Wearable Fitness Trackers are a Dime a Dozen, So What’s the Difference?

The answer to the question in the title is most likely, it depends.

There are all kinds of devices out there that can be worn on your wrist, worn on your key chain, or clipped to just about anything.  I found five just by looking at two websites that referenced other devices.  They are mostly in the same ballpark in terms of price; around $100-150.

Some provide websites, iPhone apps, or even games.  Some require a subscription while others include access in the original purchase price.  Some simply track movement while others also track your sleep and can help you wake up less groggy.  Below you will find a quick look at just a couple of these devices.

What might be really interesting is to get numerous different devices, and wear them all at the same time and compare the results.  A slight difference would be expected, but it would be very interesting to see how big of a difference that was.  If I had $1000 to blow I would be happy to do it, unless someone wants to send me a test model and let me do a review.

Fitbit

$100 (includes lifetime website membership)

The fitbit has been around for a while, and boasts a lot of the same features as most of these other devices.  Their biggest advantage is probably size as their 3 inch device can clip just about anywhere, so unless you spend your days walking around naked, you are set.  This is probably my favorite device based on first impressions.  The size is important, but I also like that just buying the device gives you a lifetime membership to their website which provides a little more than these other devices.  You can input your diet and monitor your calorie input versus the number you are burning.  Obviously this requires more effort on your part, but there is something about tracking your fitness that can help inspire you to do more.  It also has a sleep monitoring function which I find incredibly intriguing.

Nike+ FuelBand

$150

This is the most recent in a long line of Nike+ offerings.  Like the other Nike+ offerings it is currently only available with the iPhone, but is expected to have an Android version in the spring.  The FuelBand is worn on your wrist and uses LED’s to give you some indication of your progress.  Synching with the app through bluetooth provides more in-depth data as well as earning points towards NikeFuel, though I was not really clear as to what that gets you other than typical social media stuff.  Interestingly, they admit that the device is not super accurate, but that being high sometimes and low at other times should even it all out.

Jawbone Up

$100

There is a review on Wired.com that could best be summed up like this: “It is really cool when it works, but it doesn’t work often.”  The Up is one of the devices that also monitors sleep and is supposed to wake you up at a more ideal time.  It is worn on your wrist and looks incredibly simple.  There are only two LEDs and a plug to sync it with their iOS app (another device that is limited by Apple).  They say that it is water-resistant to sweat and showers, but should be removed for swimming.

Bodybugg

$249-498 (plus monthly subscription)

This is one of the oldest companies on the market, but also one that continues to make advancements with their devices.  That being said, they are also the most expensive on the market.  Most of their devices retail around $250 but can be found at least $70 cheaper with only minor searching.  They work with both iPhone and Android models, and they offer wristwatch type devices as well as those that can be worn on the upper arm.  With the substantially higher cost (including monthly subscription costs for their website, they clearly are not for the uncommitted, but if you are willing to foot the bill, it may be worth it.  They used to be used on The Biggest Loser, but the show has gone to their own device this season which is our last device.

The Biggest Loser® SLIMCOACH™

$130 (includes one year subscription)

Honestly, I was turned off by this device as it just seems to be another thing for this widely successful show to make money on.  They preached the value of another product for so long it is hard to understand why they developed their own, except to make money.  That being said, It appears to be a worthwhile device.  It is a little bit bigger than most of the other devices, at about the size of an mp3 player, and clips on to your clothes like many others.  The website appears to be the key to this system with the ability to set goals for yourself and see how you are doing throughout the day.  From what I saw on the show you also have the ability to have your trainer input feedback to help you achieve your long-term goals.  The price is right inline with most of the devices, and it is hard to argue with their success in weight loss, but the whole thing just rubs me the wrong way.

These types of devices are going to become even more prevalent, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see smartphones embedding these programs since most of them already have accelerometers anyway, and people almost never leave their phone.  For some people monitoring their activity will do them no good, but for others, it may provide the motivation they need to succeed.

What other devices have you heard of or used that were effective?  I would love to hear about your experience with these devices.

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January 31, 2012 I Written By

Filed Under: Apple  Gadgets  Health Care  iPhone  mHealth  Mobile Health Care
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Attention Apple iJunkies: Apple iPad 3 Only Weeks Away?

