Why our wearable data will be at the core of concierge medicine
Oura partners with Heads Up Health - and a doctor-patient revolution could come next
Think about the relationship you have with your doctor. If you’re anything like I used to be, it’s passive and reactive.
Avoiding a trip to the doctor used to be a badge of honor I largely maintained with over-the-counter medicines and the help of my trusty friend, the Google search bar.
However, after employing a full-time trio of wearables to keep an eye on some of my basic health biomarkers - heart rate variability, skin temperature, blood oxygen levels, and respiratory rate - over the last few years, injury and illness are things I’ve become much more proactive about.
And I’m not alone. A 2022 study from the University of Birmingham researchers found that those who use a wearable are more likely to feel empowered to take an active role in managing their health.
Meanwhile, the sensors in our wearables are becoming increasingly advanced, giving us more detailed data than ever before.
Yet although using our devices can prompt us to take better care of ourselves, what happens when the information points to something more serious than needing to exercise more frequently or get more sleep?
Perhaps you’ve noticed an odd pattern in your heart rate and want to get it checked out - should you present your wearable data to your doctor?
After all, GPs and physicians aren’t necessarily used to having their patients walk into the surgery with months of data about their heart rate, blood oxygen, and REM sleep. And it’s reasonable to think that some doctors may be cautious about the relevancy of some data in their diagnoses.
But, as more and more of us begin using wearable devices to track our health, and platforms evolve, it appears the doctor-patient relationship will have to develop with it.