A growing number of health care-related organizations are using remote patient monitoring systems, signaling a surge in demand for such technology, according to a recent report from market research firm Frost & Sullivan, Healthcare IT News reports.
Reasons Generating Growth
The report found that the need to manage chronic disease among the growing elderly population has increased the demand for telehealth technology.
According to the report, systems and technologies that are driving the rise of telehealth include:
Bluetooth;
Near-field communication;
Secure data management; and
Wireless sensor platforms.
The report noted that a number of companies — including Google, IBM, Microsoft and Wal-Mart — are assisting in the development of remote monitoring products.
Arjunvasan Ambigapathy, a Frost & Sullivan research associate, said the increase in demand is discernible not only in the U.S., Europe and Japan, but also in emerging markets such as China and India.
Barriers to Implementation
The report also pointed to barriers to telehealth adoption, such as:
The absence of reimbursement;
The lack of standards and regulatory policies governing use of the technology;
Low awareness levels among patients; and
Data security concerns (Monegain, Healthcare IT News, 3/4).