Remote patient monitoring devices give care teams a way to see a patient’s vital signs between office visits instead of relying on a handwritten log. Remote patient monitoring devices in healthcare settings capture a daily reading, such as blood pressure or blood oxygen, and send it straight to a clinician’s dashboard without the patient doing anything more than taking the measurement.
When data arrives daily instead of once a month or quarter, care teams can catch a warning sign early, adjust a treatment plan sooner, and avoid a hospital visit that might otherwise have been unavoidable. This guide covers how remote patient monitoring devices work, walks through eight of the most commonly used devices in healthcare today, and looks at how the device landscape itself has grown broader over the past few years.
How Remote Patient Monitoring Devices Work
Telemedicine is a broad term used to describe care delivered remotely, such as video or phone visits. Remote patient monitoring is one form of it. RPM uses connected devices to send health readings from home to a care team for review. Most remote patient monitoring devices fall into one of two categories: Bluetooth or cellular.
Tenovi is a remote patient monitoring company that offers a third category that simplifies remote monitoring for patients and health teams. In every case, a sensor in the device takes the measurement, such as a cuff inflating for blood pressure or a photodetector reading light through a fingertip for pulse oximetry, and the device then sends that reading over a wireless connection to a cloud platform, where it is logged and made available to the patient’s care team. What differs between the three categories is how that reading gets from the device to the cloud.
Bluetooth Remote Patient Monitoring Devices
Remote patient monitoring devices which are Bluetooth-enabled pair with something nearby to relay their readings onward. In most RPM programs, that something is the patient’s own smartphone, running an app that stays paired with the device and pushes each reading to the cloud. That works, but it ties the program to the patient owning a smartphone, keeping the app installed and updated, and remembering to open it.
Cellular Remote Patient Monitoring Devices
Remote patient monitoring devices that are cellular skip Bluetooth and a phone entirely. Each device has its own cellular connection built in and transmits its reading directly to the cloud. This removes the smartphone dependency, but a patient using several standalone cellular devices means a program is paying for a separate cellular connection for each one.
Cellular-Connected Combines the Two
The Tenovi Cellular Gateway is a third option that combines the two. It is a small hub that sits in the patient’s home and pairs with Bluetooth devices the same way a phone would, so patients still get the lower cost and longer battery life of Bluetooth hardware. But instead of a phone, the Gateway itself holds the cellular connection, collects readings from every device paired to it, and sends them out together. That means a program pays for one cellular connection per patient rather than one per device, no matter how many Bluetooth devices that patient is using. The Gateway also gives patients a visual cue. The Gateway has a red ring that reminds a patient each morning that a reading needs or medication needs to be taken. The light turns green once the measurement was transmitted to the patient’s care team to let them know it has gone through.
Across Tenovi’s device ecosystem, whether a patient is on a standalone cellular device or Bluetooth devices paired to the Gateway, the patient does not need a smartphone, an app, or a Wi-Fi connection. That matters for a population that skews older or lives in areas with unreliable broadband, and it removes one of the most common points of failure in earlier generations of RPM equipment, where a missed app update or a forgotten sync meant days of lost data. Tenovi also has a back up Wi-Fi app option if needed.
Tenovi RPM Device Ecosystem
The remote patient monitoring devices available to healthcare organizations today go well beyond the original blood pressure cuff and scale. Tenovi has a growing selection of devices. Currently 60 devices are available to choose from.
Broader Device Selection
Where an RPM program once had to choose between a handful of remote patient monitoring devices, most vendors, including Tenovi, now offer dozens of FDA-cleared options spanning cardiac, respiratory, metabolic, and maternal health use cases, along with both Bluetooth gateway-connected and standalone cellular versions of core devices like the blood pressure monitor, scale, glucometer, and pulse oximeter. That range lets a program match the device to the condition instead of the condition to whatever device happens to be available. This also makes securing devices easier through one partners. Customers do not have to work with multiple device companies and data is aggregated in one place.
Equity-Focused Device Selection
Research has shown that some low-cost pulse oximeters produce less accurate readings for patients with darker skin tones, which can delay a needed intervention. Remote patient monitoring device partnerships built around this problem, such as Tenovi’s integration of the Nonin Model 3230 fingertip pulse oximeter, are part of a broader shift toward evaluating RPM devices for accuracy across skin tones, not only for cost or convenience.
Medication Adherence as Its Own Device Category
Beyond vitals, some RPM ecosystems now include remote patient monitoring devices built specifically for medication adherence, such as the smart pillboxes Tenovi offers through its partnership with PatchRx that log when a dose is taken. This extends remote monitoring past biometric data into the behavior that often determines whether a treatment plan actually works.
One Data Pipeline, Many Devices
Whatever the mix of remote patient monitoring devices a program uses, the data typically needs to be available in one place. A single API that aggregates readings from every connected device, rather than a separate integration for each device brand, is what makes it practical for an RPM platform, health system, or chronic care management company to mix and match devices without multiplying its engineering workload.