I don’t think there is a company in the world that gets more hype for its releases than Apple.  While I personally am not an iJunky, as I like to call them,I do have respect for their products.  Every product has good and bad, but they put out a quality product.

According to Mobile Marketing Watch, the wait may be pretty short for those who are anxious for the release of the much-anticipated iPad 3.  They cite a Japanese Mac news website, Macotakara, who says that they are already in production and will ship sometime in March.

The 3rd generation iPad is expected to use LCD technology from Sharp Electronics.  It will be interesting to see if some of the faults people saw in the iPad 2 will be addressed.  I know one of the biggest issues was the lack of a new processor between the first and second generation.

I am also intrigued to see what faults iJunkies will find with the new system as they inevitably do.

What types of things would you like to see in the new model?  Where do you think they will fall short?

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January 24, 2012 I Written By

Filed Under: Apple  iPad  mHealth  Mobile Health Care  Tablets
Tags:  iJunkies  iJunky  iPad 2  iPad 3  LCD Technology  Macotakara  Mobile Marketing Watch  Sharp Electronics  Third Generation iPad

Consult A Doctor Offers 24/7 Flu Hotline That Costs Less than $40

Flu season is generally miserable for everyone.  Even if you don’t actually get sick you spend half your time avoiding the people who are sick.  Then you start to get symptoms but you wait as long as humanly possible to actually see a doctor because it is so expensive and time-consuming.  Consult A Doctor is releasing a new service designed to change all of that.

Their new service, FLUHOTLINE24/7, provides round the clock access to board certified physicians that can diagnose your sickness, and even prescribe medication if they need to.  That means no more driving across town, waiting forever, and then being told to drink fluids and take some medicine.

The whole process is as simple as placing a call to 1-855-DOC-4FLU or logging on to www.FLUHOTLINE247.com.  The whole process only takes a matter of minutes, and costs less than $40 regardless of your insurance status.

I’m not the kind of person to go to the doctor unless I am about to cough up or lung or have an appendage fall off.  That being said, it would be nice to get a simple illness taken care of so easily and at such a low-cost.

According to Consult A Doctor’s press release, the Center for Disease Control has reported that flu related complications lead to over 200,000 hospitalizations, many of which did not really need a hospital stay, which is simply wasteful and overcrowds an already overloaded system.

The ability to get help from home, not have to spend so much time at the hospital, and the exceptionally low-cost should make this incredibly appealing to just about anyone.  Now we just have to hope that people will actually use it.

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January 19, 2012 I Written By

Filed Under: Health Care  Telemedicine
Tags:At Home Flu Doctor  Board Certified Physicians    Consult A Doctor  Flu Hotline  Flu Season  FLUHOTLINE24/7

Qualcomm Tricorder X Prize Offering $10 Million Prize to Developers

We all remember those awesome little tricorders from the Star Trek series that could analyze a person’s level of health almost immediately.  All the doctor had to do was push a button and he immediately knew exactly what he needed to do to help the person.

Qualcomm and the X Prize Foundation have announced a development competition designed to create just such a device.  The two CEO’s of the respective companies, Dr. Paul Jacobs, Qualcomm Foundation Chair and Qualcomm Incorporated Chairman and CEO, and X PRIZE Foundation Chairman and CEO Dr. Peter Diamandis, announced during the keynote address at CES that the prize would be $10 million dollars.

Compared to the other development competitions that I have previously covered, this one is in a “whole different galaxy.”  While the idea may seem a little far-fetched, it really does not seem that unrealistic to me.

We already have portable devices for blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and even EKG’s.  How much of a stretch is it to simply combine all of those devices together?  With that kind of prize, this competition is sure to bring out some serious talent who are committed to making the science fiction of my youth a reality.

There is way more information than I could possibly cover here, so please check out their website where you can find all of the details of the contest including press releases, and how to enter.

