Providers Must Drive mHealth Adoption, Survey Says

A new survey of physicians found that only 15 percent have discussed wearing wearables or mobile health (mHealth) devices with their patients. 

The survey, from the Cambridge, Mass.-based research firm, MedPanel, found that physicians are not against the idea of personal health devices. In fact, physicians say that 38 percent of patients not using a wearable and 42 percent of those not using an app could benefit from doing so. However, physicians say that products have to be integrated into the electronic health record (EHR) in order for them to make a recommendation. 

 "As long as tech companies view wearables and apps as consumer-driven markets, these products will remain a fad," MedPanel President Jason LaBonte said in a statement. "But if they engage physicians to recommend these products, wearables and apps will be viewed as part of healthcare and become permanent fixtures."

The product that has done the best in the eyes of physicians is Microsoft's Band. This product is easy to use and has data that is usable for clinicians, the physicians say. The Apple Watch is the brand (82 percent) physicians are most aware of, according to the survey. On top of not being usable in terms of clinical data, physicians say these devices should help meet mandates set by payers and practice managers.