Remote patient monitoring (RPM) for chronic disease management has become a powerful solution for patients living with chronic illnesses. Research shows that using RPM not only decreases emergency department visits but also prevents hospital readmissions and shortens hospital stays. This article outlines five main benefits of remote patient monitoring in effectively managing patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, and hypertension.
Benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring for Chronic Disease Management
Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability nationwide. In fact, four in 10 adults in the U.S. have two or more chronic conditions. And $4.5 trillion in annual health expenditure is allocated to chronic disease management. Without significant changes in healthcare, these numbers are expected to rise. With remote patient care, clinicians can close care gaps, reduce healthcare costs, and promote better allocation of resources.
A remote patient monitoring program is a collaborative effort between the patient and the physician. RPM uses a connected health device that transmits patients’ daily biometric measurements to their clinicians for review and intervention. Clinicians receive real-time health data and can access it immediately to look at overall long-term health trends.
Below are five examples of how remote patient monitoring benefits chronic disease management.
1). Promotes Early Identification of Chronic Disease
Most patients only see their doctor when their condition becomes problematic, or it’s time for their next appointment. But what if something goes wrong in between visits? If the patient doesn’t know what to look for, complications can develop.
Remote patient monitoring for chronic disease management promotes better care in between visits. By keeping track of patients’ vital signs regularly, clinicians gain daily insights into their patients’ conditions. A physician is also alerted immediately if medical attention is necessary.
The RPM device sends real-time readings to the remote patient monitoring platform for the clinician to access immediately. Clinicians will automatically be alerted for quick action when a patient’s reading is above or below the set threshold. Remote patient monitoring promotes the early identification of symptoms of chronic disease. The earlier symptoms or complications are identified, the sooner patients can get treatment and minimize disease progression.
2). RPM Prompts Adjustments to Treatment Plans
Another way remote patient monitoring with at-home health monitoring devices helps improve chronic care management is through timely adjustments to treatment plans. Through the RPM portal, clinicians can check how their patients are doing at any time. As a result, they can see how their patients respond to medications and adjust prescriptions as needed.
Without remote patient monitoring for chronic disease management, many patients go months with an ineffective or unoptimized treatment plan. RPM can help patients find a treatment plan that works for them while reducing chronic disease progression.
3). Remote Patient Monitoring for Chronic Care Management: Increased Patient Engagement
It can be challenging to apply healthy living practices in everyday life. Digital health and remote patient monitoring are about expanding healthcare outside the conventional healthcare setting and into the patient’s daily routine and lifestyle. RPM helps patients feel supported in managing their health. Because they know that their care providers regularly check their health data, patients are naturally encouraged to engage in healthier lifestyle choices and adhere to their management plans.
Patients play an essential role in remote patient monitoring for chronic disease management. They’re responsible for taking their vital sign measurement at least 16 days a month. While this provides clinicians with valuable insight, patients also engage better in their health management when they understand their condition.
Regular measurements allow patients to recognize a normal range for their bodies. They can see if their health is improving or worsening over time and how lifestyle changes can affect their readings. The better the patient understands their condition and engages, the more likely they are to practice healthier behaviors, keep an eye out for complications, and communicate with their clinician.
4.) Increase Communication
Effective communication between patients and care providers is essential for optimal patient care. This is especially true for patients with chronic diseases who may struggle to adhere to their medication plan. According to one study, poor communication among and between care providers and patients is commonly at the root of medication nonadherence.
To combat this issue, smart pillbox technologies offer a user-friendly and automated solution that addresses the critical challenge of medication adherence tracking. Remote monitoring with mobile apps, chat, and healthcare portals allows patients to chat with care managers. These innovations have been shown to be effective tools for aiding medication adherence.
Remote patient monitoring has become a powerful tool for enhancing patient and care team communication. An extensive meta-analysis of 1605 studies, reported efficient communication, increased patient confidence, visualization of health trends, and greater patient education were reported.
5.) Lower Healthcare Costs
Using remote patient monitoring for chronic disease management makes patients less likely to be admitted into hospitals, use emergency departments, and require complicated procedures. This results in lowering healthcare costs. Research shows RPM is highly cost-effective for cardiac care such as hypertension, heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Remote patient monitoring improves the management of various chronic diseases, including:
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Chronic heart failure
- Kidney disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder
Depending on the patient’s condition, different vital signs must be monitored. For example, individuals at risk of stroke or kidney disease will benefit from a remote blood pressure monitoring device. At the same time, those with diabetes must keep an eye on their blood glucose levels.
Learn more about which RPM device is ideal for each chronic disease.»
Understanding Remote Patient Monitoring for Chronic Disease Management
Early identification, tailored treatment, and patient engagement are essential for effective chronic disease management. Remote patient monitoring in chronic disease management promotes all three factors to reduce healthcare costs and maximize patient outcomes. Are your healthcare partners interested in adopting remote patient monitoring at your clinic?
Get in touch with Tenovi, your remote health monitoring company. Our consultants will answer any questions and provide you with a free demo. Tenovi is a better experience for patients, physicians, and your team.
