Why camera-based monitoring is outpacing wearables in telehealth
What if your biggest remote patient monitoring challenge isn't clinical - it's getting patients to actually use the devices?
The adherence crisis
Nearly 1 in 3 patients abandon their wearables within six months (1). A 2024 systematic review of wearable interventions for hypertension found only small, non-significant effects on blood pressure control — largely due to declining patient adherence over time (2). Similarly, a 2022 clinician survey revealed that fewer than half of patients enrolled in remote patient monitoring (RPM) programs consistently transmit their readings, with data upload inconsistency among the top reported barriers to effective deployment (3).
The problem isn't commitment. It's friction.
Why camera-based monitoring matters now
The remote patient monitoring (RPM) market is expanding rapidly. Analysts project it will reach between $180 and $230 billion globally by 2028, with annual growth rates ranging from 25 to 30 percent (4, 5). Yet this growth depends on solving one key challenge: making health monitoring effortless enough that patients actually keep doing it.
Many healthcare executives mention passive monitoring as one of their top priorities for care-at-home programs. They're not asking for more sophisticated wearables—they're looking for solutions that eliminate the device entirely.
That's where camera-based monitoring enters the picture. Using remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) technology and AI algorithms, you can now measure 30+ vital signs through a standard camera in 30-60 seconds. No wearables. No patches. No charging cables.
For telehealth platform managers and healthcare providers scaling remote patient monitoring programs, this shift represents more than convenience—it's about reaching patients who've been systematically excluded by device-dependent models.
The wearable adherence crisis you're already managing
Let's talk about what's happening in your RPM programs right now.
Patients receive their monitoring devices with good intentions. The first week goes smoothly. Then the device needs charging. Or it causes skin irritation. Or they forget it at home during a weekend trip. Or they can't figure out why it won't sync.
These aren't edge cases—they're the norm.
Recent studies show that wearable abandonment remains a major challenge despite growing adoption. Research published in 2025 found that reports of device discomfort have increased over time, while other studies highlight charging burden, usability issues, and privacy concerns as key reasons users stop wearing their devices (6, 7, 8). These barriers are even more pronounced among older adults and people managing chronic conditions—the groups who could benefit most from continuous monitoring.
Consider the operational reality:
- Device distribution becomes a logistics nightmare. You're managing shipping, tracking delivery, confirming patient receipt, and handling replacements for lost or damaged units.
- Technical support drains resources. Every syncing error, calibration issue, or battery question requires staff intervention. Clinicians report spending up to 50% longer onboarding patients to wearable-based programs compared to device-free systems.
- Data gaps compromise clinical decisions. When patients stop wearing devices, you're making care decisions with incomplete information. The clinical value of RPM collapses without consistent data.
- Costs compound over time. Basic wearable-based RPM solutions range from $20 to $100 per patient per month, with advanced programs costing several hundred dollars. This is before accounting for device replacements, support, and engagement initiatives.
A 2024 study of older adults found that although daily adherence to wearables can be high, long-term consistency often declines, with nearly one-third of participants wearing their devices fewer than four days during an initial two-week period (9).
The infrastructure advantage already in your patients' pockets
Device ownership in the U.S. is nearly universal: about 98% of adults own a cellphone, and 91% say they own a smartphone (10). Meanwhile, 81% of U.S. households had at least one desktop or laptop computer as of 2021 (11). These high ownership levels underscore the broad potential reach of remote health-monitoring solutions.
You're not deploying to a technology desert—you're deploying to one of the most connected populations in history.
Camera-based monitoring works with most smartphone cameras and standard webcams, with no external sensors required. This ubiquity creates three immediate advantages:
1. Instant program activation: Enable monitoring for your entire patient population immediately. No procurement delays, inventory management, or shipping logistics.
2. Global scalability without infrastructure investment: The Binah.ai deployment with Brazilian startup WMP Saúde reached 10,000+ patients in rural areas using smartphones, expanding RPM reach by 300% with zero hardware investment.
3. Elimination of device lifecycle management: Patients don't lose their cameras or forget to charge them. The device they need is the one they already check dozens of times daily.
Shen AI demonstrates this principle in practice. Shen’s AI engine, trained on massive clinical datasets, requires users to simply look at a camera for 30 seconds. The technical foundation for device-free remote patient monitoring isn't emerging—it's already here, running on the infrastructure your patients already own.
