Parks Associates: 13% of U.S. Broadband Households Plan to Purchase Connected Health Devices

DALLAS, TX--(Marketwired - Sep 2, 2014) - Parks Associates, host of the Connected Health Summit: Engaging Consumers in San Diego this week, announced today that although a substantial number of consumers are starting to use digital tools to manage their health, they use them infrequently. Twenty-eight percent of U.S. broadband households used digital communication tools -- email, online portal, mobile phone and apps, and webcam -- to communicate with their care providers in the past 12 months, but their average usage is only 3 times per year.

"Thirteen percent of U.S. broadband households plan to purchase a connected health device in the next 12 months, but these people are largely self-motivated," said Harry Wang, Director, Mobile Product and Health Research, Parks Associates. "Nearly 50% of current and future owners of digital wellness devices like pedometers and fitness trackers made or are planning the purchase because they want to live healthier. These consumers will drive the early market, but long term, the connected health industry needs to develop new strategies to engage larger populations of consumers."

Connected Health Summit will bring together top executives in the healthcare and technology industries to discuss how businesses can change the consumer role in healthcare technology. Media are invited to attend; press passes include online access to materials.

What:
Connected Health Summit: Engaging Consumers

When:
September 4-5, 2014 (Thursday-Friday)

Where:
Omni Hotel
675 L Street, Salon AB, 4^th Floor
San Diego, CA 92114

Registration:
http://www.parksassociates.com/events/connected-health/register

Press passes & media sheet:
http://www.parksassociates.com/events/connected-health/media

Twitter:
@CONN_Health_Smt
#ConnectedHealth2014

Keynote schedule:
Thursday, September 4:

• 9:45 a.m. - "The Shift to Consumer-Centric: Perspectives from Health Systems," Chris Young, VP, New Virtual Market Development & Incubations, ASCENSION HEALTH
• 11:45 a.m. - "Applying Connected Health to the Wellness Market: The "Triple Threat" Driving Growth," Chris Nicholson, VP & COO, HUMANA WELLNESS
• 5:00 p.m. - "Building a Consumer-Centric Connected Health Ecosystem," James R. Mault, M.D., F.A.C.S. VP & CMO, QUALCOMM LIFE

 Friday, September 5:

• 9:45 a.m. - "Consumer Engagement As A Loyalty Strategy," Adam Pellegrini, VP, Digital Health, WALGREENS
• 11:45 a.m. - "Enhancing the Consumer's Propensity to Succeed in a Digital Health Management World," Ronald J. Ozminkowski, Ph.D., SVP & CSO, Consumer Solutions Group, OPTUM

To schedule an interview with a speaker or analyst, or to request specific research data, contact Holly Sprague at hsprague@gmail.com or 720-987-6614.

For more information on digital health research from Parks Associates, please visit http://www.parksassociates.com/health-research.

About Connected Health Summit
Connected Health Summit: Engaging Consumers analyzes the roles of connected health technologies and innovations in driving changes in consumer behaviors and business models. The event focuses on four areas of consumer health technologies in particular, which all require active consumer participation to be successful: remote health monitoring for accountable care, consumer-centric wellness and fitness solutions, independent living technologies and services, and innovative convenience care models.

The 2014 Connected Health Summit: Engaging Consumers will take place September 4-5 at the Omni Hotel in San Diego, CA. www.connectedhealthsummit.com. Follow the event on Twitter at @CONN_Health_Smt. Subscribe to Parks Associates' digital health newsletter at http://www.parksassociates.com/newsletters_subscribe.

About Parks Associates
Parks Associates is an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small start-ups through market reports, primary studies, consumer research, custom research, workshops, executive conferences, and annual service subscriptions.

The company's expertise includes digital media and platforms, entertainment and gaming, home networks, Internet and television services, digital health, mobile applications and services, support services, consumer apps, advanced advertising, consumer electronics, energy management, and home control systems and security.

Each year, Parks Associates hosts industry webcasts, the CONNECTIONS™ Conference Series, and Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer. http://www.parksassociates.com