There are new forms of technologies developing every day. Some things like this have also joined the healthcare sector, it is Remote Patients Monitoring. This new preventative way of delivering medical care to patients has proven to be very effective and comes with many financial benefits.
Remote Patients Monitoring uses digital technologies and tools to capture and monitor patient’s health data. This monitoring is done electronically. The information captured from the remote patient monitoring devices is shared with healthcare providers to analyze it.
With the help of remote patient monitoring programs, patients can stay more healthy, older and disabled patients can access care from their homes, and the need to have skilled nurseries is no longer needed. Remote Patient Monitoring also helps in reducing the readmissions into hospitals, clinics, and the average time a patient has to spend in a hospital. All of this will help in improving the medical care quality and costs for patients.
Remote patient monitoring has been gaining popularity ever since it came, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic came. When the pandemic hit, the need for remote patient monitoring services and solutions increased because fewer patients were willing to travel to a hospital and come in direct contact with other people. This is one of the reasons why in many countries, the use of remote patient monitoring services is not only limited to patients with chronic illnesses.
If one wants to talk about the costs associated with the treatment of medical conditions, the healthcare system can become a lot to handle. With the constant rise in the cost of these services, it was becoming hard for many patients to use them. But with the rise in RPM services, this is not a problem anymore.
What is RPM?
This has become one of the most interesting trends in the healthcare system and with its increased adoption of virtual services and solutions, everyone is using it. RPM was not introduced properly in many organizations, but since 2020 it has become common. More providers are adopting this service, to handle patient care effectively. A lot of people still don't understand remote patient monitoring. There is a lot of confusion with different terms associated with it. Telehealth and RPM may have similar definitions but there are differences between the coding and billing procedures.
Telehealth includes the use of technologies such as telephones, electronic mailing systems, remote patient monitoring devices, etc to collect and transfer the data to providers. It uses electronic and telecommunication modes for supporting long-distant care. And when we talk about remote patient monitoring, it uses devices to make interactions between patients and providers.
Remote patient monitoring and patient monitoring - RPM is often confused with patient monitoring because the concept is somewhat the same. The best patient monitoring systems are used by healthcare organizations for controlled environments. With RPM, the involvement of third parties is for video conferencing and managing internet technologies.
How does Remote Patient Monitoring work?
Even after learning the definition of RPM, a lot of people can experience confusion about how the system actually works.
1. After identifying the condition of a patient, if they need remote assistance the providers launch a remote patient monitoring integration program for them. The healthcare provider will then collect the health data of the patient from the devices. The common data collected from these devices are blood pressure, vital signs, weight, heart rate, blood sugar levels, etc.
2. The health data is collected after the consent of the patient. When providers confirm that the patient has benefitted from using the system, they continue the mode further.
3. Patients are then given a wearable device to collect their health data information. Remote patient monitoring devices are electronically connected with the patient’s device using Bluetooth. RPM devices that are used the most are blood pressure monitors, blood glucose meters, weight scales, ECG machines, etc.
4. Once the device is collecting the health data of the patient correctly, then it is sent to the doctors electronically.
5. The healthcare provider analyzes the data and then forms a treatment plan for the patient.
To make full use of the remote patient monitoring services, providers need to keep in mind establishing a patient base, choosing which device will be the best fit for the patient, developing policies, and training their entire staff on how to use RPM. If a healthcare organization partners with a good remote patient monitoring vendor, it can achieve all these steps.
For most patients, receiving remote patient monitoring mostly depends on the designs and complexity of the devices given to them. Patients can sometimes require assistance for using these devices properly. Understanding the proper use of RPM devices is the first step.
Benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring
With the fast adoption of remote patient monitoring by different organizations, it is no surprise that it has a lot of benefits for providers and patients. RPM has made the lives of healthcare workers more efficient and effective by monitoring patients closely.
This increase in the adoption of RPM is no surprise because it delivers everything online. Making sure no one has to travel to receive these services.
1. RPM gives detailed information for personalized health conditions.
2. It is a fast mode of delivering healthcare services to patients.
3. Gives patients control over their well-being through health data ownership.
4. Healthcare providers receive improved patient outcomes.
5. Better compliance rates with RPM.
6. Patients gain more ownership over their health.
Remote patient monitoring solutions have given a lot of benefits to the healthcare sector. With the growing health concerns and challenges of delivering effective solutions to patients, remote patient monitoring is probably here to stay. These virtual services have made the lives of providers much easier and have also maintained the delivery of services to patients in need.
Remote Patient Monitoring value for patients
1. Better access to healthcare services - Since RPM came, the collection of real-time health data has increased. Providers need to keep track of their health more precisely.
2. No extra trips to hospitals - This means patients will no longer have to expose themselves to other patients and fewer infections will spread.
3. Better medical care - With remote patient monitoring providers can learn about the condition of the patient in more depth. This leads them to make adjustments in their medications whenever needed and emergency room visits are reduced.
4. Control over health - With RPM services, providers can allow patients more control over their health. The devices are user-friendly, making sure patients can keep an analysis of their health. Patients also learn to make small adjustments in their health.
5. Support and education - Patients receive more detailed information regarding their medicine, health conditions.
Conditions Remote Patient Monitoring helps in managing
A lot of conditions can be managed with the use of RPM, but the most common ones are listed below :
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Congestive heart failure
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Hypertension
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Diabetes
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Hypertension
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Addiction care
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Behavioral health management
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Future of Remote Patient Monitoring
The coronavirus pandemic has made sure that Remote Patient Monitoring will be staying with us. RPM has brought effectiveness in the caretaking of patients outside of healthcare facilities. When patients have the chance to receive virtual care from their homes, they are less exposed to infections.
Remote Patient Monitoring requires the use of smartphones and wearable monitoring devices, these are taking over the traditional methods. Remote Patient Monitoring has helped not only patients but providers in streamlining workflows. This will only lead to the innovation of more virtual care modes. Digital healthcare solutions bring patient health information to the provider’s fingertips.
The success of RPM means patients and providers are on the same page for receiving customized medical care. With RPM, not only the disease is being cured but the person receives the comfort of their homes.