Many leading-edge healthcare leaders have overcome barriers to remote patient monitoring programs for their patients. Still, some barriers to remote patient monitoring adoption remain in the healthcare community. With 66% of medical practices reporting positive patient outcomes from implementing remote RPM, the effort involved in overcoming these barriers is of great value.
This article addresses 3 common perceptions of barriers to using remote patient monitoring services. It further explores mitigating factors to help medical organizations realize the value of RPM at both patient and organizational levels and, finally, how healthcare organizations can overcome barriers to RPM implementation.
3 Perceived Barriers to Remote Patient Monitoring
Sufficient evidence supports the effectiveness of digital health innovations, such as remote patient monitoring in patients with chronic disease, pregnancy complications, preventive care, short-term illness, and more. In fact, 57% of medical practices in the U.S. currently use RPM solutions for their patients. It is expected that by January 2024, 76% of practices will be using RPM. Still, a few common concerns remain among healthcare professionals when it comes to implementing this digital health technology,
Before we discuss overcoming barriers to implementing remote patient monitoring, we will highlight three common perceived barriers. Three common perceived barriers to RPM implementation frequently cited by health organizations are:
- Behavioral concerns: fear of technology and the unknown, clarification of evidence-based clinical outcomes.
- Organizational concerns: changes to process and workflow, care team roles, training, and staff shortages.
- Financial concerns: implementation costs, revenue growth potential, and ROI.
Fear of the Unknown
Sometimes, fear keeps us safe. Other times, fear prevents us from making significant changes that could provide long-term benefits. One study cites fear of the unknown as a potential barrier to adopting RPM. Some fears noted include motivation, beliefs, or evidence about efficacy.
Technology challenges among less tech-savvy patients and employees can be a barrier when it comes to setup, syncing, and downloading apps needed for RPM devices. Especially if patients need technical support to pair devices. Additionally, Bluetooth technologies require users to have access to the internet. This can present a problem for those with inadequate internet connections in rural areas.
The healthcare staff’s outlook, acceptance, and motivation rise to use new technologies when devices are user-friendly, work seamlessly, and provide added value to patients and daily workflows. When technologies are intuitive and improve healthcare services, fear becomes less of a factor. Simple technology can overcome barriers to remote patient monitoring.
RPM Device Set-Up
Geriatric patients may experience even more barriers when it comes to setting up and using RPM devices. Fortunately, cellular and cellular-connected RPM devices require no setup and work anywhere there is cellular coverage. This is especially helpful for those who may struggle with technology. Cellular RPM devices work out of the box, and an internet connection is unnecessary.
Bluetooth RPM devices work with internet connectivity when a patient cannot access a cellular network. Many Bluetooth devices also do not require setup when they are pre-programmed to connect to a health hub. The devices are ready to use right out of the box for a seamless experience. Moreover, this removes the frustration of downloading apps or syncing. The RPM device simply works by transmitting data to a cloud where a physician can view patients’ vital sign data.
Evidence-Based Concerns in RPM
According to a 2023 Nature Medicine study, the last few decades have resulted in unparalleled advancements in medical research, significantly altering the course and outcome of diseases in all areas of medicine. The COVID-19 pandemic uncovered a massive need for telehealth and remote patient monitoring. Along with a whirlwind of digital health advances also came inherent systemic limitations. Many areas of medicine and clinical research still need to catch up as the medical community still recovers from the global health emergency. Fortunately, clinical trials and research in telehealth and remote monitoring are poised to increase.
The lack of evidence for success in RPM is one perceived barrier to implementing remote patient monitoring. However, various RPM and telehealth research studies do confirm the many benefits of remote patient monitoring. RPM can minimize readmissions and decrease emergency room visits while lowering the cost of care overall. Remote blood pressure (BP) monitoring can reduce acute care use for patients with cardiovascular disease and COPD. According to a systematic literature review, RPM can reduce acute care use for patients with cardiovascular disease and COPD.
Overcoming Organizational Barriers to Remote Patient Monitoring
Other barriers to remote patient monitoring in hospital settings originate from processes and structures at the organizational level. A study of remote patient monitoring during COVID-19 offered many ways health systems can overcome such barriers to take advantage of RPM solutions. Beyond COVID-19, digital health technologies like remote patient monitoring are being used to expand specialty care in rural regions and areas with shortages of healthcare providers.