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January 17, 2012 I Written By

Filed Under: Health Care  Healthcare IT  Medical Devices  mHealth  Mobile Health Care
Tags:CES Keynote Address  Consumer Electronics Show  Dr. Paul Jacobs  Dr. Peter Diamandis  Handheld Electronic Healthcare Gadgets  Healthcare Competitions    Real Star Trek Tricorder  X Prize Foundation

How to Get Physicians Onboard with mHealth

No matter how great an app or device may be, it will be difficult for any developer to be successful if they don’t get some level of buy in from physicians in general.  People will always resort back to their physician when it comes to the quality of medical products.

In keeping with that train of thought, David Lee Scher, MD wrote an excellent article for mHIMSS.org entitled, What will it take for physicians to adopt mHealth?  It takes a great look at a few important ways to get physicians onboard with mHealth.  The full article can be found at the above link, but I will just look at a couple of his main points and share my thoughts.

Increase the awareness of mHealth technologies with physicians.

It is amazing how unaware some people are of the technology available even in their own industry.  Some of that may be due to the sheer magnitude of offerings and not wanting to take the time to find the quality products.

As is mentioned in the article, professional word of mouth may be the most valuable method here.  Whether it be conferences or professional journals, it doesn’t really matter.  What is important is that doctors get reliable information from sources they can trust.  I’m not talking about the kool-aid the developers themselves sell, but legitimate information concerning the value of these products.

Technologies that will decrease work burden.

This is incredibly important, as no one will be interested in adopting something that gives them more work to do.  This may seem obvious, but can easily be overlooked.  It’s great that an app can provide all kinds of new information, but if it requires the user to do even more work to use that information they will quickly be turned off.

The adoption of mHealth directly by insurers and/or hospitals.

This may be the most important step.  Money is the driving force of almost any industry, and in healthcare insurers are where the real money is.  Insurers need to be sold on the fact that mHealth technologies can actually save them money in the long run.  When that happens insurers will be willing to pay the reimbursements and everyone will win.

mHealth has the ability to be a disruptive technology in healthcare, the likes of which we have probably not seen in my lifetime.  I think we are only scratching the surface of what mHealth can do, and we will not get much deeper if physicians are unwilling to make it an essential part of the medicine they practice.

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January 11, 2012 I Written By

Filed Under: Health Care  Healthcare IT  mHealth  Mobile Health Care
Tags:David Lee Scher  mHealth Adoption by Insurers  mHealth Awareness  mHealth Disruptive Force  mHealth Efficiency  mHIMSS  Physician Adoption of mHealth

Axial’s Care Transition Suite Wins “Ensuring Safe Transitions from Hospital to Home” Mobile App Challenge

In a recent online discussion I had concerning an article I recently wrote, the point was raised that for an app or device to be successful it must fulfill a need.  While I don’t think that it is absolutely essential to success, it certainly makes the path to success much more realistic.

Filling a need is exactly what the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ competition was all about.  According to the press release the competition “invited healthcare application developers around the country to devise an intuitive application that dealt with the very real problem of moving a patient into and out of a hospital safely and efficiently.”

Here are some of the highlights from the press release, as well as from Fierce Mobile Healthcare’s interview with Jean-Luc Neptune, senior VP of Health 2.0, which ran the challenge for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT.

Axial’s Care Transition Suite puts tablet, laptop and mobile phone technology to work to better ensure that patient information flows automatically between care settings. Axial also creates an interactive care plan that enables patients of all ages to take control of their aftercare. Axial’s solution reduces readmissions, increases patient satisfaction, and saves time and money across the healthcare delivery network. Vital patient information is often lost in care provider hand-offs – gaps that compromise quality of care and costs.

I think just about everyone has been to see a doctor and felt like they told ten different people the exact same information.  It is also highly likely that information could be inaccurately transferred as it passes from caregiver to caregiver.  If that critical information can be more accurately and quickly handled then care will inevitably improve.
“Two thirds of patients can neither describe their diagnosis or state the purpose of their medications,” said Joanne Rohde, CEO, Axial Exchange, Inc. “Our application not only engages patients, but also ensures that information flows to all caregivers in a way that benefits health systems, payors, and patients.”
Again, if information can be more accurate and efficient, we all benefit.
The suite is essentially a third-layer product that pulls data from inpatient, ER, pharmacy, testing and other systems to create central summaries that follow patients “from ambulance through inpatient and post-discharge,” Neptune says. For example, EMS teams input patient data during transport and that data is pushed to a care summary for ER physicians ahead of the patient’s arrival at the hospital. Post-discharge summaries are automatically generated and sent to the patient’s physician and the patient’s own smartphone or tablet, according to company officials.
This is clearly a simplification of what this product offers, but isn’t that exactly what they are shooting for?  Maybe the real question is why the process has become so complicated in the first place, but that is likely a topic for a whole different article.
I read about app competitions all of the time, but for some reason never see the results.  It is nice to see that some of these competitions actually bear results, and in this case it seems like a quality product.  The competition was won with a prototype so it will be interesting to see how the development progresses in the future.
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January 9, 2012 I Written By

