Some people think of wearables as one of those gadgets that you want, but you don't really need, and they may have started that way. But things are different now, thanks to a few companies that took the technology seriously.
Wearable technology is everywhere these days, and not only consumers have come to fall in love with these nifty little things, but also those working in the healthcare industry.
That being said, here are some ways wearables are changing the face of healthcare.
Allow patients to participate in tracking their vitals
Patients now have more control over their health and well being. They can easily participate in bettering themselves by sharing data from their wearable tech with doctors.
Wearables allow people to track things like exercise routines and sleep patterns, which are important in one's well being but are not exactly a part of medical records. It has made the relationship between patients and physicians more consultative instead of hierarchical.
Virtual checkups
Patients can "visit" their doctors without having to leave the house now that wearable tech can be used to conduct virtual visits. For example, wearables help the elderly age in place by using devices that can monitor pain, macular degeneration, diabetes, and other health issues.
Assist people with disabilities
Wearable technology can help disabled folks to manage their daily lives without relying too much on outside help. People with cerebral palsy can now wear smart glasses to take photos and do internet research. Those who are legally blind can also wear haptic shoes with GPS technology to help them navigate, as well as wear special glasses to help them see. Other wearables can also help in managing sleep disorders, diabetes, and heart ailments.
Remote patient monitoring
Wearable tech has greatly improved in terms of reliability and accuracy when it comes to meeting clinical standards. Oxygenation, glucose levels, heart rate, blood pressure, and more can now be monitored remotely, in which data is sent to clinics automatically.
Surgical assistance
A handful of surgeons are now using Google Glass to preload X-ray and CT scan images, allowing them to focus on the patient without having to turn away.
In a Stanford study, medical residents were made to wear Google Glass, which resulted in a better performance when operating on dummies. The participants noticed indicators better, such as hypotension and critical desaturation.
In the future, we may see medics using Google Glass or a similar tech to handle patients in an emergency setting while communicating with a hospital.
