In the not-so-distant past, patients had only one source for healthcare expertise — their personal physicians. They relied on doctors to monitor their symptoms, track changes in their health, manage their diseases and personalize their care. But in recent years, mobile technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) has changed all that.
Now, armed with wearables and mobile healthcare apps, individuals can monitor their own health data and get continuous guidance and information from the devices they carry with them every day.
But the availability of digital health tools is a double-edged sword for the medical industry. Patients are becoming more engaged in their own wellness and taking greater responsibility for staying healthy, which leads to better outcomes. On the other hand, as they rely more on these tools, are they relying less on the robust insights and expertise of medical professionals?
Via Giuseppe Fattori