How top Medical devices distributors are evolving in era of health apps?

by Albert Luies I am a Blogger

Many top medical devices distributors are evolving their business models at a fast pace to keep up with new technologies. The sudden growth in health related apps and interconnectivity of medical devices is changing consumer expectations. This is further accelerated with smartphones getting integrated with medical device to track and display the real time data.

For example AFib condition can be asymptomatic, it is difficult to diagnose. It is estimated to affect millions of people globally and hundreds of cases are being diagnosed on daily basis worldwide.

A digital medical device when coupled with smartphone technology enables easy detection of possible atrial fibrillation with high accuracy and specificity.

What Medical device distributors are doing?

Many top medical suppliers are rebuilding and retraining their teams; to take advantage of this new evolution. The distributors are helping patients to install these medical devices at their homes. The installation includes complete services such as install, testing, connect, and integration with alarms.

This allows to track and share health data with other health apps. It works with connected blood pressure monitors and is quick and simple to download.

The available data is always at the fingertips providing

• Deep insights

• Tracking progress in real time

• Record your lifestyle changes and remind medications.

• Email and create medical date logbook from your phone

Medical facilities such as clinics and hospitals are working with major medical device suppliers and distributors to work out the most economical business model. The model enhances the convenience and safety by providing updates of latest results. This can be either to a smartphone by Bluetooth or a connected app or integrated with hospital system to provide latest readings without even picking up phone.

Self-Care Improvement

It has been proven now that with educated healthcare practices and combined regular medication reminder improves medication compliance. Statistically patients are showing higher consistency with lifestyle changes. Computed data and info graphics, helps doctors to diagnose and change the treatment protocols in response to therapy.

Medical Device distributors are exploring Rental or Lease models

The new evolution has helped in saving cost by renting or leasing the medical device for specific period along with associated peripherals. This not only helps patients to recover in home environment but also frees up the space in hospitals for critical and intensive care patients.

Many healthcare facilities are promoting this concept and are constantly engaging with medical device suppliers to perfect this business model. The healthcare facilities are also upgrading their IT infrastructure such as telemedicine and monitoring the data in real time linked to nursing stations.

The major benefits of this model are

Economizing the cost and resources for both patients and healthcare facilities.
Enhanced comfort for patients.
Less visits to hospitals and clinics.
Ease of reporting and collating measurements.
Provides trustworthy accurate information
Monitoring trends and real time evaluation.
Recording and storage in data repository.
Integrates with other data repository and apps.
Improved data transparency and accuracy.
Reduction in human errors with automatic syncing.

Is rental business model sustainable?

Medical device distributors are making progress and continuously tracking the bottom line. This is a new evolving model and may take some time to connect with customers. However initial feedback is encouraging and more and more patients are opting for rental or leasing medical equipment’s.

How medical devices are evolving?

Fast setup and simple to operate are core aspects of new digital medical devices as many users are conversant with smartphones and can easily configure through guided process. Open protocol for connected devices which can automatically send measurements to the app, recording displays and measurements for later viewing.

Easy access and personal health histories through the intuitive dashboard can help both patients and carers to track progress and discuss with doctors. The results and data are consolidated in dashboard type displays and insightful graphs that help patients to interpret the trends.

However data privacy and regulatory guidelines for access need to be laid out clearly in simple framework. The current medical bodies are yet to build a regulatory for mass adoption of latest trends and evolution in the field of connected medical devices.

Future of Digital Medical devices distribution

The recent pandemic has unexpectedly brought the medical devices industry in the focus. The digital era was already influencing most aspects of business supply chain. The advent of telemedicine; introduction of 5G is boosting automation and IoT (Internet of Things) in healthcare segment too.

Whatever may the future hold, it is sure that digital devices will take centre stage in medical field. Most of the medical device companies have already started embracing smart manufacturing (such as 4.0TM in pharma) holds transformative potential for businesses. It is bound to create exponential value as they adopt new found connectivity and adaptability. The distribution is also taking shape to encompass new digital realities in terms of app based solutions.

Conclusion

Healthcare industry is being turned around by digital devices. Medical Device manufacturers looking for distributors are reimaging and reinventing themselves as connected heath solutions providers. Affordability, accessibility, and awareness are the key concerns for large scale adoption of digital devices and healthcare apps. The winners will be those companies that establish leadership and build trust.