Estimated reading time: 4-6 minutes
It’s hard to imagine a time when you weren’t collecting data about yourself and the things you do each day. From where you go to how many calories you consume – there really is no end to the type and amount of data that you can now gather about yourself.
This is also true when it comes to your health and well-being. Electronic wearable devices and connected apps can make you so much more aware of aspects of your health and lifestyle, which is so important in your overall consumer health. And it’s clear that our appetite for digital heath technology is strong – and growing. In the US alone, wearable use jumped from 9% to 33% between 2014 to 2018, with consumer use of mobile and tablet health apps tripling from 16% to 48% during the same period. But data is only meaningful if we create something meaningful from it.
So, just how far will digital health coaching progress? In my opinion, expert involvement will ultimately be needed to put decision-making data support for a health scenario in the right context. The benefits and opportunities that come from more data and AI-driven consumer health insights are very significant. The journey is just starting and we’re all learning more every day.
By continuing to empower people to play a more active role in managing their own health, supported by the best clinical advice and better ways to connect consumer health data with healthcare professionals, we can encourage and drive more preventative, personalized care and even start to bridge healthcare accessibility gaps. This can only be a good thing for us all and for the future of health systems everywhere.
Chief Business Leader Connected Care
Roy Jakobs is Executive Vice President and Chief Business Leader for the Connected Care businesses of Royal Philips, effective January 28, 2020. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of Royal Philips. Connected Care comprises the Connected Care Informatics, Monitoring & Analytics, Population Health Management, Sleep & Respiratory Care and Therapeutic Care businesses. Prior to this, Roy led Philips’ Personal Health businesses.
September 02, 2020
- By Rianne Meijerman and Jeroen Tas