Image: — © AFP/File Patrick T. Fallon
Wearables today are more advanced than ever, tracking everything from sleep and heart rate to glucose levels. But their potential to meaningfully improve health outcomes is still largely untapped largely due to a lack of integration and interoperability.
Pat McGloin, Director of Health and Life Sciences at MERGE, has shared his perspective in an interview with Digital Journal exploring what’s really holding back wearables from transforming healthcare.
Digital Journal: Wearables are more advanced than ever – tracking sleep, heart rate, glucose levels and more – but is this data actually improving health outcomes?
Pat McGloin: More data doesn’t automatically translate to better health outcomes – what truly matters is how the data is interpreted and utilized. Today’s wearables are more advanced than ever before, tracking sleep patterns, heart rate, glucose levels , and other metrics in real time. However, the healthcare system at large is still playing catch-up when it comes to the infrastructure and interoperability needed to convert this data into actionable insights. Oftentimes, these wearables operate in silos, making it difficult for clinicians to integrate the health data into their patient’s care plans. This means that a wealth of potentially life-changing information can go unused.
To unlock the full potential, the healthcare industry needs to focus on breaking down technical and organizational barriers, prioritizing privacy and transparency, and ensuring both patients and providers trust how the data is being used. Until wearable data can be seamlessly integrated into clinical workflows, we’ll only be scratching the surface of the potential wearables have to meaningfully improve patient health outcomes.
DJ: What are the biggest challenges holding back the full potential of real-time health data?
McGloin: One of the biggest challenges is the lack of interoperability and standardized data format across different devices and systems. Wearable data often lives in separate ecosystems, limiting its value for healthcare providers trying to get a full picture of a patient’s condition. Complex regulations in the healthcare space and inconsistent data-sharing policies also create roadblocks for innovation and integration into clinical workflows.
Another challenge that comes to mind is separating the signal from the noise. Even with patients generating incredibly rich datasets through these devices, there’s still a gap between consumer tech capabilities and clinical application and the sheer volume of data can overwhelm both patients and providers. The goal isn’t just more data – it’s pooling information from multiple sources and pairing it with clinical records to uncover meaningful correlations that can drive better care.
DJ: What role does platform integration play in the future of health tech and wearables?
McGloin: Platform integration is the bridge between data capture and clinical impact. Unified platforms allow for better trend analysis, early risks prediction, and more preventative care. For this to happen, however, integrations across consumer technology and provider systems are essential. They create seamless, patient-centred experiences that people increasingly expect from healthcare. Today’s smarter wearables generate valuable health data, but without integration, their full potential for clinical insight and real-world impact remains untapped. When wearable data is unified across consumer devices and provider platforms, it transforms from isolated metrics into actionable intelligence.
DJ: As data becomes more personal and predictive, how can healthcare brands build trust with consumers?
McGloin: Trust starts with transparency. Consumers – and patients – need to clearly understand how their data is collected, used, and protected, and they need to hear it in plain, accessible language. Brands that lead with strong values, demonstrate a commitment to ethical practices, uphold strict privacy standards, and respect patient autonomy first and foremost will be the brands that get ahead in building trust.
Digital trust isn’t optional – it’s the foundation for adoption, and without it, even the most advanced technology won’t gain traction. By making transparency a core part of their brand promise and consistently proving they protect and respect patients’ information, healthcare organizations can turn privacy into a competitive advantage.
DJ: What advice would you give healthcare organizations and companies looking to turn wearables into action?
McGloin: Turning wearable data into meaningful action is about creating an ecosystem where the data can be easily understood, shared, and acted on. Organizations should invest in partnerships and integrations that unify disparate data sources together, making it possible to see the full picture of a patient’s health. It’s also critical to prioritize usability for both consumers and providers. If patients can’t easily share their information or providers can quickly access and interpret, the data cannot be leveraged to its fullest potential. That’s why it’s vital to think beyond the device and focus on the entire journey from start to finish.
I would also urge healthcare organizations to close the feedback loop. Data should flow both ways: patients sharing real-time insights with providers, and providers using those insights to deliver more personalized guidance. Without that continuous exchange, even integrated data risks sitting idle instead of improving health outcomes.
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