| December 12, 2016
| 10:55 AM
By Chris Edwards, Chief Marketing Officer, Validic
When it comes to embracing established trends, a good thing is hard to resist. That’s true for calorie-laden favorites that resurface each holiday season—as well as proven technologies that lead to better results. While there are many in the healthcare industry who are embracing the benefits of patient-generated health data (PGHD)—there are still too many kicking the tires of digital health, wondering if they should jump on board. These technologies are here to stay, they are in use, and in 2017, the benefits they provide will be one thing you can’t afford to ignore. With a new year fast-approaching, now is the time for organizations to say “Enough is enough…the status quo is no longer okay…let’s get moving.”
What if…
When was the last time you made a purchase on Amazon? Or checked your balance through online banking? Or booked a flight online? What if the retail, banking and travel industries said no to technology? In today’s environment of tech-savvy consumers, such a response would be incompatible with business survival—it’s no longer feasible in a connected world ripe with expectations for convenience, access and quality.
With advances in both computing power and affordability, smartphones enable mobile solutions that consumers not only value but increasingly expect in all areas of their lives. Such “liquid expectations” mean that what is offered in one industry is typically expected in another. However, while parallel industries have been quick to capitalize on technology’s benefits, too many in healthcare’s often-rigid and antiquated paradigms are still mumbling about fads.
Fortunately…
While many in the healthcare ecosystem need to ramp up their efforts, there are leaders among us who have long understood what patient generated health data brings to the table. These organizations have been leading the way for a number of years, and are reaping the rewards of early adoption. Healthcare organizations such as Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, Partners HealthCare, Ochsner Health, Carolinas HealthCare and others continue to build on established digital health initiatives that help improve care quality, enhance patient satisfaction and reduce costs.
In addition, two sectors that are stepping up to the plate are pharma and biotech. Our recent global survey of these two industries indicates they will increasingly rely on digital health technologies (classified in the survey as wearables, in-home clinical devices, sensors and apps) to better collect, analyze and act on PGHD. Sixty percent of respondents said they’ve used these technologies in clinical trials—and 97 percent said they plan to do so more frequently in the next five years to help reduce trials costs, streamline processes, demonstrate real world-efficacy, address medication adherence and improve treatments for chronic diseases.
Now is the time…
What I frequently hear from healthcare organizations is that they understand the benefits of technology, and “need to get moving.”
Yes, you do.
The moment you say “no” to considering digital health is the moment you put a time stamp on your relevance.
Last year, Validic conducted its “Global Progress on Digital Health” Survey to gain better insights into the state of digital health strategies at the time. Results revealed that nearly 60 percent of respondents were either behind schedule with their digital health strategy or had none in place. Yet, in a more recent survey—sponsored by the Society for Participatory Medicine (SPM)—nearly ninety percent of patients said they’re ready and willing to partner with their providers for a healthier life—and cite mobile tools as key to doing so.
Today’s consumers have high expectations, knowing that mobile technology and PGHD can help to promote well-being, connect them with providers from afar and optimize care in the comfort of their own homes.
As 2017 looms on the horizon, I hope lagging organizations will quit kicking the tires of technology and actually get moving, especially as we are seeing organizations use digital health strategies to propel their businesses. I hope they’ll begin to understand that digital health has now become a vital component of a company's success and relevance in the new healthcare landscape.
In the coming year, I hope they’ll embrace patient-generated health data as one thing they can’t afford to ignore any longer.
Chris Edwards, Chief Marketing Officer, Validic
Chris leads the global marketing, business development and strategic partnerships for Validic. Validic connects actionable data from clinical devices, fitness wearables, biometric sensors and wellness applications to hospitals, pharma, wellness companies and health IT vendors.
