The importance of offering patients anticipated decreased travel and direct contact with other remote patient monitoring services became even more apparent when the epidemic struck. In addition to other improvements that promoted the greater use of RPM, the federal government acknowledged this as well, which is why it expanded Medicare coverage of RPM treatments from those with chronic to those with chronic and acute conditions.
By implementing remote patient monitoring solution, your healthcare organization can avert severe and expensive health outcomes in patients while enhancing the general health of patients who require continuing medical treatment or chronic care management.
RPM equipment is getting more innovative and less expensive when it provides consumer services. This opens up new potential income channels for gadget manufacturers that previously targeted hospitals and clinics.
What is Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)?
A subset of telehealth known as remote patient monitoring (RPM) allows patients to access mobile medical devices and equipment to gather and transmit patient-generated health data (PGHD).
RPM programs can gather standard physiological information such as vital signs, weight, blood pressure, and heart rate. Patient data is collected and delivered to a doctor’s office using a specialized telehealth solution or software application that may be downloaded and installed on a computer, smartphone, or tablet.
Examples of remote patient monitoring devices include continuous glucose monitors, which remind diabetic patients to take their insulin while letting their doctor monitor the disease. Another example is digital blood pressure monitors, which allow patients to remotely report their blood pressure and blood oxygen levels to their doctor.
According to research, the market opportunity for global RPM systems is set to increase by approximately 128% by 2027, reaching a value of $1.7 billion.
Benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring Devices in Healthcare
Remote patient monitoring devices promises to benefit patients and physicians as the healthcare landscape changes. Following are some critical clinical advantages of remote patient monitoring (RPM), ranging from improving patient self-management to lowering care delivery expenses (RPM).
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Lower the Chance of Disease Transmission
Remote patient monitoring devices is frequently required for COVID-19 patients, according to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, Inc. (HIMSS). Home-based monitoring for symptom escalation in patients who test positive for COVID-19 assisted in limiting the risk of transmission and can target the provision of hospital-based care on a timely basis, should the need arise.
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Release Constrained Hospital Resources
The COVID-19 outbreak has severely impacted hospitals all around the United States and in many other nations. Monitoring patients at home remotely frees up the limited resources for the most challenging situations because more hospital staff members or beds must be needed.
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Quicker Access to Better Patient Data
Healthcare practitioners get quicker access to precise patient data thanks to connected health equipment for remote patient monitoring, which can be stored in their relevant cloud based electronic health records. Implantable devices, biometric sensors, pulse oximeters, blood pressure cuffs, glucometers, and other tools fall under this category. When included in remote patient monitoring solutions, these gadgets and the data they produce can aid in accelerating diagnoses and facilitating immediate modifications to treatment plans.
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Better Patient Results
Numerous studies have demonstrated that patients using remote patient monitoring solutions had a lower mortality risk and rehospitalization across various medical use cases, including implanted cardiac defibrillators.
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Saving Money
Healthcare providers can save money on readmission-related fines under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), fewer in-person visits, and reduced hospital readmissions. As healthcare expenditures for patients and providers rise, remote patient monitoring technologies offer a significant ROI, enhance revenue cycle management (RCM) and better patient outcomes. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is aware of these advantages and has revised CPT reimbursement codes to make remote patient monitoring even more affordable.
Common Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Devices in Healthcare
Remote patient monitoring devices provide regular communication and a deeper understanding of a patient’s health. Patients who routinely engage with their health via RPM devices are more likely to experience long-lasting, positive health outcomes.
Today, a large variety of remote patient monitoring devices are available. In the following sections, learn more about the gadgets regularly used in remote patient monitoring programs.
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Blood Pressure Cuffs
Keeping an eye on blood pressure can aid in managing several diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, CHF, and renal failure. Any condition that results in hypertension or high blood pressure benefits from at-home blood pressure monitoring.
Instead of relying on a single point-in-time reading, daily blood pressure monitoring provides information on the heart’s health on an ongoing basis. Regular blood pressure checks can prevent disguised hypertension, which occurs when a patient has normal blood pressure at the doctor’s office but elevated blood pressure at home.
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Glucometer
To control their blood sugar, many individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes use a glucometer frequently throughout the day. The glucometer aids the patient, and their healthcare practitioner in comprehending how specific variables affect the patient’s blood sugar and diabetic symptoms. Medication side effects, nutrition, exercise, and stress or illness are among the contributing factors.
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Pulse Oximeter
For COVID-19 screening and monitoring, as well as among individuals with chronic illnesses, such as chronic heart or lung problems like COPD or CHF, pulse oximeters are used. Patients with asthma and pneumonia can also utilize them. Pulse oximeters assist medical professionals in tracking changes in a patient’s lung function. For COVID-19 patients, low blood oxygen levels are frequently a vital sign of a correct diagnosis.
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Active Monitoring and Activity Trackers
Providers can monitor their patient’s activity levels, heart rates, the danger of falling, and even sleep with the help of activity trackers. They give the healthcare professional a glimpse into the patient’s everyday activities, enabling the professional to comprehend better how daily activities impact the patient’s health and symptoms. Providers can use the activity’s data to help them plan the patient’s care. Apple Watch and Fitbit are two popular activity monitors.
Conclusion
It will be soon that remote patient monitoring devices are as commonplace as GPS apps and cell phones. Only RPM instructions can help your patients reach decisions and pivots that could save lives.
Patients enjoy the convenience and demand access to healthcare services in their wallets in the patient-centric healthcare environment of today. Healthcare organizations all around the USA have met this challenge head-on and recognized the enormous advantages of RPM. Devices for remote patient monitoring provide patients more control over their healthcare by empowering them to take an active role in their health and recognize patterns in their condition.
