Scaling remote patient monitoring projects to maximize their impact and reach requires a strategic approach. When a team sets clear goals, tracks relevant metrics, and knows what success looks like from the outset, they can strategically decide when to begin scaling their remote patient monitoring program while proactively identifying and addressing potential concerns.
This article covers tips for comprehensively assessing RPM program effectiveness across 5 key areas:
- Defining measurable goals aligned with organizational priorities.
- Identifying and tracking metrics that quantify progress toward those goals.
- Establishing criteria to determine what constitutes success.
- Analyzing data to make evidence-based decisions on scaling timelines.
- Surfacing implementation concerns through participant feedback.
A thoughtful evaluation strategy allows you to optimize your RPM investment by making data-driven decisions on where and how to expand for maximum value.
1) Scaling Remote Patient Monitoring Projects: Defining Goals
First, setting defined goals avoids confusion and frustration when scaling remote patient monitoring projects. For example, one study focused on scaling remote health tools identified the following 3 critical factors that were the most influential.
- Research before the planning, design, and development of RPM interventions
- Targeting a combination of local diseases to reach and provide accessibility to the general public
- A patient-centric design to facilitate integration into traditional clinical workflows
When your implementation team sets clear metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of the RPM program, your organization is ready to determine whether it’s time to expand or focus on further improvements. The data collected will justify expanded funding if the RPM program is ready to expand.
2) Tracking Metrics
When developing a plan for scaling remote patient monitoring projects, implementation teams set goals and outline a process for collecting data and tracking objectives. Consistent metrics and updates on whether goals are being achieved keep teams aligned. In addition, metrics help identify if the time is right to extend RPM to other areas in a healthcare organization.
For example, will evaluate RPM programs with metrics in the following areas:
- Increased productivity
- Clinical outcomes
- Staff satisfaction
- Patient Satisfaction
- Patient adherence
- Financial impact
3) Success and Scaling Remote Patient Monitoring Programs
Consistent and accurate metrics and research help to improve RPM programs. Before your implementation, you will have created short- and long-term goals to determine success. Since you already have a vision of success, it will be easy to name your accomplishments and identify areas for improvement.
The next step is to determine if it’s time to extend the program to more departments or if new processes are needed to help the program perform better. If the program is poised for expansion, the data collected can justify further conversations with stakeholders and the rollout of additional RPM programs.
The AMA Return on Health report offers a framework and case studies to decide if scaling of RPM is suitable. In addition, it provides help with evaluating if an RPM program may need to be reworked for better performance. Finally, AMA suggests adopting an organized scaling process that keeps the momentum going to avoid stalled programs.
4) Scaling Remote Patient Monitoring Projects: Are You Ready?
If data support it, then the time has come to consider scaling remote patient monitoring projects. Are there other patient populations or scaling opportunities such as advanced care at home that may benefit from remote patient monitoring? Consider if there are new areas to improve patient outcomes and staff workflow. Review the workflow for these departments or a more extensive program.
Be sure to work with your staff and use surveys to gain the feedback needed to adjust processes. This will help your medical team be as efficient as possible. In addition, evaluate your remote patient monitoring vendor as your RPM volume increases. Are the devices working well for your remote patient monitoring patients? Are patients and staff receiving the technical support they need? In the next section, we explore these questions further.
5) Identifying Concerns
If goals are not being achieved, understanding why the RPM program is unsuccessful is crucial. For example, is it due to device technology or software, patient engagement, vendor management, or staff management? In addition, survey your staff. They know if the fulfillment of devices, onboarding, and billing practices are efficient and meet their needs. Take the time to go back through the implementation steps to identify the root of any concerns. Next, evaluate if and how you can rework the steps to achieve further success. Then, determine how to improve this with your RPM vendor.
Determining the success of remote patient monitoring can be a long process. According to the AMA Remote Patient Monitoring Playbook, measuring the clinical results of RPM implementation success may take six months or longer. Therefore, staff and patient satisfaction may be the first metrics to review. Building processes for each patient in your organization will take time. Getting it right with a smaller patient population is essential before scaling remote patient monitoring projects for larger patient populations.
Tenovi offers an accurate and easy-to-use RPM solution that boosts workflow efficiency and patient satisfaction and generates revenue. With over 100 RPM companies using our services, we are experienced in scaling remote patient monitoring projects. Schedule a free demo, and get ready to meet a better RPM experience with Tenovi.
