Remote patient monitoring (RPM) technology plays a crucial role in managing and enhancing the health and outcomes of heart disease patients. The American Heart Association reports that remote patient monitoring benefits patients by empowering them to engage in their healthcare management. In honor of American Heart Month, this article examines 5 key benefits of remote patient monitoring.
- Aids in early detection
- Improved patient-physician relationship
- Increased access to quality healthcare
- Improved clinical outcomes
- Significant cost reductions
Remote Patient Monitoring Benefits #1: Aids in Early Detection
Roughly 6 million adults in the U.S. have chronic heart failure (CHF). CHF is a lifelong condition, and living with heart failure requires treatment management. Patients must consistently monitor and report their symptoms to one’s healthcare provider.
Research shows that self-measured blood pressure predicts cardiovascular morbidity and mortality better than office measurements. Remote patient monitoring benefits patients by removing the process of manually logging blood pressure readings. That is because remote patient monitoring devices automatically transmit the data to the patient’s physician.
RPM also aids in early intervention and timely treatment. For example, the physician is alerted if a blood pressure reading exceeds a set threshold. Research reports that when comparing home blood pressure monitoring vs. an office follow-up, patients are likelier to have blood pressure recorded within 10 days postpartum.
Remote Patient Monitoring Benefits #2: Improved Patient-Physician Relationship
Regular communication between physicians and patients is essential to managing treatment plans. Remote patient monitoring encourages patient autonomy and continued engagement with their physician and treatment plans. Research shows that remote monitoring can improve the patient–physician relationship while maximizing care and the effectiveness of treatment.
Remote Patient Monitoring Benefits #3: Increase Healthcare Access
Remote patient monitoring benefits individuals living in rural communities by bridging gaps in the lack of access to quality healthcare. For instance, the ACTIVATE blood pressure and blood glucose remote patient monitoring program launched a program at Livingston Health Center in rural Central Valley, California. After six months, 50 patients sent 10,000 glucose and blood pressure readings, and most saw better blood pressure and diabetes control.
RPM and telehealth allow providers to better meet rural patients’ timely healthcare needs with cellular and Bluetooth RPM devices. Common remote patient monitoring devices include wireless blood pressure monitors, wireless weight tracking scales, wireless blood glucose monitors, wireless pulse oximeters, and more.
Remote Patient Monitoring Benefits #4: Improved Clinical Outcomes
Studies have shown that using remote patient monitoring devices lowers hospitalizations and readmission rates by more than 65%. Cardiology was one of the first medical specialties to incorporate remote patient monitoring into practice.
A retrospective COVID-19 study found that remote patient monitoring can improve patient outcomes for acute illness. Enrollment in this remote patient monitoring program was associated with decreased odds of death in an emergency room, hospital, and intensive care unit admissions. Furthermore, the more patients interacted during the RPM program, the less likely they were to require hospital admission.
Remote Patient Monitoring Benefits #5: Cost Reductions
Chronic disease accounts for nearly 90% of all healthcare spending in the United States. In addition, chronic diseases cost 3.5 times more to treat than other conditions and account for 80% of all hospital admissions. As healthcare becomes increasingly competitive, clinicians must deliver quality care more timely and cost-efficiently.
There is evidence in chronic care that remote patient monitoring can be cost-effective for healthcare organizations compared to traditional care. Moreover, the most significant economic evidence points to RPM for COPD, heart failure, and especially hypertension patients.
Medicare CPT reimbursement codes allow healthcare systems to outsource some remote patient monitoring services. Third-party RPM companies can help with device set-up, education, data review, and more. Be sure to evaluate remote patient monitoring ROI thoroughly.
Remote Patient Monitoring Benefits: Advanced Device Technology
Remote patient monitoring is used to monitor patients with certain health conditions and prevent health complications in patients with barriers to travel. Automatically transmitting vital statistics to clinicians is fast and easy with Bluetooth and cellular RPM. Physicians have real-time access to physiologic data such as a patient’s heart rate, weight, oxygen saturation, pulse rate, glucose levels, and more. This consistent data flow allows providers a complete overview and record of patient vital signs.
Some symptoms and conditions tracked with remote patient monitoring technology include:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Diabetes
- Heart failure
- High blood pressure
- Pregnancy
- Weight/obesity
- Kidney failure
Standard remote patient monitoring devices available currently include:
Tenovi Remote Patient Monitoring
The best way to help your health organization, partners, and patients is to stay informed of advances in RPM technology and ensure you are using the top FDA-cleared, remote patient monitoring devices. This includes understanding how they work, how data is from the device, and which RPM companies offer leading-edge software technologies. As a result of better understanding, patients develop a better understanding of their condition and are more likely to adhere to their treatment plans. In addition, by promoting better care management between visits, clinicians can quickly identify and treat complications before they require hospitalization.
It is easy for chronic disease management providers to outsource remote patient monitoring services to third-party remote patient monitoring companies while minimizing changes to existing workflows. Tenovi RPM offers an accurate and easy-to-use solution to boost workflow efficiency and patient satisfaction and generate revenue.
Schedule a free demo and prepare for a better RPM experience with Tenovi.