Create Efficiency with RPM
RPM lightens workloads for rural healthcare teams because RPM saves time and reduces costs for both the patient and the care provider. Clinicians can care for more patients without necessarily spending more time. To create more efficient workflows, healthcare organizations can outsource remote patient monitoring services to third-party remote patient monitoring companies.
Managing patients without RPM, especially those with chronic conditions, is challenging. With RPM, ongoing patient data is available between patient visits, thus making it easy for health providers to review and plan. Creating protocols that meet patient needs promotes better care between visits. Clinicians identify complications early and provide prompt treatment. Remote patient monitoring has been found to maximize patient care and the effectiveness of treatment.
Barriers to Remote Patient Monitoring in Training
Training for remote patient monitoring platforms was a key concern for healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Formal training is crucial, as healthcare professionals must know how to use RPM devices and platforms. Furthermore, training plays a key role in successful remote patient monitoring programs.
Ultimately, training is a major aspect health organizations should focus on to successfully implement, improve, and increase the use of digital health technologies. For example, carving out time for daily or weekly briefings with clinical staff, enables teams to ask questions and learn. RPM staff can discuss how patients are doing and request feedback on RPM procedures and workflow. Frequent communication is essential in identifying the changes needed to increase efficiencies in the new remote patient monitoring workflow.
Technical training for staff will be needed in the following areas:
- new clinical workflow procedures
- device hardware
- portal software
- patient onboarding
Financial Concerns as Barriers to Remote Patient Monitoring
One barrier to remote patient monitoring is financial and implementation cost concerns. Remote patient monitoring opens new reimbursement opportunities and enhances performance in value-based payment models. CMS allows Medicare reimbursement for RPM services, which may pose a challenge with medical staff shortages.
Further, it may not be feasible for a physician to monitor all home patients. CPT code 99457 may be billed ‘incident to’ under general supervision instead of direct supervision. This means the billing physician does not need to be in the same building while clinical staff performs RPM services. As a result, Medicare providers can contract third-party companies to assist with tasks such as:
- Data review
- Checking up on the patient if they are not using their device regularly
- Device set-up
- Patient Education
Overcoming Financial Barriers to RPM
Understanding what to expect regarding ROI will help your team overcome financial barriers to remote patient monitoring. Medicare reimbursement provides a quick return on investment because the billing period for remote patient monitoring CPT codes is 30 days or at the end of the calendar month. The exception to this rule is CPT 99453, which can only be billed once after 16 days of monitoring. The other four CPT codes are recurring reimbursements.
What can you expect in terms of ROI? The first step for calculating ROI is determining the expected reimbursement amount. If you bill each code once every month, yearly revenue can be estimated using the following equation. The following numbers are based on 2023 RPM service costs.
[(49+ 48 + 39+53) (12) + 19] x (# of enrolled patients)
To put this into perspective, for every:
- 30 patients = $68,610.00
- 50 patients = $114,350.00
- 200 patients = $457,400.00
The final step in calculating ROI is subtracting the additional RPM services costs. Third-party RPM companies offer many pricing models. It depends on how much of the RPM process the healthcare practice wants to take on.
For example, a full-service model can cover tasks such as:
- Device set-up
- Patient education
- Data review
- Patient interaction
Conversely, basic service models may only cover device set-up and patient education. This would require physicians to perform data reviews and patient interaction independently. Basic service models yield more ROI, though this adds more tasks to the physician’s workload. This is why evaluating the cost of the physician’s time and other components involved in RPM services is essential. Additional charges may include shipping devices to patients, inventory management, onboarding patients, and technical support. Therefore, a full-service model may be worth the investment.
Barriers to Remote Patient Monitoring – Understand ROI
Both short- and long-term ROIs can be gained from remote patient monitoring. Not only does RPM lower healthcare costs, but it also improves patient outcomes by promoting timely care. Taking the time to select the right remote patient monitoring system and making all appropriate changes to existing workflows can make all the difference in implementing a successful remote patient monitoring program.
Tenovi RPM offers an accurate and easy-to-use solution to boost workflow efficiency and patient satisfaction and generate revenue. Our easy-to-use devices automatically transmit data through our cellular gateway to help optimize care for patients with chronic care conditions such as heart disease, COPD, diabetes, kidney disease, and hypertension. Get in touch to schedule a free demo and consultation.
