Wearables (IT)

In some cases, appropriate data sharing agreements might allow patients to choose to have data from their app or wearable integrated with their electronic health records which can be shared with healthcare professionals such as community pharmacists.

If recommending wearables to patients, you should consider whether these have been endorsed by reputable organisations and reviews.

Also consider app considerations for the app(s) which interoperate with the wearable. Read more at App considerations.

NHS website includes some information about wearables such as fitness trackers.

The patient process is:

Feedback

Give positive and negative feedback to wearable developers to help them improve their products. Contact them using either their link at, or using contact information from the supplier’s website.

Review

Reviews can be left online.

Report

If you have concerns about a health app, you can report it to:

• Information Commissioners Office (ICO)  – those UK wearable suppliers which might be misusing data.
• National Reporting and Learning Service (NRLS) – those wearables which may be contributing to the occurrence of patient safety incidents.
• NHS England Identity team – those wearable suppliers which may be contravening NHS identity/logo guidance e.g. use of the NHS logo to suggest that the wearable supplier or their product is allowing a free and fair choice of pharmacy. If the choice is limited then this should be clear to all patients.
• The wearable supplier- you may email the supplier to ask your question, if their contact details are included on their website.

See also Process for feeding back or reporting about apps.