Wearable technology, such as smartwatches and smart patches,
has become increasingly popular in recent years for tracking fitness, wellness,
and health. However, these devices are not just for personal use - they are
also revolutionizing the healthcare industry, especially for cross-border healthcare.
How can wearable tech improve patient outcomes?
Wearable tech can improve patient outcomes by enabling
remote monitoring and diagnosis, data sharing and collaboration, and education
and training for doctors and patients. Some of the benefits of wearable tech
are:
1. It can reduce the need for physical visits, save time and
costs, and improve patient satisfaction and adherence.
2. It can provide real-time feedback and alerts to patients
and doctors, allowing for timely interventions and adjustments.
3. It can facilitate data sharing and collaboration among
doctors across borders, leading to better and more personalized care.
4. It can provide immersive and interactive learning
experiences for doctors and patients, enhancing their skills and knowledge.
5. It can detect early signs of health issues and prevent
more serious complications.
Cross-border healthcare refers to the provision of health services across national borders, either physically or virtually. It can involve patients travelling to another country for treatment, doctors consulting with foreign colleagues or patients, or health data being shared across different jurisdictions. Cross-border healthcare can offer many benefits, such as access to higher quality or lower cost care, faster diagnosis and treatment, and greater patient choice and empowerment.
However, cross-border healthcare also faces many challenges,
such as legal and regulatory barriers, ethical and cultural issues, data
privacy and security risks, and logistical and communication difficulties.
Wearable tech can help overcome some of these challenges and enhance the
quality and efficiency of cross-border healthcare. Here are some of the ways
wearable tech is transforming cross-border healthcare for doctors:
1. Remote monitoring and diagnosis:
Wearable tech can enable
doctors to monitor and diagnose patients remotely, regardless of their
location. Wearable devices can collect and transmit various health data, such
as heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose, oxygen saturation, and
temperature, in real-time. This can help doctors detect and manage chronic
conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, as well as identify symptoms of
acute illnesses, such as COVID-19. Wearable tech can also provide feedback and
alerts to patients and doctors, allowing for timely interventions and
adjustments. For example, a smart patch can monitor blood glucose levels in
diabetic patients and alert them and their doctors when they need to take
insulin or adjust their diet. Remote monitoring and diagnosis can reduce the
need for physical visits, save time and costs, and improve patient outcomes and
satisfaction.
2. Data sharing and collaboration:
Wearable tech can facilitate
data sharing and collaboration among doctors across borders. Wearable devices
can generate and store large amounts of health data, which can be shared
securely and easily with other doctors, either through cloud-based platforms or
blockchain technology. This can enable doctors to access and analyze more
comprehensive and accurate health information, exchange opinions and insights,
and provide better and more personalized care. Data sharing and collaboration
can also foster learning and innovation, as doctors can benefit from the
expertise and experience of their peers in different countries and contexts.
For example, a doctor in Nigeria can consult with a specialist in the United
States via a video call, while sharing the patient’s health data from their
wearable device.
3. Education and training:
Wearable tech can enhance education
and training for doctors across borders. Wearable devices can provide immersive
and interactive learning experiences, such as virtual reality (VR) and
augmented reality (AR), that can simulate real-life scenarios and challenges.
This can help doctors acquire and improve their skills and knowledge, as well
as test and evaluate their performance. Wearable tech can also enable doctors
to access and consume relevant and up-to-date information and resources, such
as online courses, podcasts, and videos, at their convenience and pace.
Education and training can improve the quality and competence of doctors, as
well as their confidence and motivation. For example, a doctor in India can
learn how to perform a complex surgery by watching a VR video of a surgeon in
Germany.
What is the future of wearable tech in healthcare?
Wearable tech is expected to grow rapidly in the coming
years, driven by advances in sensors, semiconductors, and artificial
intelligence. According to Deloitte Global, 320 million consumer health and wellness wearable devices will ship worldwide in 2022, and by 2024, that figure will likely reach nearly 440 million units. However, wearable tech also
poses some challenges and risks, such as technical reliability, data validity,
user acceptance, and ethical and legal implications. Therefore, doctors and users need to be aware of and address these issues, as well as to
adhere to the relevant standards and regulations, when using wearable tech for
healthcare.
Conclusion
Wearable tech is revolutionizing cross-border healthcare for
doctors, by enabling remote monitoring and diagnosis, data sharing and
collaboration, and education and training. These benefits can improve the
quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery, as well as the health and
well-being of patients and doctors. However, wearable tech also poses some
challenges and risks, such as technical reliability, data validity, user
acceptance, and ethical and legal implications. Therefore, doctors need to be aware of and address these issues, as well as to adhere to the
relevant standards and regulations when using wearable tech for cross-border
healthcare. Wearable tech is not a substitute for human interaction and
judgment, but a tool that can complement and enhance them.
