How is the development of wearable health technology transforming patient care and health monitoring? - immerse essay competition

With this prompt, under Health and Biotechnology Age 16-18, I got an Outstanding Achievement Award with a partial 20 % scholarship, from immerse education.

In an age where technology permeates every facet of our lives, the emergence of wearable health technology represents one of the most notable developments in healthcare. These advances, where contemporary technology and practicality seamlessly blend, fundamentally transform the domains of patient care and health monitoring; It is a fundamental shift in how we view health management. By examining the different aspects of the healthcare industry it has transformed, this essay will explore the influence of wearable health technology and its crucial role in revolutionising medical treatment and patients' lives worldwide.

By catalysing the shift from reactive to proactive treatment, this technology lowers the annual number of hospital readmissions, promoting a more manageable treatment plan for patients and doctors. Healthcare workers can remotely monitor patients and reduce the frequency of patient hospital visits by integrating data from devices such as smartwatches, IMU sensors, and heart rate monitors into the hospital's electronic health record system (Shcherban, 2024). This gear can be life-saving in remote areas where obtaining medical care is challenging (such as on an oil rig) or when the patient is too unwell or impaired to make it to the clinic or hospital (Lee et al., 2016). Additionally, this technology has been widely resourceful in managing post-COVID care in the UK, allowing clinicians to conduct remote assessments, consistently monitor vital signs, and offer appropriate virtual consultations (Best, 2021). Consequently, a significant reduction in healthcare expenditures is observed, by up to 30%, and in savings from remote monitoring, which leads to a 20% decrease in in-person visit expenses (Pathik, 2024). Over the next 25 years, this will yield a global cost savings of $200 billion in the healthcare sector and a significant decrease in clinician-patient interaction time (Pando, 2019).

Furthermore, these gadgets are improving the management of chronic conditions, by providing constant, real-time monitoring of vital biomarkers such as blood pressure and cardiac function. Continuous glucose monitors enable diabetics to adjust insulin intake in real-time, preventing the significant variations that often result in hospitalisations (Russell, 2023). Additionally, wearable ECGs can detect arrhythmic episodes with such accuracy that they can notify patients and clinicians of imminent crises well before they become clinically apparent (Tran et al., 2023). The emerging sector has redefined the quality of life for millions globally, including the elderly, rehabilitation patients, and persons with disabilities- ultimately preventing the progression of their illness with unparalleled accuracy. (Pantelopoulos, 2017).

Wearable health devices also contribute to engaging people with their health. According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine,  there is a 35% higher likelihood of meeting fitness goals among users (Higgins, 2016). Fitbits, Apple Watches, and other consumer-grade personal health monitors integrate health management with fitness monitoring, providing users with immediate access to their health information (Irwin, 2024).  Health data democratisation encourages active participation in care by promoting self-determination and fostering a deeper understanding of one's body, improving treatment adherence. It enhances patient-clinician relationships, evidenced by a 25% improvement in treatment outcomes that use such technology (Pathik, 2024).

From smartwatches to medical-grade monitors, wearable health equipment is revolutionising healthcare by enabling preventative treatment, promoting patient engagement, and improving chronic condition administration. The millions of lives, of patients and healthcare workers globally, they have saved and enriched prove the magnitude to which they have transformed patient care and health monitoring. 

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2. Lee, J., Kim, D., Ryoo, H.-Y., & Shin, B.-S. (2016). Sustainable Wearables: Wearable Technology for Enhancing the Quality of Human Life. Sustainability, 8(5), 466. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8050466 

   
   

3. Best, J. (2021). Wearable technology: covid-19 and the rise of remote clinical monitoring. BMJ, 372, n413. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n413 

4. Pathik. (2024, August 28). BlueWhaleApps. BlueWhaleApps. https://bluewhaleapps.com/blog/wearable-tech-integration-transforming-healthcare-apps 

5. Pando, A. (2019, May 2). Wearable health technologies and their impact on the health industry. Forbes. http://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/05/02/wearable-health-technologies-and-their-impact-on-the-health-industry/#4eac185f3af5 

6. Russell, S. (2023, June). Continuous Glucose Monitoring | NIDDK. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/managing-diabetes/continuous-glucose-monitoring

7. Tran, H. H.-V., Urgessa, N. A., Geethakumari, P., Kampa, P., Parchuri, R., Bhandari, R., Alnasser, A. R., Akram, A., Kar, S., Osman, F., Mashat, G. D., Mohammed, L., Tran, H. H.-V., Urgessa, N. A., Geethakumari, P., Kampa, P., Parchuri, R., Bhandari, R., Alnasser, A. R., & Akram, A. (2023). Detection and diagnostic accuracy of cardiac arrhythmias using wearable health devices: A systematic review. Cureus, 15(12). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.50952 

8. Pantelopoulos, A. (2017). Pantelopoulos, A. and Bourbakis, N.G. (2010) A Survey on Wearable Sensor-Based Systems for Health Monitoring and Prognosis. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics—Part C Applications and Reviews, 40, 1-12. - References - Scientific Research Publishing. Scirp.org. https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=2066845 

9. Higgins, J. P. (2016). Smartphone Applications for Patients’ Health and Fitness. The American Journal of Medicine, 129(1), 11–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.05.038 

10. Irwin, S. (2024, March 20). Harnessing the power of wearable technology: How fitness trackers and smartwatches improve your workouts. Australian Institute of Fitness. https://fitness.edu.au/the-fitness-zone/harnessing-the-power-of-wearable-technology-how-fitness-trackers-and-smartwatches-improve-your-workouts/ 

11. Pathik. (2024, August 28). BlueWhaleApps. BlueWhaleApps. https://bluewhaleapps.com/blog/wearable-tech-integration-transforming-healthcare-apps