New product and service announcements at CES 2021 last week revealed that virtual healthcare solutions are at the forefront of healthcare, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. Extensive regulatory modifications, combined with changing consumer preferences regarding in-person versus remote care, have created a significant shift in the market, and very quickly.

In Q2 2020, Parks Associates research found 41% of US broadband households used a telehealth service, a nearly triple year-over-year increase. Further, 83% of consumers who use telehealth services had their most recent telehealth visit paid either completely or partially by insurance. As COVID-19’s continues to present long-term and short-term implications, virtual healthcare providers and patients will continue to rely on remote care, including telehealth and home monitoring services and products.

Among the remote healthcare announcements at CES 2021, Parks Associates found these noteworthy:

• OMRON Healthcare, a recent speaker at Parks Associates' CONNECTIONS Summit at CES, introduced VitalSight, the company’s first remote patient monitoring service. The program focuses on identifying warning signs of a heart attack or stroke, relying on connected medical devices monitor heart health. OMRON has worked to develop VitalSight before the pandemic, and the company says its arrival comes at the perfect time when telehealth measures are needed most.
   
• Philips introduced new and recently launched remote monitoring and connected health solutions. The company, in collaboration with BioIntelliSense, introduced its BX100 Wearable Biosensor. The connected, wireless device monitors vital signs, including heart rate, respiratory rate, posture, level of activity, among others. Focusing on at-home dental care solutions, Philips also announced the spring launch of its Sonicare Prestige 9900 toothbrush. Guided by sensors and an app, the smart toothbrush adapts its cleaning settings to consumers’ personal brushing behavior.
   
• FallCall Solutions announced its upcoming release of FallCall Detect, which will operate through Apple Watch. The smart fall detection app will be able to distinguish between high and low-injury falls. For high-impact falls, the app can automatically connect to FallCall’s medical monitoring service, which will dispatch emergency help.

Parks Associates will continue to analyze the impact of virtual health and remote monitoring at its annual Connected Health Summit. This year, the executive conference features multiple virtual sessions where Parks Associates analysts will present new consumer data and industry leaders will address innovative connected health solutions and the smart home. The sessions will take place January 27, April 14, June 30, August 31–September 1, and December 1.

Further reading:
• COVID-19: Impact on Seniors, Caregivers, and Independent Living Solutions
• Connected Health, Wearables, and Fitness
• COVID-19: Impact on Telehealth Use and Perspectives