Remote patient monitoring is the use of digital technology to monitor and capture health data from patients. This technology then electronically transmits this information to healthcare providers in real time, making the information easily available for assessment, care recommendations and instructions. RPM is effective, helping patients avoid high-cost hospital settings, and allowing them to remain more comfortable at home and improve their care experience.
RPM not only helps to reduce care cost, but also overcrowding of healthcare facilities. They also play a crucial role in managing patient care for those who suffer from chronic conditions.
RPM Devices
The most commonly used RPM devices for patient monitoring and transmitting information include:
- Blood Pressure Cuff – which calculates the patient heart rate and blood flow.
- Glucometer – for testing patient blood sugar levels with a small drop of blood on a test strip. Connected to this device, it is extremely useful to monitor diabetic patients.
- Pulse Oximeter – this clip attaches to the patient’s finger, measuring light wavelengths to determine the amount of oxygen circulating in the patient’s red blood cells.
- ECG and Stethoscope – these connected devices capture heart function and heart and lung sounds; they’re commonly used for a patient with cardiac conditions.
- Thermometer – connected via Bluetooth, an RPM thermometer provides a fast, accurate picture into a patient’s body temperature or fever.
- Spirometer – measures the flow of air through a patient’s lungs.
- Add AppleWatch/Smart watch devices since they are often used for tracking.
Other connected devices include activity trackers and connected scales to measure motion and body weight.
What RPM Can Do for Patients
Remote patient monitoring allows providers to monitor, report, and also analyze a patient’s condition from outside a hospital or other clinical type of setting. Whether monitoring acute or chronic conditions, RPM devices provide real-time understanding of a patient’s health, allowing clinicians to make proactive, informed healthcare decisions.
Remote patient monitoring devices also help patients understand more about their own health conditions and engage with their health on a daily basis. This kind of engagement creates longer-lasting healthy outcomes such as dietary changes, behavior modification, and reduction in stress factors – including visits to the emergency room.
What RPM Can Do for Clinicians
Remote, real-time monitoring allows clinicians to watch everything from blood glucose levels to heart rhythm changes. By monitoring the patient’s vital signs with immediacy, should a problem occur, an appropriate action can be decided on and taken before the patient needs the services of the ER.
Because chronic conditions are one of the largest expenses in the healthcare fields, remote patient monitoring eases the costs as well as the burden on the system as well as reducing the risk to patients.
Preventative healthcare and early intervention become more possible when patients have greater control over their own healthcare. RPM provides more patient access to care and provides the ability to quickly address changes in health status, avoiding crisis.
RPM not only allows for more accurate data collection and has the ability to predict and manage patient outcomes; it also helps clinicians close the care gap while making more informed decisions.
Looking for Care Management Solutions?
At CircleLink Health, the goal is to provide better health outcomes and identify, track and close Gaps in Care 25% more than the Medicare/MIPS average using Gap Closer™. Understanding and learning why Remote Patient Monitoring can help is one step in this important aspect of primary care. If you’d like to learn more, reach out to Circle Link Health, today.
