
When most people today talk about wearables, they’re likely thinking about counting steps on a FitBit or tracking movement on an Apple Watch. But a growing number of medical practitioners see potential for these devices to improve the delivery of care.
Wearables are inching closer to clinical use — from checking vital signs to warning of seizures — by letting doctors monitor patients in less invasive ways. Health care startups have developed some wearables to the point where hospitals and health clinics may soon embrace them as a way to improve patient outcomes and drive down the cost of care.