It’s not just about the smart home . . . it’s about something much bigger. Healthcare organizations (HCOs) need to learn and understand how to navigate the smart home space and use internet-of-things (IoT) technology to improve wellness or chronic condition management — to improve overall health outcomes — on the backdrop of creating an end-to-end connected health experience for consumers.

But tread carefully. HCOs must not get distracted by shiny objects like smart stoves and ambient lighting just for the sake of doing all things smart home. The smart home ecosystem is vast and complex, with a wide range of device types, distribution channels, and revenue models — for example, smart speakers such as Amazon Echo and Google Home, which accounted for more than 50% of the installed base of smart home devices in 2018.

Successful deployment can lead to improved health outcomes, lower costs, and enhanced patient and physician experiences by:

  • Reducing readmission rates. Remote monitoring devices allow physicians to monitor patients from the comfort of their home after discharge. Access to vitals and health during post-acute will allow physicians to intervene as necessary, resulting in fewer complications and reduced costs.
  • Empowering patients to self-triage. New symptoms appear in the blink of an eye, leaving patients unaware of what is wrong and how to fix it. Connected devices can offer actionable insights on a patient’s health as it changes, whether it is helping understand their condition or knowing when it is appropriate to act on new symptoms.
  • Building a 360-degree customer view of the patient. Physicians often rely on a snapshot of health data to diagnose and treat patients. Smart devices, such as wearables, can track patient health 24x7x365. When coupled with personal health records, physicians gain a holistic view of patients, understand their health, and provide proactive, preventative care.

To help guide your connected health experience strategy, we mapped out the connected health ecosystem, documented stories of success, and outlined the key questions you must ask to stay on the right path. Check out our latest report, “Build A Connected Health Experience With Smart Home Devices,” to ensure that your organization builds a cohesive connected health experience that customers need and want.

Questions? Comments? Request inquiry with me or Frank Gillett here.

Looking to build out a foundation for your connected health experience strategy? See Jeff Becker’s report, “How To Build A Healthcare IoT Platform,” to help lay the groundwork for an IoT strategy.