Healthcare Dive

This is well-reflected in the booming fitness tracker sector, which is estimated to triple from $2 billion in 2014 to $5.4 billion by 2019, according to Parks Associates, a market research and consulting firm specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services.

Its research data also found adoption of connected health devices jumped from 24% of U.S. households in early 2013 to 30% by the end of 2014. 

From the article "Survey: 76 Percent Of U.S. Adults Wou ...read more

Research released in August by Parks Associates found that only about 6% of people in US households with broadband access have a digital pedometer or fitness tracker. Only 2% of someone in these households bought a smart watch in 2013. Adoption has been painstakingly low. But Apple is hoping to change this market, as it has done with so many others. The company created a "Apps for Health" section in its store after the release of the HealthKit. And after a bumpy start, they are ...read more

The growth of health tracking devices is increasing the privacy scrutiny on the associated software. A recent study by Parks Associates reported that the number of devices sold is expected to hit 22 million this year, up from 6.6 million in 2012.

From the article "Fitbit hires Snapchat lobbyists to improve privacy image" by Tammy Worth.

The burgeoning mobile health market is wide open for new development. Parks Associates has projected that, by 2018, an estimated 66 million fitness-tracking devices will be sold. And aside from individual usage, employers are working mobile health products into their wellness programs.

It appears that large organizations like Apple may be able to use their name recognition and mass to expand market share. Apple has been in talks with the likes of UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Mo ...read more

The Affordable Care Act allows employers to spend up to 30% of their yearly insurance premiums on healthy behavior rewards. This creates an untapped, captive market for device manufacturers. Parks Associates has projected that this year alone, about 22 million fitness-tracking devices will be sold. By 2018, that number is expected to be 66 million.

These new devices and platforms will allow employers and insurance companies to get data about people's health that was previous ...read more

According to the firm, the healthcare industry's increasing emphasis on performance-based metrics and payment will boost usage of the ACO business model along with the supporting technologies that aim to improve care outcomes, including data analytics and home monitoring. "Reforms to the healthcare financial model tie compensation to care outcomes, and ACOs, built on the coordinated care model, align well with this new emphasis," said Harry Wang, Parks Associates' director of he ...read more