In a recent op-ed for The San Francisco Examiner, representatives from the Lown Institute and Well Being Trust suggest most digital health apps are based on two inherently false ideas: that tracking biomarkers such as heart rate and step count will lead to better outcomes, and that this focus on individual behavior will lead to health improvements on a community level.
In fact, according to the authors, wearable fitness trackers have not been linked to significant, sustainable improvements in weight or overall health. And while socioeconomic factors certainly play a role in an individual’s well-being, it is all but impossible to translate individual benefits across entire populations.
“If Silicon Valley really wants to disrupt the healthcare sector in a way that has the most impact on people’s health, it needs to bake an understanding of community conditions into whatever ideas they put forward,” the authors wrote. “There is an enormous opportunity for truly disruptive tech innovation, but it needs to do more than activate individuals. It needs to change the dynamic of their social networks in brand new ways.”
More articles on health IT:
AI pilot project to help CMS identify fraud deemed a success
Athenahealth selects chief marketing officer: 3 things to know
7 EHR design, use factors clinicians attribute to burnout
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
