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Wearables, the Next Step in Preventative Healthcare
In the age of Covid-19, digital devices worn by patients or those that enable self-monitoring are increasingly being piloted to minimise the number of patients needed to be in a hospital at any one time. Medical ‘wearables’ is a fast-growing area, that is constantly diversifying in terms of their application, with devices providing remote monitoring of vital signs for a multitude of illnesses. This new market is becoming increasingly ingrained into many aspects of healthcare.
Remote Consultations
Medical grade wearables can be as simple as a sensor that measures a single variable, or a complex piece of hardware worn on the body to gather a selection of vital signs. The data gathered from these devices is typically relayed to clinicians for monitoring or analysis. This means patients’ vitals can be monitored 24/7, after discharge or for ongoing monitoring for critical illnesses, meaning patients don’t have to consistently visit the hospital for check-ups.
These devices will at first be tackling those illnesses that are becoming ever-present in society, such as heart disease and diabetes. In the UK treatment for diabetes consumes 10% of the NHS budget, but with the latest advancements in medical devices, this figure could be significantly reduced.
Doctors and Devices
Lifestyle wearables have become commonplace with users gaining data into their health and fitness. As the market matures, it is moving away from just lifestyle into more clinical healthcare solutions that can help improve living for thousands of people.
The medical wearables market was valued at $12.788 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $37.67 billion by 2025. Thousands of devices are being produced each year, with new ideas being introduced to the market every day.
Some of the latest innovations include;
- Remote blood pressure monitors that connect to apps
- Wrist devices that detect seizures and alert caregivers
- Wearable devices to accurately detect ovulation
- Solutions for complete respiratory monitoring
Logistics Response Team
The huge growth in this market in such a short space of time means that a greater number of medical devices will need to be distributed both nationally and internationally. These specialist devices are highly sensitive and need to be handled carefully, and often need to be delivered under tight deadlines. Those working in the logistics sector need to adapt to be able to deliver these wearables on a much larger scale than traditional devices, whilst still maintaining the same level of control and monitoring capabilities.
The capture of data from wearables could in the future be analysed by AI-enabled systems to even predict the demand for medical resources. This raw insight could help hospitals to better prepare for demand and obtain resources only when needed, and logistics could align strategically to deliver devices and equipment in a rapid and agile model.
Aramex are experts in handling medical shipments of any size, our specialists work with manufacturers to create a bespoke solution to ensure devices reach their destination on-time and in the same condition as when they left. We recently helped British-based Aseptika Limited deliver thousands of remote blood pressure monitors to the NHS’ door. Read the full case study to explore more.
If you have a medical wearable or any other healthcare-related equipment that needs transportation, get in touch to be directed to a dedicated specialist.