IPG Health @ CES 2025 | Technology's role in shaping tomorrow’s healthcare

Digital health & the future of healthcare: A collaborative approach for doctors and patients

By Colin Harewood Jr. Head of Operations & Investment, SOLVE(D) 

The digital health landscape has evolved significantly, and as we look ahead, it's clear that the nature of doctor-patient interactions is changing. Doctors are seeing fewer patients for shorter amounts of time due to patient loads, insurance pressures, etc., creating a critical need to maximize these limited yet vital interactions. This shift illustrates a need for a reevaluation of how we currently define healthcare, which was a primary call to action coming out of the discussions at CES. 

At present, healthcare remains largely reactive—treating patients when they are sick rather than focusing on preventative measures. As we move deeper into 2025 and plan for 2026, our focus should be on rebuilding primary care to be more proactive and preventative, leveraging emerging technologies and data to transform the care model. 

In addition, understanding the patient journey in greater depth is essential. We need to identify the unique challenges HCPs face in this complex environment. A one-size-fits-all approach will no longer suffice. By leveraging wearable technologies, sensors and computing power (such as LINGO a biosensor-enabled continuous glucose monitor, Garmin Instinct 3 a modernized 24/7 health and wellness monitoring system and Circular Ring 2 a new addition to the smart ring category), we can create accessible diagnostic and health monitoring solutions that support a shift towards preventive care. Here are some of the top ranking wearable technologies unveiled at CES. 

Embracing personalized solutions that address the unique needs of both patients and providers is crucial. This will help refine the current healthcare model, enabling more effective responses to diverse challenges. By optimizing tools and insights, we can evolve from a reactive "sick care" system to a proactive healthcare model—ensuring that patients receive the care they deserve, and HCPs are empowered to succeed. 

Driving innovation and equity in healthcare policy

By Lindsay Bosak, Director of Engagement, FCBCURE 

CES 2025 highlighted the pressing need for health policies that address critical challenges such as privacy, digital equity and technological innovation. It’s clear health policy faces a decisive moment.  

With 1.1 billion people living in multidimensional poverty and four billion lacking meaningful healthcare, the urgency for impactful solutions is clear. Access to technology remains a critical barrier—while 95% of the population owns mobile phones, a third of the world lacks internet, and 700 million people are without electricity. These gaps make accessibility solutions like telehealth, a promising frontier, unattainable for many. To bridge this divide, policies must prioritize digital equity and innovative solutions that work offline or with limited infrastructure. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) emerged as a central theme during CES, no longer just a tool for efficiency but a platform for accessibility. AI can enable underserved communities to access diagnostic and health tools previously confined to urban centers, and applications like ambient dictation gives physicians time for meaningful patient engagement, reintroducing humanity into healthcare. However, policymakers must ensure AI systems are culturally inclusive and mitigate issues like “ghost references” or inaccuracies.  

Privacy remains a pressing challenge. Without federal privacy legislation, the U.S. faces a regulatory patchwork that stifles small business innovation and leaves 66% of personal data vulnerable on the dark web. Federal oversight is crucial to protect citizens’ data while fostering scalable and secure digital health technologies. 

Marketers will soon face policy updates that redefine how we operate, including potentially more critical regulatory reviews driven by privacy changes and a growing demand for sustainable engagement with diverse audiences across both online and offline channels. 

Health tech: Turning data into action 

By Gregory Flores Director, Experience Design, FCB Health New York 

At CES 2025, we saw technology that monitored everything from glucose levels to sleep patterns. The rise of wearable devices and health apps has unlocked an unprecedented era in a patient’s access to personal health data which, empowers patients and providers to take control of their health. 

Integrated data: Health starts when you get up in the morning, when you open the fridge to choose your breakfast, as well as when you take your medication and see your doctor. All these moments are interconnected. While the tools that we use to track these moments provide valuable insights, much of this data remains isolated, hindering a comprehensive view of a patient’s health. Many speakers across panel discussions identified the need for an integrated approach to data and the need for partnerships. By integrating datasets, patients and healthcare providers can explore the connections between all the daily habits we track to make more informed health decisions.  

Building trust: To gain meaningful insights we are asking patients to give us a peek into the data of their entire life and aggregating it all in one place. We already know patients often hesitate to share their data due to privacy concerns. So, building trust will be vital for fostering patient confidence and engagement. Transparency of how data is collected, stored and used is no longer negotiable.  

Ensuring accessibility: When the goal is technology adoption, we need to look at socioeconomic accessibility barriers that specifically oppose that goal. Socioeconomic accessibility crept into so many talks at CES regardless of the agenda. It was eye opening to hear that 1 in 5 households does not have access to the internet. High costs, subscription fees and limited internet access often exclude vulnerable populations. Prioritizing affordable and equitable access to health tools will ensure that improving your health with these tools will no longer be for the privileged but for all. 

Looking ahead: Patients are more interested in their medical data than ever before. Supporting the open exchange of data and reframing our approach so patients are active participants in their healthcare journey, will allow consumers to have a more comprehensive view of their health. But it needs to be done in a way that is safe, secure and accessible for all.