Wear It, Track It, Analyze It, Protect It, Stop, Integrate It

That little device on your finger, wrist, ear, arm, etc. is housing a treasure trove of insights and data that often goes untapped or is left for patients to decipher on their own. Are the providers of today set up with the tools and knowledge to leverage this data? In some areas, yes, for example remote nursing and virtual ICUs are becoming essential components of care, integrating remote patient monitoring (RPM) to track vital signs in real time. For every successful deployment, there are countless missed opportunities to incorporate these remote tools into routine care. From sleep-tracking and fertility monitoring to continuous glucose sensors, wearables have the potential to make clinical decision-making easy. But without a coordinated strategy, much of this data risks being sidelined, with its value left unrealized. Are the next generation of physicians trained in incorporating wearable devices and remote monitoring into the standard of care? The shift will take time and require us to rethink the practice of medicine, encourage early adoption and emphasize data literacy. Let’s free every data point, no matter the source, to contribute to more informed, precise, and proactive care.