By Lisa Eramo
Lisa A. Eramo, BA, MA is a freelance writer specializing in health information management, medical coding, and healthcare regulatory topics. She began her healthcare career as a referral specialist for a well-known cancer center. Lisa went on to work for several years at a healthcare publishing company and currently works as a full-time freelance writer regularly contributing to healthcare publications, websites, and blogs. She has a bachelor's degree in creative writing from Hamilton College and a master's degree in journalism from Northeastern University.
Wouldn’t it be great to prevent anything from ever emerging and detecting it years before someone gets physically ill or expresses symptoms? I think this is the future of medicine
Florence Comite, MD
Other countries also struggle with these same questions, says Comite. “I think doctors around the world tend to be the same … I’m not sure they’re ready for it,” she adds, referring to the integration of wearable data into the EHR.
Still, the question of whether to integrate wearable data is one that needs a clear answer given the continued consumer adoption of these devices worldwide. In both Australia and England, for example, 55% of individuals own a wearable device, according to PwC. In Singapore, the numbers are even higher at 60%.
In the United States, physicians may find themselves faced with reviewing wearable data in the EHR sooner than they think. Value-based payment reform incentivizes providers to render high-quality care that yields positive outcomes. The 21st Century Cures Act enacted in December 2016 also promotes personalized healthcare.
Wearable data supports both of these and other initiatives to improve health and wellness, says Comite. “Wouldn’t it be great to prevent anything from ever emerging and detecting it years before someone gets physically ill or expresses symptoms? I think this is the future of medicine.”
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