A new study that was published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine showed that Fitbit data can predict the 30-day and 60-day readmission rate for cancer patients after surgery. This is the first time that a Fitbit study examined the link between activity level and hospital readmission rates.
The results of the study showed that the subjects who exercised more were less likely to be re-admitted to the hospital. The Fitbit can help benefit patients and healthcare providers. Patients can use their Fitbit in order to monitor chronic health conditions. This can lower costs that are associated with hospital admission rates. Fitbit can also provide people with continuous health data.
Fitbit is not the only technology company that is conducting students on health. Apple is currently conducting the Apple Heart Study. They have teamed up with Stanford Medicine. Humana has also introduced a digital medication management tool. It uses a tool called RXMentor. This tool keeps track of all of the medications that a person has used and or is currently using.
The purpose of the RXMentor is to encourage more people to take their medication. This is a part of Humana’s goal to help its members become 20 percent healthier by the year 2020. It is estimated that 75 percent of people in America do not take their medication as directed. This costs the healthcare system $300 million per year.
There have been quite a few stories reported of people’s lives being saved by Fitbit. A 73-year-old woman named Patricia Lauder noticed that her Fitbit had detected an abnormal heart rate. Her heart rate normally ranged from 60 to 70 beats per minute. However, the Fitbit showed that her heart rate was 140 at rest. Patricia went to the doctor and found out that she had two blood clots in her lungs. Patricia’s heart was working harder because of the blood clots. Fortunately, the clots were successfully treated.
