How Digital Health Tools, AI, and Wearables are Transforming Care and Self-Management

Technology has been instrumental in shifting patients from passive participants to active, empowered leaders in their healthcare journeys.

Today, patients can use apps to book appointments, communicate with providers through online portals, and monitor their health using tools like Apple Watches, Fitbits, Oura Rings, and other devices.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine during the early months of 2020. Virtual visits allow patients to access care conveniently, reducing travel and exposure risks, although physical appointments remain essential for complex conditions.

Wearables and health apps offer real-time insights, helping patients visualize their progress, drive sustainable behavior changes, and collaborate with their care teams. Meanwhile, extended reality (XR) technologies are revolutionizing healthcare by offering immersive training and hands-on simulations.

Technology also has the power to address disparities in underserved communities. Affordable, user-friendly tools—such as artificial intelligence (AI)-driven diagnostics and wearable stethoscopes—can enable non-medical professionals to gather actionable health data, facilitating the early detection of chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease.

These tools improve access to care, enhance confidence in self-management, and foster collaboration between patients and providers.

The Rise of Telemedicine: Lessons from COVID-19

One of the major effects of COVID-19 was the rapid acceleration of technology adoption in healthcare. Telemedicine, which allows patients to receive care remotely through various technologies, saw slow growth until March 2020, when Congress lifted numerous regulations in response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, leading to rapid expansion. A national study showed that telemedicine encounters increased by 766% within the first three months of the pandemic — skyrocketing from 0.3% of all interactions in March to June 2019 to 23.6% in March to June 2020.

While the serious phase of the pandemic has passed, telemedicine is now a lasting part of American healthcare.

“Before the pandemic, if a doctor suggested a virtual visit, most patients would have resisted, insisting on an in-person appointment,” said Ugo Nwachukwu, PharmD, a pharmacy manager at Walmart Store 2258. “COVID, however, has shifted this mindset and normalized virtual care.”

Patients can now consult with their doctors from the comfort of their homes, reducing the need to travel and minimizing exposure risks. Similarly, the use of e-prescribing has soared since the pandemic. Instead of requiring a physical prescription, doctors can send prescriptions directly to pharmacies, cutting down on errors and making the process more efficient.

This transformation isn’t limited to virtual doctor visits. Companies like Walmart have embraced technology to streamline healthcare access.

“Patients can schedule a flu vaccine appointment online at a time that’s convenient for them,” Nwachukwu said. “They can then combine it with their regular errands, stopping by the pharmacy for a quick five-minute vaccine appointment before continuing their shopping.

Technology has also improved the quality of care. Patients can now easily access their medical records, track what’s missing, and take steps to stay on top of their health. The healthcare industry has adapted remarkably quickly to these changes, as have patients and providers.

When Antoine Keller, M.D., a surgeon and founder of the non-profit HeartSense, was in medical school in the late 80s and early 90s, his professor used to say, “There’s no substitute for being in front of the patient — talking to them and touching them. That’s the hallmark of medical care.”

However, he explained that during COVID-19, providers realized a virtual visit could be just as effective as an in-person one in certain cases. Telehealth appointments can make workflows much more efficient and save patients hours they’d otherwise spend in an office for something that doesn’t require a physical examination.

That said, there are advantages and disadvantages to both approaches. In areas like cardiovascular care, for example, being physically present matters — it allows doctors to gather critical information that can’t always be captured virtually.

Ultimately, the decision between telemedicine and in-person care depends on the acuity of the problem and the doctor-patient relationship. Telemedicine works well for routine follow-ups or less complex issues. For more serious conditions, physical visits remain essential.

XR: Hands-On Health Education

XR technologies — virtual, augmented, and mixed reality — offer a breakthrough in surgical training by overcoming traditional limitations. The impact is transformative: fewer errors, better adherence, and improved outcomes that empower providers, patients, and caregivers.

“This isn’t just another tech innovation — it’s a redefinition of what it means to care,” said Heather Gervais, chief executive officer of Osso VR. “Instead of navigating through complexity, patients step into immersive, hands-on experiences where they can practice administering an injection or managing a medical device.”

She emphasized how the shift to this practical solution can make treatments more manageable, enhance care, and increase accessibility.

According to a recent umbrella review of 44 articles that evaluated the factors influencing the acceptance and use of XR in surgical training, the technology enhanced surgical training by improving skill development and procedural precision. However, although user-friendly designs and positive social influences support adoption, investigators noted overcoming financial and resource barriers remains essential.

