Caregiver and patient engagement are vital in the healthcare process. However, limited caregiver and patient engagement is a major issue in healthcare, as it often leads to unmet medical needs and delays in care. Patients may feel disconnected due to a lack of understanding about their conditions and insufficient access to tools and resources that could enhance their health literacy.
Can remote patient monitoring (RPM) and telehealth enhance caregiver and patient engagement? This article will explore this question, provide insights into the current state of patient engagement, and offer effective strategies to consider.
The Context of Caregiving
Family caregivers are the backbone of healthcare. They provide daily assistance and support to individuals who struggle to care for themselves due to illness, injury, disability, or age. Often relatives or friends, these caregivers play a crucial role in healthcare by tending to the care recipient’s basic needs, quality of life, and well-being.
There are three audiences in caregiving: the care recipient, the family caregiver, and professional medical providers. Family caregivers serve as an essential source of information about the person under their care. They often work closely with physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals, forming a collaborative team.
The care recipient often relies on the family caregiver to fill significant gaps in care and provide critical support between in-office visits. Family caregivers play fill a big role in empowering their loved ones to ensure they have the best possible health outcomes.
Caregiver and Patient Engagement with Remote Patient Monitoring
Once of the goals of remote patient monitoring is to strengthen caregiver and patient engagement to drive better health outcomes. RPM uses technology to keep patients connected to providers between office visits with tools like RPM devices, care management services, and educational resources. RPM empowers patients to take charge of their health and gives caregivers valuable daily insights into the patient’s daily health.
There are several ways caregiver and patient engagement is enhanced with telehealth and RPM healthcare solutions. Remote monitoring creates an experience where patients, caregivers, and practitioners can all see a patient’s daily vital sign readings. With remote health platforms, patients can access tools like educational videos, quizzes, and daily medication reminders. This boosts patient engagement by involving them in their daily health.
Caregivers benefit from being part of remote health programs as they gain insights into the patient’s care plan. This enhances their role and reduces some challenges of caregiving. Practitioners, patients, and caregivers each interact with RPM services uniquely. Below are evidence-based instances of how remote patient monitoring enhances healthcare from the patient and caregiver standpoint.
1) Real-Time Health Insights for Caregiver and Patient Engagement
Remote patient monitoring enhances caregiver and patient engagement with access to real-time health data through RPM devices, wearable devices, and sensors. This continuous flow of real-time patient data empowers caregivers to monitor the patient’s vital signs and health metrics. Patients, in turn, become active participants in their well-being, making informed decisions and adjusting their lifestyle based on real-time insights.
2) Improved Communication
Effective communication is the cornerstone of successful healthcare management and caregiver and patient engagement. Studies show that telemedicine has significantly advanced, enhancing patient-provider communication. RPM facilitates seamless communication between caregivers, patients, and healthcare providers.
Caregivers can promptly transmit updates and concerns to medical professionals, ensuring timely interventions. Patients interact directly with caregivers and medical teams through integrated apps and messaging platforms. Thus fostering a sense of being heard and understood.
3) Personalized Care Plans Encourages Caregiver and Patient Engagement
Remote patient monitoring allows the creation of personalized care plans tailored to each patient’s needs. By continuously tracking health vital sign data, caregivers and healthcare providers can refine and adjust care plans in real-time. This results in the ability to optimize treatment strategies for better outcomes.
Precision medicine employs artificial intelligence and machine learning to personalize treatments at an individual level by utilizing various attributes and relevant variables, moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach. This dynamic approach in areas such as cardiac and cancer care fosters caregiver and patient engagement, as patients feel more involved in decisions about their health management.
4) Early Intervention and Preventive Measures
Early intervention and detection are crucial in prevent health complications leading to chronic care conditions. For example, patients with heart implants using telemonitoring had 35% lower mortality risk than those with traditional care. RPM enables caregivers to identify deviations from baseline health parameters promptly.
This early warning system empowers caregivers to take preventive measures, minimizing the risk of exacerbation and hospitalizations. Patients appreciate the vigilance, trust, and attention to their well-being, enhancing caregiver and patient engagement in healthcare.
5) Caregiver and Patient Engagement Encourages Empowerment
Access to real-time health data through RPM gives patients control over their health journey. Empowered by knowledge and insights, patients become active partners in managing their health conditions. This empowerment increases patient engagement and accountability, as they are more likely to adhere to treatment plans and make positive lifestyle changes.
For instance, one 2023 study on digital home hospitalization services revealed significant satisfaction levels among patients and qualified healthcare professionals. Moreover, results show that patient perception of service quality is strengthened by trust in the solution, seamless communication with professionals, and the comfort of receiving care in their homes.
6) Reduced Healthcare Costs
Caregiver and patient engagement through RPM can substantially reduce healthcare costs. In addition, caregivers and healthcare providers can prevent costly hospitalizations and emergency room visits by closely monitoring health metrics and intervening early. Hospital readmission rates range from 9.9% to 22.5%. The average hospital readmission rate is 15.0%. Remote patient monitoring reduces healthcare costs for unnecessary hospital readmissions. Patients actively participating in their care are more likely to adhere to treatment plans, leading to better outcomes and lower long-term healthcare expenses.
7) Remote Access to Expertise and Caregiver and Patient Engagement
With remote patient monitoring, geographical barriers are no longer obstacles to quality healthcare. For instance, in a rural Tennessee teleoncology study, 95% of patients who switched to half-virtual visits after in-person visits found the virtual experience equally good or better. Virtual consultations and telehealth appointments enable patients to receive guidance and support without the need for frequent travel. This accessibility enhances caregiver and patient engagement by removing logistical challenges and ensuring consistent care.
Remote Patient Monitoring Enhances Caregiver and Patient Engagement
Remote patient monitoring has ushered in a new caregiver and patient engagement era, transforming healthcare into a collaborative and interactive experience. Through real-time health insights, improved communication, personalized care plans, early interventions, patient empowerment, reduced costs, and remote access to expertise, RPM enhances the quality of care while fostering active participation from caregivers and patients. As technology continues to evolve, so does the potential to strengthen the bond between patients, caregivers, and the healthcare ecosystem.
Tenovi Remote Patient Monitoring
Whether your healthcare partners are interested in adopting remote patient monitoring to increase patient engagement, create a more efficient workflow, or increase revenue, Tenovi can help you find the best remote patient monitoring solution. You can book a free demo today.
