What is Drawing Healthcare Execs to CES 2024?

The annual consumer technology event, expected to attract more than 100,000 attendees to Las Vegas next week, will showcase the latest in innovative technology, as well as digital health trends affecting the healthcare industry

Healthcare executives gearing up for the 2024 International CES event next week in Las Vegas are focusing on one big question: How can I use consumer technology and digital health tools to improve the healthcare experience for my patients?

That’s always been the question for healthcare decision-makers intrigued by the massive consumer technology show, which takes over nearly every hall in the Las Vegas Convention Center and Venetian and is expected to draw 130,000 attendees this year. But while healthcare has long been overshadowed by cars, games, entertainment systems, and the odd robot and smart birdfeeder, digital health is now an integral part of the show, with its own space and session track.

The challenge lies in identifying the trends and technologies that hold value for healthcare executives, not just the latest and most innovative gadgets for consumers that a hospital or doctor might like to use. Health systems have long sought to integrate clinical uses with consumer technology to spur adoption and continued engagement, with often mixed results.

That’s especially true in this economy, which leave little room for innovation.

“CES is an opportunity for these digital health innovations to shine brightly in a dark moment in medicine as we face more hospital closures, high rates of clinician burnout, and increasing demand from consumers for a better experience,” Arielle Trzcinski, a principal analyst with Forrester, said in an e-mail to HealthLeaders.

Among the hot topics are, of course, AI, digital health apps, wearables, remote patient monitoring (RPM) tools and platforms, and smart technology in the home setting, a highlight of two concurrent events at CES, the CONNECTIONS Summit hosted by Parks Associates and AARP’s AgeTech Summit. The latter will feature the Samsung Health House, a smart home designed by Samsung in collaboration with AARP to show how seniors can age in place in the future.

“As medical deserts emerge for consumers, there is a growing opportunity for health systems and health insurers to tap into remote monitoring and wearables to empower consumers and keep them connected to much needed care,” Trzcinski added.

For healthcare execs focused on digital health, CES is bringing back its Digital Health Summit, a series of panels taking place Tuesday and Wednesday.in Room 250 of the Las Vegas Conference Center’s North Hall:

Other events of interest for healthcare executives include keynotes by the CEOs of Siemens, Walmart, Intel, Elevance Health, Qualcomm, and Best Buy, along with the CES Innovation Policy Summit, which includes a session titled Can Policy Affect Health Innovation? , a panel on AI governance around the world, and a special series of interviews, called “Conversations with a Commissioner,” that includes FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, and FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr and Anna Gomez.

And finally, CES gives healthcare executives an opportunity to see where innovation is going in the consumer tech space, even if it is a bit far-fetched for hospitals and health systems at this time. They can look at unique ideas such as smart toilets, toothbrushes and home appliances, footwear and apps that track gait and balance, digital health tools for veterinarians, wearables, health and wellness apps, new sensors that track biometric data, and AR and VR tools.

Eric Wicklund is the associate content manager and senior editor for Innovation, Technology, and Pharma for HealthLeaders.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Digital health has become a critical component of CES 2024, with tracks designed to address the latest technology and strategies affecting the healthcare industry.

The conference includes panels that will address AI, AI governance, home-based healthcare, aging in place, federal digital health policy, and wearables.

Healthcare execs will be looking for new and innovative tools and strategies to address key challenges facing the industry, including staffing shortages, stress and burnout, and patient engagement.