Integration that strengthens your platform without rebuilding it
You've invested years building your telehealth platform. The last thing you need is another technology that requires an architectural overhaul.
Camera-based monitoring integrates into existing ecosystems through SDK and API deployment. Measurement results flow directly into third-party platforms—health management systems, telemedicine platforms, wellness apps—without creating data silos.
- For healthcare providers: Vital signs data appears directly in your existing EHR system through the same interface used for lab results and clinical notes.
- For telehealth platform managers: You add capability without adding complexity, strengthening your market value and competitive differentiation without rebuilding your tech stack.
- For patients: The experience is seamless. Camera-based check-ins are less stressful than wearable devices because of zero friction.
Shen AI can reduce costs since no physical hardware requires distribution, allowing care teams to manage larger patient panels more effectively.
The patient experience difference that drives actual engagement
Imagine you're a patient managing hypertension.
Option one - wearable: Receive a device, read the manual, charge it, download an app, create an account, pair the device, troubleshoot connections, remember to charge it every few days, and deal with potential skin irritation.
Option two - camera-based face scan: During a video visit, your doctor asks you to look at your camera for 30 seconds. Your vitals appear on the screen. You do this once a day through the patient portal you already use.
Which option has better adherence?
Camera-based solutions are highly accessible for diverse populations, have zero learning curve, and offer a non-invasive approach that respects patient autonomy. Furthermore, Shen AI is trained on inclusive datasets validated across all Fitzpatrick skin tones (I-VI) to ensure accuracy regardless of ethnicity or skin tone. This isn't just good ethics; it's good medicine.
Making the strategic decision: When camera-based monitoring fits
No single technology solves every clinical scenario. The optimal choice depends on your specific needs.
Camera-based monitoring excels when:
- Periodic measurements are clinically sufficient (e.g., chronic disease management, wellness).
- Rapid program scaling is a priority.
- Cost optimization across large populations is critical.
Wearable solutions remain preferable when:
- Continuous 24/7 monitoring is clinically required (e.g., post-surgical high-risk patients).
- Nocturnal monitoring is needed (e.g., sleep apnea).
- Real-time alerts for acute events are critical.
The emerging best practice is deploying camera-based monitoring as an accessible, scalable baseline while reserving wearables for the subset of patients requiring continuous monitoring.
The device-free future
The remote patient monitoring landscape is shifting from device-dependent to device-free, from complex to frictionless. When 30 seconds and a standard camera can measure 30+ health markers with clinical accuracy, the barriers that have constrained RPM growth dissolve.
The question isn't if camera-based monitoring will become standard in telehealth – it's whether you'll be early to deploy it or late.
Ready to eliminate device barriers in your RPM program?
Shen AI’s camera-based vital signs monitoring SDK integrates seamlessly with your existing telehealth platform, enabling 30+ health marker measurements through any camera in 30 seconds. See how healthcare providers are improving patient adherence, reducing operational costs, and scaling remote patient monitoring without hardware logistics.
Sources:
(3) Interest in RPM, Personal Health Tech Adoption Lagging Among Clinicians
(5) Remote Patient Monitoring Market Global Analysis 2022-2028
(7) Wearable Discontinuance: Pathways in the Volitional Information Systems Discontinuance Process
(10) Pew Research Center Mobile Fact Sheet
(11) Computer and Internet Use inthe United States: 2021
More blog posts
Sagittis et eu at elementum, quis in. Proin praesent volutpat egestas sociis sit lorem nunc nunc sit.
Reducing claims costs and improving patient navigation in insurance with AI health monitoring
AI-driven virtual triage helps insurance providers reduce claims costs and improve patient navigation. With instant, device-free health checks for markers like blood pressure and BMI, insurers can assess risk digitally, prevent unnecessary ER visits, and guide policyholders toward the right level of care — efficiently and proactively.
How contactless health monitoring improves patient experience in telemedicine
Contactless health monitoring is redefining telemedicine. Using AI and computer vision, it captures vital signs like blood pressure and heart rate without wearables or sensors. The result: a smoother patient experience, faster clinical decisions, and more personalized, data-driven care.
How Dr. Digital and Shen AI are transforming preventive care
Discover how Dr. Digital moved beyond hardware and partnered with Shen AI to make health monitoring simple, accurate, and proactive. The result: higher patient engagement, insurer value, and lives protected through early detection.