How personalized health data is empowering patients

The fusion of high-speed internet, advanced medical devices, and smart wearables has catalyzed a significant healthcare trend: patient empowerment. This shift enables individuals to become active participants in their health through accessible personalized health data, enhancing engagement, enabling precise treatments, and improving overall health outcomes

- Ayush Jain

The coming together of high-speed mobile Internet, consumerization and wider availability of advanced medical devices, and integration of advanced health features in smartwatches and other wearable devices has given rise to one of the most powerful healthcare trends over the last decade: patients and other healthcare seekers are moving beyond being just passive recipients of medical care and are becoming rather active participants in their own health and wellness journeys.

Responding to this trend, the global healthcare industry is now actively innovating to make this active involvement possible through a process termed ‘patient empowerment’. Personalized health data is a key enabler of patient empowerment, as it provides individuals with unprecedented access to information about their own health.

Personalized health dataincludes genetic data,Electronic Health Records (EHRs), data from wearable devices, and patient-reported outcomes. Taken together, this data is influencing the way patients interact with healthcare providers (physicians, clinics, or hospitals) and manage their health.

One of the most exciting features of personalized health data is its potential to increase patient awareness and engagement. Patients who have access to detailed health information are more likely to understand the full nuances of their conditions and make informed decisions about the treatment. When patients can easily access and review their own health data, they become more proactive in managing their health, asking informed questions, and participating actively in their care. This level of engagement is essential for effective healthcare because informed patients are more likely to follow treatment plans and adopt healthier habits.