Increased demand for wearables may cause providers to face an overflow of patient data, they add. That "tsunami" of information will lead to issues such as a potential need for constant oversight and the need to summarize all the data into a usable and meaningful format.

Wearable adoption is tied to consumer education on the benefits of such tools. A recent Parks Associates study reports just 5 percent of U.S. broadband households are home to a smartwatch providing health and fitness tracking features, and 8 percent of households are using a digital fitness activity tracker such as a pedometer.

From the article "Incorporating mHealth into routine care 'potentially transformational' despite challenges" by Judy Mottl.