TECHNOLOGY
SMART SHOES , WEARABLE payment rings and clothing installed with disease-detection devices , technology has revolutionised fashion .
However , while smart watches , jewelry and other fun pieces continue to be popular with consumers , the amount of movement and innovation in wearable technology in the healthcare market is equally staggering . The high rate of benefit combined with low costs makes wearable tech tempting to patients , providers and facilities . While innovations such as heart rate monitors and other home health devices are already in use in both the US and Europe , newer innovations are coming , according to the European Academic Network for Open Innovation . Patients are already receiving better outcomes and better quality care via wearable technology . From seniors with dementia who can be safely tracked in a geofenced area to heart patients who can be monitored from afar , wearable tech is improving lives .
The latest generation of wearable tech is more ‘ condition specific ’ than previous models with innovations in monitoring and treating conditions like epilepsy and Parkinson ’ s emerging from firms like Belgium ’ s UCB . Erik Janssen , Vice President Global New Patient Solutions Neurology , says : “ At UCB , we have a very innovative approach to developing solutions for severe conditions like epilepsy and Parkinson ’ s , which places patient value at the heart of everything we do .
“ For us , partnering with digital technology specialists is a key element of our mission . We recognise the neurological conditions we ’ re focused on are very complex and that technology and digital innovations have the potential to provide significant benefits and support to patients . Alongside our existing innovation projects , which focus on diverse areas such as predictive analytics and wearable technologies , we ’ re actively looking for new and additional partners to work alongside to provide new solutions that we believe could make a huge difference to patients ’ lives .”
Another leader in this area is Mary Lou Jepsen who founded health tech start-up Open Water , which is producing wearable MRIs ( magentic resonance imaging ). Jepsen wants to help doctors discover cancer , heart disease and Alzheimer ’ s with affordable disease detectors .
18 August 2017