vulnerable populations within the United States. Additionally, data inaccuracy leads to error and incorrect treatments. Moreover, HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), data, and privacy concerns need to be taken into account before widespread adoption. Wearable health devices offer the potential to shift care to more patient centered settings and enhance preventative health measures, reduce hospital visits, lower costs, and increase accessibility. However, to accomplish this, concerns with the accuracy of devices, costs, security and infrastructure, and regulation need to be addressed. If these problems can be overcome, wearable health devices may be effectively integrated into the future of medicine.
Additional Co-Authors: Michael Caine, Hailey Chulamorkodt