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A continuous patient monitoring wearable called the VitalPatch received emergency use authorization from the United States FDA. This device can continuously monitor QT interval ECG in patients undergoing COVID-19 treatment with hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine which are known to prolong the QT interval. Such monitoring can decrease the adverse events due to these drugs in hospital and after discharge [65].

Another clinical wearable device from Northwestern University and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab which features a flexible device, the size of a postage stamp placed on the skin of the notch above the sternal bone paired with a flexible pulse oximeter, allows doctors to monitor the three symptoms of fever, breathlessness, and cough by measuring the temperature and tiny vibrations from the skin and along with oxygen levels in the body in patients without any symptoms allowing for monitoring of patients progress and treatment response. Development of an algorithm to distinguish COVID from non-COVID causes of the symptoms is in progress by collecting thousands of hours of data from such devices by remote monitoring of patients [66]. Although wearable devices in medicine reduce the need for healthcare workers in chronic diseases and allow the elderly to live independently while improving the quality of care, they are still significant challenges [67]. The LifeVest by Zoll is a wearable cardioverter defibrillator device, which is worn around the waist and collects ECG data and informs and alerts the patient in case of a life-threatening arrhythmia. Conductive gel is deployed automatically by dry electrodes attached to the device before giving a shock to the patient. This can be lifesaving to patients who are at high risk for sudden cardiac death due to such arrhythmias. The device can also automatically deliver a shock if the patient has been rendered unconscious [68].

The model of telehealth has been quite prevalent in pandemic times of COVID-19 especially for high-risk obstetric patients. In order to prevent them from exposure of corona virus at the personal visit at the healthcare centre, the Columbia University Irving Medical Centre efficiently and effectively implemented a telehealth process. Covering important aspects of close patient surveillance, engagement, escalation protocols, effective communication, and coordination through easy-to-follow algorithms reduced the virus exposure risk to all concerned. In the last decade, telehealth including the various healthcare apps and remote monitoring equipment have emerged as quite cost effective and convenient to those class of patients who had limited healthcare service accessibility due to pandemic scare [69]. During COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth rapidly took over almost in specialities like even prenatal care at Irving Medical Centre. Super specialized domain like high-risk pregnancies prenatal screening, surveillance, and examinations to reduce personal visits was made possible through telehealth and virtual visits. This reduced patient travel, virus-risk exposure for obstetric patients who had underlying medical or fetal conditions, and being tailor made for specific patients was fruitful [70].