This is the second part of my overview on the Connected Health (CH) sector. My previous post outlined some of the challenges and barriers. Here, I provide some emerging thoughts on how best to increase the adoption of CH products and services and then I outline one aspect of what Enterprise Ireland is doing to help innovation in the sector.

Starting on to the thorny issue of how best to increase uptake and sales of CH products and services, the first thing to point out is that there is universality to the issues confronting companies active in the space. Nonetheless, the US has emerged as a leader in terms of uptake and innovation of CH products. In part, this is because the Stimulus Bill and healthcare reform are driving imposition of CH solutions. (more…)

Share

Patient perceptions of long term illness are changing. Where previously the diagnosis of a chronic condition might have been met with a certain resignation, patients have become more proactive and expectant of how their condition will be managed and their wellness maintained. Government perceptions of healthcare are changing also. There is a growing recognition that the burgeoning cost of providing quality care is likely to bankrupt nations if not controlled. For example, US healthcare spending is currently 17% of GDP and rising, with some 90% of spend on chronic illness.

One promising solution to both these aspects is, variously, known as Connected Health, telemedicine or e-health. In brief, CH involves the deployment of sensor and communication technologies to the individual, the home and other locations in order to earlier detect risk, onset or worsening of disease and thereby reduce the severity of that disease and reduce the burden of acute care in the hospital.  Currently, CH solutions are being rolled out for those chronic conditions with the largest catchment of patients and the highest burden of cost such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.

(more…)

Share