5 Medtech Trends Shaping 2017: Connected Health and Seniors

2016 was a landmark year for medical device companies. Although the industry is awash in challenges (e.g., continued cybersecurity concerns) and uncertainties (e.g., the fate of the medical device excise tax), the outlook for 2017 looks promising. Investing News predicts that device makers will capture significant market share in 2017. Equally encouraging, Evaluate Research forecasts [PDF] that medical technology sales will reach more than $529.8 billion by 2022, growing at an annual rate of 5.2 percent, and R&D expenditure will grow by 4.3 percent annually to reach $34 billion by 2022.
 
In this presentation—the first in a five-part series on medical device trends to watch out for this year—I would like to discuss a topic that comes up again and again at the numerous tradeshows and conference I’ve attended this year (9, so far): the important role connected technology is playing in healthcare, particularly with the growing senior population.
 
Global Population Aging
People are living longer. According to a 2016 report funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and produced by the U.S. Census Bureau, 8.5 percent of the people worldwide (617 million) are aged 65 and over. This percentage is expected to double by 2050 (1.6 billion).
 
Accompany the growing aging population is an increasing need for more medical devices, especially devices that focus on disease prevention. Apps, wearables, and other mHealth technologies are ideal for monitoring blood pressure, analyzing heart rate, and reporting a host of other health metrics that can help seniors stay healthy, live longer, and maintain more independence. Sadly, not all device companies recognize the potential of the senior market. Most headlines about wearables focus on the young and fit (i.e., those already in good health), yet the business case for marketing digital health technology to the elderly is more than promising. According to an article in the online trade publication TechRepublic, “aging care is one of the most aggressive industries in innovation.” In 2016 alone, $6.5 billion was invested in digital health start-ups.
 
Overcoming Stereotypes
Why then are some device companies reluctant to embrace the senior market? Perhaps it’s due to the common stereotype that the elderly are resistant to change, particularly technological change, which simply isn’t the case. In fact, if you think about it, seniors were the first population to embrace wearables. The Lifeline call button, a wearable emergency response system, was developed in 1974 by psychologist and gerontologist Andrew S. Dibner (Lifeline Systems became Philips Lifeline in 2006).
 
While it’s true that not all seniors are comfortable with technology, many are becoming more tech-savvy through the use of smartphones and computers.
 
Benefits to Users and Caregivers
Wearables and networked devices aimed at helping seniors age in place don’t just benefit the seniors themselves. They are a godsend to caregivers who must often sacrifice wages and other benefits in order to care for a parent or older relative. Tech-assisted home care exists that not only reminds users to take their medicine but also alerts caregivers when mom or dad miss a dose. This alleviates a lot of stress for caregivers, especially those who live out of state, and improves their quality of life, too.
 
Digital health tools that help seniors age in place are also helping to bridge the growing care gap for baby boomers. According to AARP, the supply of available caregivers is drastically declining as more seniors move into old age.
 
The Importance of Vigorous Design and Validation Controls
Despite their enormous advantages and potential, even the most robust tech-assisted health tools will not benefit users if they are not adopted or used properly. Compliance is an issue, which is why it’s important for device makers to implement vigorous design controls and validation controls. Engineers must consider the skill level and dexterity of the users early in the design process to promote user engagement. Human factors must frequently be evaluated throughout the design and development process to improve the user experience and increase the likelihood of adoption and compliance. A type of bias occurs as we supplant our own experiences as designers and engineers for the needs of the end user. This creates a common problem in innovation where, all too often, we lose sight of the customer.
 
Aside from user adoption and compliance issues, device makers must also address security and data privacy fears. Increased connectivity leads to increased vulnerability and cybersecurity risk. Device companies that take a proactive approach to cybersecurity, by budgeting for it and building it into their design process, will be able to use it as a competitive differentiator. I’ll address cybersecurity, and the threat it poses to innovation, in my next post.

Other parts of this series:
5 Medtech Trends Shaping 2017: Cybersecurity
5 Medtech Trends Shaping 2017: The Pharma/Medtech Convergence
5 Medtech Trends Shaping 2017: Trump’s Impact
5 Medtech Trends Shaping 2017: Disruption from Outsiders
 

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As the medical device product manager at MasterControl, Alex Butler is focused on developing solutions that help medical device companies increase efficiencies, ensure compliance and speed time to market. Before joining MasterControl in 2014, Butler worked as a product development manager for Opal Orthodontics, a division of Ultradent Products Inc., where he helped launch several Class II medical devices, including the Opal Espirit Class II Corrector. With more than five years of direct medical device experience, as well as a deep understanding of the FDA’s submission process and audit procedures, Butler is a vital part of the MasterControl product management team.