Fitbit’s New Owner Poised to Revolutionize Chronic Care

Google Fitbit Acquisition to Improve Chronic Disease Management

How will the Google Fitbit Acquisition change chronic disease management? Find out how this fits into Google’s bigger health tech plan & how this transforms care.   

According to the CDC, a startling 60% of US adults have some chronic disease. Heart disease alone puts an annual $200 billion strain on the healthcare system, plus the CDC estimates another $131 billion in lost productivity. Diabetes Type 2 costs us another ~$240 billion. In both cases, the majority of the cost is incurred through complications for poor chronic disease management.

While it’s true that healthcare costs are out of control, we also have an overwhelmingly sick US population.

The US government is undoubtedly looking for ways to bring costs down and help people live healthier lives. But as is often the case, a free enterprise solution is the answer.

Google’s recent health tech acquisition is a move in the right direction.

What Google Fitbit Acquisition Means for Chronic Disease Management

Just a few weeks ago, Google’s parent company Alphabet announced a Google Fitbit acquisition. This furthers expands Google’s reach into the healthcare space. Additionally, Google has been working on researching and acquiring AI health tech to help health systems improve chronic disease management and patient early diagnosis while adhering to HIPAA compliance.

So I’m not alone in expecting that in the coming years, Google will be a considerable player in healthcare and chronic disease management in particular with the Google Fitbit acquisition.

How Google Fitbit Fits Into the Plan

Fitbit already has some impressive technology. And they’ve invested in studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of their tools when it comes to:

• Tracking heart health
• Managing stress
• Anticipating heart events
• Improving physical activity levels
• Enhancing sleep quality and identifying possible sleep health problems like apnea
• Encouraging the overall healthier habits

Of course, compliance is always an issue in chronic disease management. And we may lie to ourselves about how well we’re following doctor’s orders. Fitness trackers make it a little harder for patients to lie to themselves and their doctors about how much they exercise.

Fitbit (and Now Google) Has Earned Its Place in Healthcare

As a wearable health tech company, it hasn’t been easy to get respect from the medical industry and particularly the FDA. They’re tasked with consumer health safety and protection from false health claims. But Fitbit’s continued focus on legitimizing its health tracking tools by completing advanced studies has paid off.

They’ve partnered with insurance companies who have a lot to lose when a person poorly manages their chronic condition. And more medical professionals recognize the benefits. Now, Google will acquire these partnerships and continue to develop more tools to help patients manage their diseases.

For example, those with Diabetes may soon see less invasive ways to track glucose levels through OTC health tech continuously.

I’ll be watching how this develops in the next several years. Maybe we can finally turn a corner on the rise of chronic disease. Follow my blog for the latest in tech trends and cybersecurity.