None of this changes what remote patient monitoring devices are fundamentally for: getting an accurate reading from a patient’s home to a clinician with as little friction as possible. It does mean healthcare organizations evaluating a program today have meaningfully more choice in the devices themselves than they did even a few years ago.
8 Common Remote Patient Monitoring Devices in Healthcare
The sophistication and availability of tremote patient monitoring devices vary by remote monitoring service provider, and the right device for a given patient depends on their condition. Below are eight of the most widely used remote patient monitoring devices in healthcare, what each one helps manage, and how a patient typically uses it.
1. Blood Pressure Monitors
A remote blood pressure monitor tracks systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and heart rate, and is one of the most widely deployed remote patient monitoring devices in healthcare because hypertension is a major risk factor for heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and stroke.
According to the American Heart Association, a systolic reading of 130 mmHg or higher, or a diastolic reading of 80 mmHg or higher, falls into the Stage 1 hypertension category, while a reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher is Stage 2. Tracking these numbers daily rather than only at appointments gives clinicians a much fuller picture of a patient’s actual blood pressure pattern, including the swings that a single in-office reading can miss.
How to use it: Sit comfortably with the arm resting at heart level, avoid caffeine, exercise, or a full bladder in the half hour before a reading, and wrap the cuff around bare skin on the upper arm. Pressing a single button inflates the cuff and automatically transmits the result once the reading is complete. Read a full walkthrough of the Tenovi RPM blood pressure monitor.
2. Weight Scales
A weight gain of three or more pounds in a single day can be an early sign of congestive heart failure (CHF), a condition in which the heart cannot pump blood efficiently and fluid begins to build up in the body. Left unaddressed, that fluid retention can progress to shortness of breath, swelling, and a hospital admission. A connected scale that flags a rapid weight change gives a care team the chance to intervene before that happens. Read more on weight monitoring for congestive heart failure.
How to use it: The patient simply steps on the scale, which powers on automatically, takes the reading, and transmits it before shutting off again. For the most consistent data, patients should weigh in around the same time each day, ideally in the morning, in similar clothing. See how the remote patient monitoring scale works in more detail.
3. Bariatric Scales
Remote patient monitoring devices such as bariatric scales serve patients who need a higher-capacity platform than a standard scale provides, including patients managing obesity, pre- or post-bariatric surgery care, or other weight-sensitive treatment plans. At least one in five adults in every U.S. state lives with obesity, according to the CDC, and obesity is itself a driver of conditions like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart failure, making accurate, high-capacity weight tracking part of managing those conditions too. The underlying value is the same as a standard scale: catching a meaningful weight change early, whether that signals fluid retention, a surgical complication, or a shift in a chronic condition.
How to use it: Use is identical to a standard remote scale. The patient steps on, the reading transmits automatically, and consistent timing and clothing improve the accuracy of the trend line clinicians see over time. See the Vitafit Bariatric Scale device details.
4. Blood Glucose Meters
Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States in 2024, according to the CDC, and poorly managed blood sugar can contribute to kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, and vision loss. A remote glucometer lets a care team see whether a patient’s current treatment plan is keeping glucose in range, rather than waiting for an in-office A1C check to find out months later.
Most patients aim for a blood glucose level of 80 to 130 mg/dL before a meal, and under 180 mg/dL about two hours after eating, though a patient’s specific target should always come from their own care team.
How to use it: With clean, dry hands, insert a test strip into the meter, use the lancet to prick the side of a finger, and touch a drop of blood to the strip. The reading transmits automatically once it appears on the meter. Read the full guide to using an RPM glucometer.
5. Peak Flow Meters
A peak flow meter measures how forcefully a patient can exhale, which helps clinicians and patients identify asthma flare-up triggers and evaluate whether a current treatment plan is working. Because asthma symptoms can change quickly, remote peak flow data lets a care team adjust medication before a flare-up becomes an emergency room visit.
How to use it: After resting for a few minutes, the patient takes a deep breath and exhales quickly and forcefully into the device. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) and FEV1 data transmit automatically to the clinician portal. Read more on using a digital peak flow meter for asthma.
6. Pulse Oximeters
Remote patient monitoring devices such as a pulse oximeter measures blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and pulse rate, making it a key remote patient monitoring device for patients with COPD, asthma, heart failure, anemia, or pneumonia. An SpO2 reading under 90% generally warrants prompt medical attention, and most RPM platforms are built to flag an out-of-range reading for the care team immediately.
Device accuracy across different skin tones has become a more prominent consideration for this device category in particular. The FDA has warned that factors including skin pigmentation, poor circulation, and skin temperature can affect pulse oximeter accuracy, and has encouraged clinicians to weigh those limitations alongside a patient’s other symptoms.
How to use it: The patient places a fingertip into the device, which uses light absorption to estimate blood oxygen levels, and the reading transmits automatically once complete. Read tips for properly operating an RPM pulse oximeter, or see how a skin-tone-inclusive pulse oximeter works.
