Despite Patient Privacy Risks, More People Use Wearables for Health

A recent Deloitte Survey of US Health Care Consumers found overwhelming numbers of people who utilize wearables in their health management despite the patient privacy risks.

I am one of those people. I wasn’t surveyed, but I wear a CGM and an Apple Watch at all times. There is a lot of things that I give up some privacy for in order to have the convenience of what that product gives me.

The interesting part of this study is that:

Sixty percent of the 4,530 respondents said they are willing to share PHI generated from wearable devices with their doctor to improve their health.

I’d think that number would be higher. If you’re going to use wearables, why wouldn’t you want to share the data with your doctor?

I’d assume the main reason is because you don’t want the doctor to judge you from an unhealthy or for being a “bad” patient.

I use wearables because I want the real-time data to make short term decisions and then when I visit my doctor, that’s usually when I discuss long-term decisions and strategies.

Wearing an Apple Watch and seeing that my heart rate is way too high tells me right away that I need to calm down and get my heart rate back to an ideal level.

Then, I will share this data with my doctor because if there is a pattern of high heart rates, we can figure out what that pattern is and how I can try and avoid whatever is causing that.

The main issue of the study and article that I am writing about is that once the data from a wearable is uploaded to your healthcare professionals system (EHR), HIPPA regulations now apply and this is where their could be privacy issues.

There are a lot of numbers and stats in this report that I found interesting, so I recommend checking it out.

Another one is that 31% are interested in connecting with a live health coach.

That’s one feature that I love about mySugr. Live health coaching.

What are your thoughts on all of this?

Do you use wearables?

Would you share your data with your doctor or keep it for yourself?

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