Mobile health devices and wearables dominated the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) last month. From all reports, the devices had reached a greater level of sophistication beyond last year’s FitBit.

You can expect that trend to gain even greater traction in 2014. That was the message from “2014 Digital Health Trends,” a Jan. 30 teleconference hosted by Brian Dolan, editor of MobiHealthNews and Ryan Bechland, CEO of Validic.

In retrospect, 2012 was a time of transition, says Dolan. “During 2012, we saw significant investment money — $939M – going into patient-facing digital startups. 2013 was a year when things became real – when the time for talk was over, when products began rolling out.”

Over 97,000 mobile health apps and devices are on the market today, from startups and established companies.  And, 25 health-focused technology accelerators are set up in the US.

Patients are taking more responsibility than ever before with wearables and apps. Telehealth and in-home care are expanding like never before. Data and data analytics will be important components going forward.

“We see a trend in which new technologies are converging – and legislative imperatives are driving that trend, with the focus on preventive care,” he says.

 Four Key Health Trends in 2014

First Trend: Established companies creating mobile medical devices that connect with the doctor’s office, and allow patients to manage their own health. Home-use blood pressure monitors and pedometers–like those created by Omron and A&D Medical—are the current benchmark.

Second Trend: An explosion of basic fitness and tracking devices that are highly valuable for the general population. “We’re already seeing the integration of activity trackers into current technologies, like the Apple M7 chip which constantly monitors your basic activity level and movement – will be integrated into the phone itself,” says Bechland. “We’re going to see more of that integration.”

Third Trend – Increased sophistication of activity tracking, with multiple sensors to track distance, heart rate, etc. Because they track so many metrics, the devices can detect stress levels and other thresholds. Amigo is a device you put on your shoe to track biometrics types of activities, as well as heart rate, oxygen, etc., when you’re biking, walking, or running.

Fourth Trend– Healthcare organizations will be increasingly challenged to keep pace with mHealth innovation. They must make sure IT systems are meeting Meaningful Use standards. Yet these organizations have limited bandwidth to connect patient data from these devices across the continuum of care.

“If [device companies] don’t have a plan to integrate with healthcare — to bring care coordination/ MDs/ patients into the loop – then you’re simply a fitness device company,” says Dolan. “The key to success will be that integration.”

 Are you a healthcare geek? Do you dig all things health/medical/bio? I would love to hear from you. Please send an email to me at jeaniedavis1@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter at write2health. More to come!

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