Technology has advanced in one generation
In late 1983, there was a revolutionary – for the time – ad for computers that said, “1984 won’t be like ‘1984’.” Technology, it suggested, would be the key to a brighter future. There was a healthy degree of skepticism for a lot of people when that ad aired. At the time, not every household had a computer. Most houses didn’t even have cordless phones.
As I write this there’s a pocket-sized supercomputer that doubles as my phone on my desk. Technology advances, and sometimes those advances turn nice-to-have gadgets into indispensable tools.
Be open to new technology
Our clinical product team integrates advances in technology into our clinical programs where possible. Wireless scales and fitness trackers seemed like a natural fit for a program providing intensive weight management support. Having had no previous experience with wireless scales, I got one. I wanted to experience what our members would experience when setting one up and connecting it to their ActiveHealth accounts.
With little effort I was able to set up the scale, download the app and connect the device. I also set a target weight for myself. As advertised, my daily weight started appearing in my ActiveHealth mobile app and my weight tracker showed movement. I went about my daily life and this device collected the data I wanted. My data was integrated into trackers that helped me watch my progress toward my goals. Without any additional intervention from me.
Broaden the reach beyond early adopters
Working every day with coaches and clinicians, I know how closely connected weight can be to a host of health issues. The years are passing, and I’ve got a number in my mind that I don’t want to cross. The wireless scale definitely makes it easier for me to track my weight and see trends over time. That’s good news for people actively trying to manage their weight, but it’s even better news for some of our members managing a serious chronic condition.
Did you know that for people with congestive heart failure, weighing themselves every day is an important part of managing their condition? Because a sharp increase in weight can mean their hearts aren’t moving blood the way they should be. Connecting a wireless scale means their ActiveHealth clinicians can see their daily trends easily. If a clinician sees a sharp increase in weight, they can intervene quickly. This is literally life-changing information and it’s more readily available because of technology.
Technology can enhance our clinical impact
Impactful advances in health technology are quietly happening around us all the time. It’s those advances that ActiveHealth is watching for and bringing to our members to help them achieve their best health.