Filed Under: Health Care  Healthcare IT  mHealth  Mobile Health Care
Tags:Axial Care Transition Suite  Axial Exchange Inc.  Fierce Mobile Healthcare    Healthcare App Competitions  Hospital Efficiency App  Jean Luc Neptune  Joanne Rohde  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  Vital Patient Information

Consult A Doctor Expands Telemedicine Offerings to Travel Industry With the Help of Marriott Rewards

How often do we go on vacation and someone gets sick?  I know for me and my kids it is pretty much every time we go on vacation.  If you are visiting family who can get you in with their doctor it may not be too bad, but even that is not always possible.

The most frustrating thing is that oftentimes it is something incredibly simple, and a trip to urgent care or the emergency room is going to cost you a ton of money.  Consult A Doctor is working to help get you the care you need without having to take that trip to urgent care, or the emergency room.

Consult A Doctor offers 24/7/365 telemedicine services in all 50 states.  That means that anyone can have access to board certified physicians whenever they need them.  In furthering their offerings, they have made their services available to Marriott Rewards members who can now use their points to purchase the service through Marriott’s CSA Travel Protection offering.

This is an awesome offering for anyone who travels very often, and my family does its fair share of traveling.  We have spent more time and money going to random doctors when almost every single one of those trips could have just as easily been taken care of over the phone.

I can only imagine how much more beneficial this will be for business travelers who are gone more than they are home.  Not only the money that will be saved, but the time, which is even more important to most business travelers.

It remains to be seen how effective this particular initiative will be, but it is hard to argue with Consult A Doctor’s success up to this point.  I know I for one will definitely keep this in mind the next time one of my kids gets sick on vacation.

The full press release can be found here.

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January 5, 2012 I Written By

Filed Under: Health Care  Healthcare IT  mHealth  Mobile Health Care  Telemedicine

iPads Not Adopted as Quickly by Hospitals as Doctors

iPads are all the rage amongst doctors right now and it is understandable with all they are able to do.  They provide a great amount of convenience for a relatively small financial investment.  For some reason hospitals have not been as quick to adopt this great technology.

According to an article on Fierce Mobile Healthcare, less than one percent of hospitals have a fully functional tablet system.  That seems ridiculously low to me considering how many people use iPads in general.

The article says that one of the major issues is that many of the EMRs currently being used do not have native iPad apps which prevents iPad usage.  It is also not realistic for hospitals to go back and switch EMRs just to be able to use the iPad, no matter how useful they may be.

What this says to me is that many hospitals moved a little too quickly to adopt an EMR without considering all of their options.  While it makes little sense to make such an important decision so quickly, I can also see why it may have happened.  With all of the money that meaningful use offers it is totally understandable that hospitals would move quickly to get that money.

I know it is shocking that a government program would induce rapid decision making that leads to undesirable consequences, but that may be exactly what happened here.

Don’t get me wrong, I think EMRs and meaningful use are great, and definitely the path that healthcare needs to go, but forcing hospitals to rush into such an important decision may end up costing them more in the long run.  Not having iPads is by no means the end of the world, and it shouldn’t be the measure of success, but it is a tool that may not be used to its full potential because of the current situation.

 

 

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January 3, 2012 I Written By

Filed Under: Apple  Health Care  iPad  mHealth  Mobile Health Care  Tablets
Tags:Apple iPad  Fierce Mobile Healthcare  iPad EMR app    Native iPad Apps  Tablet Use in Hospitals  Wrong EMR