Challenges in health wearable technology

Lydia Harper, content writer, Seene Digital discusses the top challenges in health wearable technology.

Wearable health technologies have become increasingly common in recent years, with many modern consumer products like smartwatches and fitness trackers now containing advanced medical monitoring systems. From heart rate and blood pressure monitors, to multi-purpose biosensors, the demand for health wearable technology is now far greater than ever before.

However, as with any new technology, those involved in the development of wearable health devices must overcome a number of unique and potentially complicated challenges. This is particularly important when dealing with products that monitor and assess health conditions, as one mistake or a poorly executed design feature could cause significant harm to the user.

To further explore how medical professionals, software developers and hardware engineers work tirelessly to create safe, secure and effective wearable health devices, this post will highlight the challenges in health wearable technology with insights into potential solutions.

Accuracy 

Arguably the most pressing challenge in health wearable technology involves accuracy, or more specifically, difficulties related to calibration. Continuous monitoring of health metrics can provide users with important and actionable insights, but any inaccuracies present in the hardware and software used to collect data will impact the efficacy of each wearable device.

Even the most advanced physiological sensors currently available have limitations, including things like motion artefacts and signal interference, with these factors potentially contributing to imprecise or false readings. This issue may only be addressed via continuous investment in the research and development of improved sensor technology and calibration algorithms.

Security

Another critical concern relates to security. The data collected by wearable health devices is considered as sensitive information to the user, meaning strict cybersecurity policies must be created to prevent confidential information being exposed to third parties. This is particularly important when dealing with cloud-based storage systems linked to wireless health devices. 

For medical professionals to safely utilise wearable health technology, security integrators and commercial security system installers must be consulted to develop unique cybersecurity solutions, and to implement appropriate security policies involving wider systems like access control devices and security cameras. Policies must be updated frequently to prevent new vulnerabilities being exposed over time.

Integration

Tangentially related to security integrations, all wearable health technologies deployed in a professional setting must be safely integrated into existing data processing systems. For the data collected by these devices to be of any use, teams must consider how user information is to be reliably sent to storage systems and analysis tools made by different manufacturers. 

Widespread industry standards concerning safe data collection and transfer methods are currently being developed. However, as wearable health technologies continue to become more advanced, these standards will likely be subject to significant updates and revisions, meaning institutions intending to use these devices must be prepared to make adjustments.

Regulation

Wearable health technologies must be compliant with specific regulations, though the scope of these regulations will vary depending on the device. For example, most low-risk wellness health devices like fitness trackers and smartwatches are not typically subject to official FDA regulations, though the data they collect is subject to regulation by the Office for Civil Rights.

Furthermore, wearable health technologies deployed in a professional setting will be subject to further regulation. In particular, all information stored in cloud-based systems must comply with HIPAA guidelines, alongside previously mentioned rules. Maintaining compliance while developing new wearable health devices can create significant challenges for many teams.

Potential cost

While the cost of health wearable technology is decreasing over time, enabling consumers and professionals to acquire these devices at a reasonable price, integrating this technology into existing healthcare environments can be deceptively expensive. Many legacy systems in clinics are not compatible with modern devices, meaning new systems will need to be built.

For healthcare institutions with limited budgets, this consideration can be challenging to overcome. Though if management teams can justify the development of new technologies in line with wider service improvements, wearable health technology can act as a guideline for which systems and upgrades are worth prioritising to provide patients the greatest benefits.  

Conclusion

Wearable health technology can provide both consumers and medical professionals with a number of significant benefits, helping users to better monitor their health and improve their quality of life. However, developing, maintaining and integrating these devices into existing systems can present numerous unique challenges. 

Provided investments continue to be made into research and development, security teams are consulted when integrating these technologies into healthcare systems, and regulations are carefully considered, these challenges in health wearable technology can be addressed.  Doing so will help future users to utilise these tools safely and effectively for years to come.