Asthma remote monitoring with a peak flow meter offers a promising solution for tracking and managing asthma patients’ conditions. This article explores how remote patient monitoring (RPM) technology enables patients to monitor their asthma symptoms from home between office visits. It also highlights the benefits of using remote patient monitoring for providers, such as real-time data access, early intervention, improved patient outcomes, and enhanced convenience for asthma patients.
Asthma Overview
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that affects the airways and the lungs. Asthma is one of the most common long-term diseases prevalent among children. However, adults are affected by asthma. Symptoms of asthma include:
- wheezing,
- shortness of breath,
- tightness in the chest, and
- coughing, particularly during the night or early morning hours.
Asthma cannot be cured but may be managed with the right treatment plan. While asthma is constantly present, asthma attacks often occur when irritants or triggers specifically affect the lungs.
What is Asthma Remote Monitoring?
Patients suffering from respiratory diseases require continuous biometric data collection over an extended duration. Both adult and pediatric asthma care require diligent monitoring to ensure optimal treatment outcomes. Asthma remote monitoring tracks and manages asthma symptoms and related parameters with remote patient monitoring devices.
For example, patients may use a spirometer or peak flow meter to monitor lung function or a pulse oximeter to obtain oxygen saturation health data. The patient’s daily health data is transmitted to the healthcare provider so the physician can review the data and assess an asthma patient’s condition, leading to timely interventions and better disease management.
Traditional Peak Flow Meters
Traditional peak flow meters have long been used to measure peak flow (PEF), a vital indicator of lung function in asthma patients. However, when patients record and track this data manually, the patient’s manual recordings are reviewed solely during office visits with healthcare providers.
With asthma remote patient monitoring, that data is now sent directly to the physician’s remote patient monitoring dashboard for review. A remote peak flow meter allows healthcare providers to access real-time patient data and facilitate early intervention and improved condition management.
Benefits of Asthma Remote Monitoring
Clinical research demonstrates that FEV1 measurements are the gold standard for monitoring lung function, making them a crucial parameter in asthma management. In addition, a recent study investigating remote FEV1 monitoring revealed improved outcomes among asthma patients with respiratory illness. The findings support the efficacy of remote monitoring in enhancing patient outcomes and underscore the potential impact of Tenovi’s cellular-connected PFM.
Tenovi’s cellular-connected Peak Expiratory Flow Meter (PFM) represents a breakthrough in remote asthma monitoring. By leveraging cellular gateway technology, the device allows patients to automatically transmit PEF and FEV1 readings to their clinicians. This eliminates the need for manual recording and enables timely intervention.
Asthma remote monitoring enhances patient adherence and empowers physicians to deliver superior care. An at home peak flow meter provides asthma patients and healthcare providers real-time data to strengthen condition management. With the potential to improve patient adherence and enable early interventions, the innovative device demonstrates the transformative power of remote patient monitoring.
Reimbursement for Remote Peak Flow Monitoring
Remote peak expiratory flow monitoring benefits patients and healthcare practices. Asthma remote monitoring is included in the broader spectrum of remote patient monitoring services approved by Medicare. By utilizing an FDA-cleared peak flow meter device and adhering to Medicare billing guidelines and conditions, healthcare practices can receive substantial reimbursement for remote peak flow monitoring.
To ensure accurate reimbursement, healthcare organizations must adhere to the billing guidelines set by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) for remote patient monitoring. Medicare provides coverage for remote patient monitoring services targeting chronic care populations and patients geographically distant from healthcare professionals. Remote peak flow monitoring utilizes 5 CPT codes, also used for remote patient monitoring services like blood pressure, blood glucose, and weight monitoring. Therefore, compliance with these guidelines is crucial for healthcare organizations to receive proper reimbursement.
Remote Peak Flow Monitoring for Chronic Care Companies
Remote patient monitoring is an essential tool in managing various prevalent chronic diseases. In today’s healthcare landscape, telehealth and remote monitoring programs are crucial in effectively managing chronic respiratory conditions. If you are a chronic care company or clinician, schedule a complimentary demo to discover the advantages of Tenovi’s remote respiratory monitoring solutions for patients and healthcare providers.
Tenovi is a data aggregation and automation platform that connects medical device manufacturers with remote patient monitoring companies. It provides a growing number of medical device point solutions that connect with its proprietary cellular gateway to automate the transfer of patient vitals. In addition, its API-driven fulfillment and automation services enable seamless deployment of remote patient monitoring programs.
Visit Tenovi’s Telehealth News Weekly blog article for additional research about the benefits of asthma remote monitoring.