“In the next 5 to 10 years, XR technology and immersive education will become a cornerstone of patient care,” predicts Gervais. “Technology, such as a virtual reality headset, will be as common as smartphones, offering patients instant access to at-home care instructions and realistic simulations. They’ll be able to practice as often as needed, risk-free and on their own terms.”

The Role of Wearables and Health Apps

Digital tools offer significant benefits for patients. Among the key advantages is their ability to show people exactly what’s going on with their health, which helps engage and empower them. These tools allow patients to take control and visualize their health progress, empowering sustainable behavior change.

“I have no doubt that AI will become the standard of care,” said Arti Masturzo, MD, chief medical officer at CCS. “Today, we’re mainly seeing AI utilized in ‘safe’ ways in healthcare — to help with streamlining clinical notes, identifying high-risk patient populations, and more. But I see that changing swiftly as the general public becomes more familiar with AI in their day-to-day lives and as more evidence comes to market proving the effectiveness and safety of AI in healthcare.”

Although AI adoption in healthcare will take time, thoughtful implementation and education are critical to building trust and ensuring its success.

“AI technologies have the potential to reduce the cost of designing medicines for disorders with well-defined genetic causes,” said Anne Carpenter, Ph.D., senior director of the Imaging Platform, Institute Scientist, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. “So, I see it becoming more and more feasible for companies and even patient-led foundations to develop drugs for less common disorders.”

A recent study touted continued glucose monitoring (CGM) as a groundbreaking approach to identifying prediabetes — defined as the intermediary stage between normal glucose homeostasis and diabetes — which currently affects approximately 720 million people globally.

In addition to tracking blood sugar levels, CGM devices can help patients learn more about how their lifestyle and decisions impact their levels, health, and overall well-being. They can be used to detect and prevent diabetes by using data to drive behavior changes through tailored therapeutic interventions. Despite some challenges with cost and the need for training and education, CGM may revolutionize prediabetes management.

“Personally, as a patient and a clinician, I am also seeing high value in not just utilizing health wearables as self-education and self-change tools but also as a way to encourage collaborative care between patient and physicians,” said Masturzo. “For example, I recently won my battle with breast cancer. As part of my self-care regimen, I utilized a wearable and the data it captured as a tool to drive better care collaboration with my clinical care team.”

To ensure privacy and data protection while using wearable devices or utilizing apps, Masturzo recommends using HIPPA-compliant apps or those with strong encryption to protect their data, updating the apps regularly, and not sharing sensitive health information on unsecured networks, such as coffee shops and airports.

Digital Tools for Underserved Communities

Keller believes it is important to recognize the current healthcare infrastructure in underserved communities, such as community centers and churches. If these organizations were equipped with affordable, easy-to-use technology, such as the Eko Heart stethoscope he recommends, non-medical professionals would be able to significantly expand their missions.

A study assessing the impact of wearable stethoscopes, which were developed in the early 2000s, highlighted the potential of the devices to transform cardiovascular health management by allowing for early diagnosis and self-monitoring. The device was designed to be comfortable and lightweight so patients would be able to wear the device for extended periods — sometimes up to a week — without tubing, earpieces, or traditional displays. They “bridge the data gap between clinics and patients’ homes” by providing the core functions of a traditional stethoscope while utilizing modern technology.

Keller emphasized this technology needs to be inexpensive to expand the accessibility and must be easily reproducible — something that can be used by individuals without medical expertise to gather useful, actionable information.

“This is critical because one of the biggest challenges we face is workforce shortages — particularly when addressing the most common medical issue in America: cardiovascular disease,” Keller explained. “By training non-healthcare professionals with tools that can gather actionable information, we can identify chronic cardiovascular conditions early and encourage patients to seek care from qualified experts.”

However, he notes many doctors are hesitant about AI because of concerns over its accuracy and potential risks. For example, if AI identifies a condition that a doctor overlooks, there’s a fear of liability or missed diagnoses. It becomes information overload for physicians. Additionally, many communities have a skepticism towards the medical establishment. To mitigate this, he and his team work relentlessly to foster relationships and engage with community health infrastructures so that they can provide these tools and help manage the vast population of individuals with undiagnosed cardiovascular disease.

The Future of Digital Health and AI

AI has the potential to revolutionize preventive care, helping patients identify risks earlier and collaborate with providers for proactive care. In the coming years, wearable devices, XR, and AI will become integral tools for both patients and providers.

Thoughtful implementation of these technologies — rooted in transparency, privacy, and patient trust — will empower individuals to take charge of their health while preserving the critical human connection at the heart of medicine.