Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Fitbit in health care: Is more data better?

Kevin R. Campbell, MD
Tech
July 21, 2014
542 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

For scientists and researchers who are developing new treatments for disease, Data is power.  For patients, Data can mean empowerment.  Devices that track health indicators are readily available.  These devices can track heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar and even respiratory rate and body temperature.

In the Wall Street Journal, the medical applications of the Fitbit device are explored.  The Fitbit is a basic pedometer that tracks movement, steps taken, calories consumed and (in certain models) sleep habits.  This device is commercially available for around 100 dollars and was initially embraced by serious athletes in order to improve performance.  Now, according to researchers, these devices may be able to impact health outcomes: both inside and outside of the hospital or health care setting.  These impacts may forever change how physicians and health care systems think about managing chronic disease.

As I have mentioned in previous blogs, I firmly believe that smartphone applications for medicine are going to be a part of mainstream medical practice in the coming years.  Providers will prescribe apps just as they do pharmaceuticals.  In the case of the Fitbit device and others like it, data obtained from physiologic monitoring can be used to assess physical fitness and progress towards obtaining specific health goals.  In several recent studies, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, have found that the Fitbit users who have diabetes are more likely to have better control of their blood sugars and achieve weight loss related goals better than those who do not use the device.  Many patients with type 2 diabetes can better control their blood sugars through reduction in BMI (body mass index) and the data provided from the Fitbit device seems to have a positive correlation with weight loss in this particular patient sample.

In the hospital setting, researchers at the Mayo clinic found that in post-operative cardiac surgery patients, the Fitbit was able to identify patients that needed more physical therapy intervention — by tracking movement in the early post-operative days.  It is likely that by identifying and intervening early in patients who are not progressing after surgery we will be able to prevent many common complications such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pneumonia and other morbidities associated with lack of activity after surgery.

At this point, the FDA has no immediate plan for regulation as long as they are not specifically created to treat a particular medical condition or disease process.  However, I do expect regulators to act on all types of biomedical data collection devices within the next 5 years.  According to the WSJ, the health monitoring device industry is projected to exceed 5 billion dollars in 2016 — largely due to our focus on patient engagement and prevention.

Concerns have been raised as to the security of data and as to the reliability of the data generated by these devices.  As with most new medical innovations, there is still much work to be done.  We must create secure servers where patient’s data can be safely deposited (and HIPAA compliant) and easily accessed by their health care providers in order to provide necessary changes to care.

In addition, the patient must be able to access their own data in order to assess progress, adjust goals and optimize their lifestyle changes in order to produce better health outcomes.  Additional concerns have been raised around the legal implications of a large repository of medical and physiologic data: Are physicians responsible for every reading and every piece of data in the repository?  Will there be frivolous lawsuits initiated by ambulance chasers (or Fit BIt chasers) in the future?

I contend that more data is better.  Data provides me with the power to make better decisions for my patients.  Data provides my patients with real, meaningful feedback.  When we are sick, we often feel as though we have lost the ability to determine our own destiny and lose any semblance of control.  Data allows patients with chronic illness to actually regain some sense of control and achieve ownership of their disease with the power to invoke change.

Kevin R. Campbell is a cardiac electrophysiologist who blogs at his self-titled site, Dr. Kevin R. Campbell, MD.

Prev

The future of doctors? Airline pilots provide a clue.

July 21, 2014 Kevin 26
…
Next

The difficulty of moving the needle on patient safety

July 21, 2014 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Mobile health

Post navigation

< Previous Post
The future of doctors? Airline pilots provide a clue.
Next Post >
The difficulty of moving the needle on patient safety

More by Kevin R. Campbell, MD

  • Is there a PBM mafia?

    Kevin R. Campbell, MD
  • This South Pacific island will change how you think about health care

    Kevin R. Campbell, MD
  • How Twitter is a vital tool in medicine

    Kevin R. Campbell, MD

More in Tech

  • AI is living up to its promise as a tool for radiology

    Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
  • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

    Shiv Rao, MD
  • AI-driven diagnostics and beyond

    Michael Kirsch, MD
  • The need for adaptability is imperative in the era of artificial intelligence

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • Harnessing the power of gamification in mental health apps

    Carter Do and Thomas Pak, MD, PhD
  • Leveraging ChatGPT’s high IQ to assist doctors

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

      Shiv Rao, MD | Tech
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • Out-of-office infusions in oncology care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Balancing motherhood and medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Misunderstandings about opioid use disorder

      Amy Baxter, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Out-of-office infusions in oncology care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The power of business knowledge for medical professionals

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Using the language of art to create work-life balance

      Sarah Samaan, MD | Physician
    • Levamisole is good for your dog, but bad for your cocaine

      Robert Killeen, MD | Meds
    • Physician autonomy and patient interactions in corporate health care

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • PSA screening: What you need to know [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 5 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Long COVID Rare in U.S. Kids, Has Affected 7% of Adults
  • Vascular Conditions Offer No Clarity on Pollution-Dementia Link
  • FDA Staff Voice Serious Concerns About Investigational ALS Cell Therapy
  • Primary Prevention Benefits of Lowering LDL Also Apply to the Elderly
  • Doctors Should Stay Away From 'Grateful Patient' Fundraising

Meeting Coverage

  • Loneliness Needs to Be Treated Like Any Other Health Condition, Researcher Suggests
  • Stopping Medical Misinformation Requires Early Detection
  • AI Has an Image Problem in Healthcare, Expert Says
  • Want Better Health Outcomes? Check Out What Other Countries Do
  • ERS Roundup: Cell Transplant Boosts Lung Function in COPD Patients
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

      Shiv Rao, MD | Tech
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • Out-of-office infusions in oncology care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Balancing motherhood and medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Misunderstandings about opioid use disorder

      Amy Baxter, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Out-of-office infusions in oncology care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The power of business knowledge for medical professionals

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Using the language of art to create work-life balance

      Sarah Samaan, MD | Physician
    • Levamisole is good for your dog, but bad for your cocaine

      Robert Killeen, MD | Meds
    • Physician autonomy and patient interactions in corporate health care

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • PSA screening: What you need to know [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Fitbit in health care: Is more data better?
5 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...