7. Digital Thermometers
A remote thermometer supports early detection of infection, which is especially important for sepsis. According to the CDC, sepsis is a medical emergency where a delay in treatment measured in hours can affect a patient’s outcome, and most cases start with an infection that was already present before a hospital visit. Remote thermometers are also used in cancer care and for monitoring postoperative and respiratory illness patients, where a temperature trend can reveal a developing problem before other symptoms appear.
How to use it: Depending on the device, the patient either points the thermometer at the forehead from a short distance or uses an eardrum mode, and the reading transmits automatically after a one- to three-second measurement. Read the full guide to using the Tenovi infrared thermometer.
8. Fetal Dopplers
A connected fetal Doppler lets pregnant patients, particularly those in rural or underserved areas with limited access to in-person prenatal visits, share fetal heart rate data with their care team between appointments. This closes some of the gap created by infrequent in-person visits and gives providers more continuous insight into a pregnancy.
How to use it: After applying gel to the abdomen, the patient presses the device against the skin at the recommended position and adjusts the angle gently until a clear heartbeat is audible for at least six seconds. The data transmits automatically to the clinician portal. See the Tenovi Fetal Doppler device details.
Benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring Devices for Care Teams
The value of remote patient monitoring devices in healthcare can offer several consistent benefits, regardless for the chronic condition providers want to track. Some of the benefits include the following.
- Earlier intervention: A daily reading surfaces a problem while it is still manageable, rather than at the next scheduled visit.
- Fewer preventable hospitalizations. Catching a warning sign, such as rapid weight gain in a CHF patient or an out-of-range SpO2 reading, gives a care team the chance to adjust treatment before a condition escalates.
- More complete data: A patient’s condition between visits is no longer a blind spot. Clinicians see the full pattern, not just a single snapshot taken in an exam room.
- Lower burden on patients and caregivers: Devices that transmit automatically remove the need for a written log or a manual upload, which matters most for patients managing multiple chronic conditions at once.
- Support for pharmacists and care extenders: While they are not reimbursed as billing providers for RPM, pharmacists and other care team members can help patients understand and act on the data their devices collect, extending the reach of a physician’s care plan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Remote Patient Monitoring Devices
The following section offers questions and answers to commonly asked questions about remote patient monitoring devices in healthcare.
1) What is the difference between gateway-connected and direct-cellular RPM devices?
Gateway-connected devices pair over Bluetooth with a hub, such as the Tenovi Cellular Gateway, which transmits data for multiple devices over one cellular connection. Direct-cellular devices transmit their own readings straight to the cloud without needing a separate hub.
2) Do patients need a smartphone or Wi-Fi to use remote patient monitoring devices?
No. Most modern remote patient monitoring devices, including gateway-connected and direct-cellular models, transmit data automatically over a built-in or hub-based cellular connection, with no app, syncing, or Wi-Fi required from the patient.
3) How often should a patient use their remote patient monitoring device?
This depends on the condition and the care team’s guidance, but many RPM programs ask for a daily reading, since consistent daily data gives clinicians the clearest picture of a trend and satisfies the monitoring cadence most programs are built around.
4) Which conditions commonly use remote patient monitoring devices?
Hypertension, congestive heart failure, diabetes, COPD, asthma, obesity, and high-risk pregnancy are among the conditions most commonly supported by remote patient monitoring devices, using tools like blood pressure monitors, scales, glucometers, peak flow meters, pulse oximeters, and fetal Dopplers.
5) Are remote patient monitoring devices FDA-cleared?
Reputable RPM devices, including the ones covered in this guide, are FDA-cleared or FDA-listed medical devices. It is worth confirming a device’s FDA status directly with the manufacturer or RPM vendor before deploying it in a clinical program.
6) How is data from a remote patient monitoring device delivered to a clinician?
Data is typically transmitted from the device, either directly or through a gateway, to a cloud platform, then made available to clinicians through a dashboard or, for platforms integrating with existing software, through an API that feeds directly into the RPM company’s or health system’s own system.
Understanding Remote Patient Monitoring Devices
Remote patient monitoring devices give care teams a continuous, day-to-day view of a patient’s health that a quarterly office visit simply cannot provide. From blood pressure monitors and scales to glucometers, pulse oximeters, and fetal Dopplers, each device is built to flag a specific warning sign early enough for a care team to act on it. The device landscape has also grown more capable, with broader FDA-cleared catalogs, devices built to address accuracy gaps like pulse oximetry in patients with darker skin tones, and emerging categories like medication adherence monitoring extending what remote monitoring can capture. Whatever the mix of devices a program chooses, the goal stays the same: catching a problem while there is still time to do something about it.
Tenovi provides the cellular infrastructure, devices, and software behind remote patient monitoring and remote therapeutic monitoring programs for chronic care management companies, telehealth platforms, health systems, payers, and pharmacies. If you are evaluating remote patient monitoring devices for your organization, request a free demo to see how Tenovi’s device ecosystem and single-API integration can fit your program.
