Hospital readmissions following discharge can be a source of frustration for both patients and healthcare providers. How can remote patient monitoring (RPM) help reduce hospital readmissions? In this article, we’ll explore how RPM addresses the issue of patients being readmitted to the hospital after discharge.
Hospital Readmissions
According to Definitive Healthcare, the average hospital readmission rate is 14.56%. Hospital readmissions cause emotional distress and financial burdens for patients and are a huge economic burden on the healthcare system, amounting to $52 billion annually. Furthermore, readmissions have already stretched hospital resources.
Metrics related to readmission serve as critical benchmarks for evaluating the quality of care provided by healthcare organizations. The following sections explore how RPM can be crucial in mitigating these challenges.
How to Reduce Hospital Readmissions with Remote Patient Monitoring
Healthcare organizations are embracing advanced remote patient monitoring solutions to reduce hospital readmissions. RPM is recognized for enhancing patient care and comfort, lowering costs, and reducing hospital readmissions for conditions such as heart failure, cirrhosis, COPD, and more. For example, Trinity Health increased revenue and reduced costs in less than one year with its RPM program. Thirty-day readmissions dropped from 16% to 8% and then to 6%.
In another study evaluating the cost-effectiveness of an RPM program for Type 2 diabetes, the RPM group had a 21% cost decrease for the patient over one and two years of follow-up. Furthermore, in 2022, over 75% of eligible U.S. hospitals faced penalties because they didn’t meet national standards based on the number of Medicare patients readmitted within 30 days for health issues.
How Remote Patient Monitoring Works
This section provides an overview of remote patient monitoring and the technology that helps reduce hospital readmissions. RPM relies on state-of-the-art connectivity solutions, including Bluetooth and cellular technology. These technologies seamlessly link various FDA-cleared medical devices to a central monitoring system.
RPM uses connected FDA-cleared medical devices to monitor patients closely. Bluetooth or cellular technology can connect RPM devices to a central monitoring system. These devices gather essential health data, ensuring a comprehensive and real-time view of the patient’s condition. Some of the key medical devices integrated into the RPM system include:
- blood pressure monitors
- digital scales
- blood glucose meter
- pulse oximeters
- peak flow meters
- digital infrared thermometers
Real-time data is securely transmitted to remote servers and analyzed for automated triage and feedback. Patients receive automated recommendations to address symptoms and, if needed, can schedule virtual or in-person visits.
RPM Benefits for Patients
Remote patient monitoring goes beyond data collection and analysis. It offers patients many benefits and actively engages them in their healthcare journey. Additionally, RPM empowers patients to control their health, enabling healthcare providers to monitor patients more closely. When patients adjust their lifestyle, adhere to medications, and use RPM, they can reduce hospital readmissions, improve outcomes, and create a more efficient healthcare system. Additional benefits include the following.
- Patients gain confidence knowing their progress is on track.
- RPM identifies concerning trends early, preventing serious adverse events.
- Continuous monitoring and treatment adjustment improve patient comfort and outcomes.
- Patients become more engaged in their care, leading to better adherence to medication and treatment.
- Patients can reduce hospital readmissions by combining RPM with treatment and medication plans.
RPM Benefits for Care Teams
Remote patient monitoring benefits patients and offers substantial advantages to healthcare providers and care teams. It streamlines healthcare delivery, enhances efficiency, and allows healthcare professionals to allocate their time and resources more effectively.
- Reduced Administrative Burden: RPM automates the collection of patient data, eliminating the need for care teams to record and track this information manually. This frees up valuable time that can be allocated to more meaningful patient interactions and care planning.
- Targeted Care: With access to real-time patient data and automated alerts, care teams can swiftly identify patients whose health metrics deviate from normal ranges. This proactive approach allows for timely interventions and helps reduce hospital readmissions.
Reduce Hospital Readmissions: Prioritizing High-Risk Patients
One of the most significant advantages of RPM is its ability to help care teams prioritize high-risk patients effectively. By continuously monitoring patients’ health status and identifying early warning signs, RPM supports healthcare professionals in mitigating potential health crises. This proactive approach leads to several noteworthy outcomes:
- Reduce Hospital Readmissions: RPM helps prevent and reduce hospital readmissions by identifying deteriorating health conditions early on. Care teams can intervene promptly to adjust treatment plans or recommend necessary interventions, reducing the likelihood of patients returning to the hospital shortly after discharge.
- Cost Savings: Preventing hospital readmissions improves patient outcomes and contributes to substantial cost savings for healthcare systems. Fewer hospital stays result in reduced healthcare expenditures and more efficient resource allocation.
Understanding How RPM Can Reduce Hospital Readmissions
Remote patient monitoring enhances the efficiency of care teams by automating monitoring tasks, allowing them to focus on patients needing immediate attention. Care teams can proactively address health issues, prioritize high-risk patients, and reduce hospital readmissions through continuous data collection and automated alerts. This proactive approach improves patient outcomes and contributes to cost savings, making RPM a valuable asset in modern healthcare delivery.
Tenovi’s RPM solution provides a user-friendly alternative to resource-intensive home care. It empowers patients to take control of their health journey while ensuring their medical conditions are well-managed. With Tenovi, healthcare providers can enjoy happier, healthier patients, significantly lower costs, and reduce hospital readmissions.
Tenovi helps chronic care, telehealth, and RPM software companies transform healthcare, reduce hospital readmissions for their clients, and create a better future. Contact Tenovi today for a free demo and consultation.
