Wireless home-based healthcare applications, services set to grow, analysis finds

DALLAS The U.S. market for wireless home-based healthcare applications and services will grow at a five-year cumulative annual growth rate of more than 180% and become a $4.4 billion industry by 2013, according to Parks Associates’ “Wireless Healthcare: Analysis & Forecasts” report released Aug. 5.

Parks predicts the push for healthcare reform from the Obama administration will ultimately boost adoption of wireless technologies in healthcare. The federal government is committed to promoting technology that improves healthcare efficiency, evident in the stimulus funds already allocated to electronic medical records adoption, and this focus will open new long-term opportunities for wireless providers, Parks executives predict.

"Wireless is an important crossover point for the healthcare sector and high-tech industry," stated Harry Wang, director, Health & Mobile Product Research, Parks Associates. "Device and service connectivity is the model for future home care applications, and mobile networks will link a growing number of monitoring products to healthcare providers."

The report suggests that mobile carriers will leverage their network resources to target vertical markets like healthcare through both wholesale and retail partnerships. Deals such as recent agreements from Verizon Wireless with LifeWatch and Qualcomm will become more commonplace as this market moves into wider availability.