The use of activity trackers, smartwatches, and other consumer Health wearables has prompted Business school professors to consider how integrating patient-generated health data into clinical workflows will impact provider profits. These professors used “game theory,” a mathematical modeling method, to understand the potential reactions of competing health systems, consumers, and tech firms in different scenarios.
The study assumes that healthcare providers are paid on a fee-for-service basis and that consumers are interested in sharing their health data with their doctors. The results showed that integrating patient-generated health data into clinical workflows could provide larger health systems with a competitive advantage, while smaller health systems may feel pressured to follow suit, ultimately spending more without gaining new patients.
When considering a third-party platform to manage patient-generated health data, the study found that while smaller providers may be more eager to join a cloud-based platform, larger players will need to be lured by attractive pricing or pushed by consumer pressure. The study also warned about the potential for monopolistic practices by giant tech companies and urged legislators to pay attention to security and privacy risks.
The researchers emphasize the importance of focusing on better health outcomes with minimal costs, but also note that controlling the patient-generated health data is a significant consideration. The article concludes by posing the question of whether consumers themselves will ultimately benefit from these changes.
In summary, this research underscores the potential impacts of integrating patient-generated health data into clinical workflows, and emphasizes the need for careful consideration of privacy, security, and equitable access to data. It provides valuable insights for stakeholders in the healthcare industry as they navigate the changing landscape of digital health.
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