In November 2023, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) released an important specification that standardizes methods for collecting sensor data from personal health devices when used for remote patient monitoring (RPM). Although personal health devices have been used for remote patient monitoring for some time, there has not yet been a widely accepted standard for collecting sensor data from personal health devices and uploading it to the electronic record system of healthcare providers. The lack of such a standard has resulted in limited options for healthcare providers to provide or prescribe personal health devices for remote patient monitoring to patients. This new Bluetooth standard will greatly increase the availability of personal health devices that can be used for remote patient monitoring.
Personal health devices, commonly referred to as consumer health devices or home health monitoring tools, include a range of portable electronic instruments and wearable devices that help individuals monitor and manage their health. These devices enable users to track a variety of health parameters, such as vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar levels), activity levels, and sleep patterns, typically providing real-time feedback and data storage. They play an important role in promoting self-care, chronic disease management, and overall health, enabling users to make informed decisions about their health.
Remote patient monitoring is a healthcare practice that uses technology to collect and transmit patient health data from a variety of medical devices and sensors (often located in the patient's home or other remote environment) to healthcare professionals for real-time monitoring and analysis. This approach allows for continuous monitoring of patients’ vital signs, symptoms, and chronic conditions without the need for frequent in-person visits. Remote patient monitoring is designed to improve patient care by enabling early intervention, reducing hospital readmissions and enhancing chronic disease management, ultimately promoting more efficient, patient-centered healthcare delivery.
Over the past few years, more and more healthcare providers have recognized the significant benefits of using personal health devices for remote patient monitoring. Until then, however, there were no widely accepted standards for collecting sensor data from personal health devices and uploading it to healthcare provider electronic health record (EHR) systems. This means electronic health record system providers need to develop Personal Health Gateway (PHG) solutions for all personal health devices they choose to support remote patient monitoring. As a result, healthcare providers have relatively limited options for personal health devices that can be provided or prescribed to patients for remote patient monitoring. To address this challenge, major developers of electronic health record systems, remote patient monitoring services and personal health devices, including Philips and Roche, are defining a standardized approach for collecting and uploading human health device sensor data to eHealth. Recording system. The key new Bluetooth specification that defines this standard is the Generic Health Sensor (GHS) profile.
Professional medical-grade wearable devices have health monitoring as their core function, and have higher requirements for data accuracy, compliance with regulatory requirements, and compatibility with medical ecosystems and health information exchange standards. When designing and developing medical-grade wearable devices, the following four aspects need to be carefully considered:
(1) Higher data measurement accuracy is required. Therefore, the accuracy of the sensor and the reliability of the collected data are crucial, especially when the device is intended to be used as a diagnostic tool to provide reliable data to medical professionals. At the same time, there should be a timely warning mechanism to alert users and healthcare professionals to potential health problems.
(2) Non-invasiveness is an important feature of wearable devices that need to be worn for a long time. The device design should be small and lightweight, and minimize safety issues and hidden dangers. Non-invasive design ensures that users can integrate the device into their daily lives without interfering with normal activities or causing discomfort.
(3) It should be designed for long-term continuous use to provide a continuous health monitoring solution. This includes optimizing battery life and reducing charging frequency to ensure that the device remains operational, especially during critical health monitoring periods.
(4) Multiple wearable health monitoring devices and the involvement of Bluetooth gateways and hospital management systems will increase complexity. This requires a powerful IoT connectivity solution, efficient data transmission, and a centralized system for real-time monitoring and analysis. In this context, facilitating robust communication between devices, ensuring data integrity, and protecting sensitive patient information is critical