Everything You Should Know About Remote Patient Monitoring
Generally, Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) is a healthcare delivery method that allows you to collect patient data outside the traditional healthcare setting through the use of innovations in information technology. RPM is also referred to as remote physiologic monitoring or remote health monitoring.
It is essential to note that RPM devices do not replace in-clinic or virtual visits. However, these remote patient monitoring devices are an extension of in-clinic visits, providing a more realistic view of patients’ day-to-day routines -outside of their visits with doctors. Therefore you can either use RPM for added convenience or when traditional healthcare services are not accessible.
Doctors can recommend RPM wearables to monitor patients’ health data, including their heart rate, glucose levels, sleep data, etc. For instance, a patient can wear an RPM smartwatch that alerts their doctor if there is any abnormal fluctuation of blood glucose.
Remote Patient Monitoring may include;
Monitoring activity and adherence to their clinician protocols.
Videos and/or images of rehabilitation exercises
Mobile apps to upload a list of foods to help identify the amount of insulin a patient needs to take as a result of their dietary exercise and intake.
Wearables that help to measure a patient’s blood pressure, heart rate, and sleep patterns.
Alarms that inform patients to take their medications.
Video and messaging apps that allow patients to connect with their providers.
Benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) provides numerous benefits for both clinicians and patients.
It Increases Healthcare Quality
Patients diagnosed with chronic health conditions need close monitoring and control management to keep them in check and you can do this with the help of remote patient monitoring devices.
It Boosts Real-Time Management
Health risks and complications can be minimized with the help of remote patient monitoring wearables RPM. These devices provide doctors with real-time patient data, enabling them to provide care as soon as possible.
It Creates Better Patient Outcomes
Now doctors and parents can keep up with alarming and out-of-range values that can alter management and treatment options through remote patient monitoring devices.
It Is an Extra Source of Income
You may not have noticed but RPM provides physicians and clinicians an opportunity to reach out to more patients even as they expand their care. This ultimately results in an extra stream of revenue. It can also provide better healthcare provision to patients by providing seamless access to more caregivers.
It Provides Easy Access to Care
With the imminent shortages of physicians, it is becoming more difficult for patients to access healthcare. Through remote patient monitoring wearables RPM, physicians can provide care to their patients irrespective of their location.
It Minimizes the Need for Readmission
Since patients now have immediate access to health care with the help of remote patient monitoring devices, there is little or no need for emergency hospital visitations or immediate hospitalizations. Thankfully this helps to minimize the burden on healthcare systems.
Factors to Consider When Implementing RPM
To run an effective and successful RPM, healthcare organizations should consider the following practices;
Understand the Goal of the Patient
Understanding what your patient wants to achieve by subscribing to RPM will direct you to the best type of RPM platform or system to use. However, if the goal is to give your patients full access to their health management, we recommend that you use RPM devices that make them feel empowered.
Create a Core Group
One of the best ways RPM systems work is through the use of a dedicated core group that determines the course of the program. There should be a clinical group in the program that handles health data, including the type of devices to be used.
This group should also include an IT team that is responsible for addressing every technical problem that may occur. Do not forget to include the point person that trains the patient and sets the devices.
Conclusion
The primary goal of remote patient monitoring is to help patients manage their health conditions. With the use of remote patient monitoring wearables, patients have a better understanding of the system that comes with their health conditions. This also provides rapid intervention and real-time monitoring when possible.