In light of the upcoming Digital Health CEO Summit by Rock Health on March 30th, I would like to touch on the exponentially growing sector of digital health in the healthcare technology space. As lines slowly become blurred between biotechnology, medical devices, fitness tracking, and standard healthcare, an undeniable part of this changing landscape is the presence of wearable sensors.
Most of us are by now familiar with the presence of fitness trackers such as Fitbit and the presence of Apple Health in our daily lives, tracking our steps and movement patterns. A more unknown type of wearable sensor is an ingestible one. Ingestibles are sensors contained within a pill; once swallowed, the sensor sends signals to a device. These are sensors which can be used to track medication habits and other metrics without a person constantly having to keep track.
Proteus‘s product is targeted toward those with chronic health conditions and has four components: an ingestible pill which contains a sensor, a patch which receives the signal from the pill, an app where users can look at their data, and a portal which a provider can log into and view patient data. The ingestible pill tracks people’s medication habits, measures metrics, and provides insights for both the user and their provider. These four components offer a well-rounded system to systematically involve both the user and their provider, and give the option to also give medication reminders.
For those with chronic health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, medication compliance is normally very low: 50%, according to Proteus’s site. Proteus was created to improve adherence, decrease healthcare costs, and also allow both healthcare professionals and patients themselves to take a more active role in their own healthcare.
From experience, I have seen that without the investment and active participation of someone in their own health, the path to stable health becomes a difficult one. This lack of participation is often multifactorial, and the patient is not necessarily to blame. Chronic health conditions become a complicated system where one must take constant medication without always understanding or being engaged with what is actually happening in their own body. Education and active participation are vital, as is understanding the significance of self care.
Particularly when dealing with chronic conditions, it is very empowering for someone to have some type of feedback which gives their health regimen significance and involvement. The added bonus of metrics such such as steps, activity, blood pressure, heart rate, and weight give a person even more insight into their own system.
As healthcare changes and people become more in control of their own well being with knowledge, research, and digital insights, we hope to see more amazing products such as the one from Proteus.
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