Patients ‘embracing connected care technology’

Patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the UK are embracing the benefits offered by connected care technologies, a new report has found.

The Philips Future Health Index shows that in the last 12 months, nearly half of HCPs (48 per cent) have seen an increase in the use of connected care technologies by primary care doctors, and over a third (38 per cent) have seen an increase in the rate of use by other primary and secondary healthcare services.

The general public is also embracing connected care technologies, with 31 per cent having used such technology to monitor a health indicator in the last 12 months. Unsurprisingly, the younger generations (18-34) are leading the way with incorporating this kind of technology into their lifestyle and just over a quarter (26 per cent) of those aged over 55 say they have used this technology.

The report findings show that the general public is increasingly seeing the value of digital technologies with 57 per cent of those who have used connected care technology to track a health indicator sharing their data with an HCP in the past 12 months.

Neil Mesher, CEO at Philips UK and Ireland, said: “I’m optimistic that the Future Health Index findings can provide a boost to both the NHS and our patient population - knowing the UK healthcare system is better integrated than we give it credit for, and both patients and HCPs feel positive about the benefits offered by connected care technologies.

“Connected care represents a real and very present solution for some of the challenges the healthcare system faces. Leveraging technological innovations not only has the ability to empower people to manage their health and stay out of the hospital, but to deliver effective treatment plans and ease the burden on medical staff by balancing the partnership between doctors and patients.”

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