5 Gripping Insights on Remote Patient Monitoring and Telehealth

Healthcare technology is constantly evolving. There are constantly new tools available to make health better and lives easier, but there are still barriers to healthcare. Staff shortages mean fewer appointments available. Getting to appointments can be difficult, especially with chronic health conditions or limited mobility. Healthcare costs are constantly rising.

Teleheath visits and home telehealth monitoring are becoming increasingly popular because they remove some of those barriers. Telehealth visits use technology to connect patients and providers remotely. The visit happens on a phone, computer, or tablet from anywhere with privacy and an internet connection. Remote patient monitoring, a type of telehealth care, sends the healthcare provider vital information about patient health in real time without the need for an in-person visit.

These technologies are changing the way healthcare is delivered. According to the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP), remote monitoring of patients minimizes their time in the hospital and nursing homes. It helps keep people healthy and improve quality of life at home.

What Is Remote Patient Monitoring?

Remote Patient Monitoring, or RPM, is a type of telehealth that captures and transmits information from a medical device directly to a healthcare provider. It’s unique in that it functions outside of the traditional healthcare setting.

Medical devices monitor things like heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. With remote patient monitoring services, those devices can be wherever patients are. They use a wireless connection to send that information to a provider, who can use it to diagnose or manage health conditions.

For example: A patient with heart failure needs frequent monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen level, and weight. With traditional patient monitoring, this means extended hospital stays. With a remote patient monitoring system, the patient can be discharged home and send all that information directly to their provider.

Benefits of Remote Monitoring of Patients

RPM programs are more convenient, faster, and less expensive than traditional monitoring, which usually involves a hospital stay. Most devices come with an app that provides an immediate analysis and may suggest lifestyle changes to improve health. This puts patients in the driver’s seat, giving them more control over their own health. Not to mention that telehealth visits often cost a fraction of what an in-office visit can cost.

RPM in nursing homes and assisted living facilities is also possible with these devices. They can be used to streamline care and improve communication between the provider and the facility staff.

Some devices have the ability complete a remote telehealth visit within the app to immediately address any issues or concerns with a provider. Better access to care means fewer complications and earlier identification of potential problems. Providers can monitor key health information over a longer period of time. This gives them a better look at disease progression and allows them to take a proactive approach to managing chronic diseases.

How Does Remote Patient Monitoring Work?

A provider identifies a condition that requires monitoring that can be done with a remote device.
The patient and provider collaborate, agreeing that a remote patient monitoring program is the right choice.
The provider or a representative educates the patient on how to use the device correctly, and makes sure everything is set up properly.
The patient goes home or to a facility and wears the device or uses it at the prescribed intervals.
The information from the remote patient monitoring device is transmitted directly to the provider for review, diagnosis, or care management. Some devices, like a Holter monitor, must be sent back to the provider after a specific amount of time.
If needed, a telehealth visit is completed or the provider contacts the patient to schedule an in-office follow-up.

Examples of Remote Patient Monitoring Devices

Scales – Changes to weight can indicate some serious health problems, like heart failure and some cancers. Remote scales allow a provider to quickly identify changes in daily weight, allowing for a faster diagnosis and a better outcome.
Blood Pressure Monitors – The American Heart Association reports that the use of remote blood pressure devices lead to much better blood pressure control than traditional care or self-monitoring.
Pulse Oximeter – A pulse oximeter is a small device that goes on a finger to measure heart rate and blood oxygen level. These are vital pieces of information for patients with COPD, asthma, and other respiratory and heart conditions. Frequent measurements from a remote pulse oximeter can provide earlier detection of complications with these disorders.
Blood Sugar Monitor – Blood sugar levels can be volatile, swinging wildly depending on many factors. Remote blood sugar monitors provide continuous measurement. They can alert patients and/or providers of high or low values before they become dangerous, potentially saving lives.

Remote Patient Monitoring Platforms and Software

A remote patient monitoring platform is a type of software that takes information from the monitoring devices and sends it to the patient’s provider. Some of these platforms have capabilities beyond RPM, such as automatic feedback, the ability to input related symptoms, or performing telehealth visits with your provider. Some platforms will require downloading an app on a smart phone, but others simply transmit data directly to the healthcare provider.

The information is typically sent one of two ways: cellular or Bluetooth. With a cellular network, the information is sent over the same pathways that cell phones use. Communication is limited by the network, so it may be a challenge for users in rural areas. Bluetooth devices transmit data to another device that has an internet connection. They can transmit data regardless of cellular network availability but have a more limited range.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is remote patient monitoring?

Remote Patient Monitoring, or RPM, is the use of a device to measure patient information like blood sugar, vital signs, or sleep patterns, and transmit that data directly to a provider over a secure network.

What are the risks of remote patient monitoring?

Since healthcare providers are not the ones obtaining the readings, there is a risk for inaccuracies. Ensure you receive adequate training when receiving a remote patient monitoring device and contact the provider or manufacturer with any questions.

There is also a limit to the kind of information that can be monitored remotely. This creates a risk for misdiagnosis or missing important clinical information.

If there aren’t sufficient privacy and cybersecurity measures in place, this could put protected health information at risk.

How accurate is remote patient monitoring?

Since patient data is transmitted directly to providers and the devices used are functionally the same as other patient monitoring devices, RPM is as accurate as the devices themselves are. Always talk to your provider before making any changes to your plan of care.

How is remote patient monitoring done?

Remote patient monitoring devices are used at home to capture health data, like your blood pressure, heart rate, or blood sugar. That data is sent directly to your provider, who may schedule a telehealth or in-person visit to discuss the results.

For which diseases is remote patient monitoring used?

There are many diseases that benefit from remote patient monitoring programs, such as: Diabetes, Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation, High or low Blood Pressure, COPD, Asthma, Kidney Disease and some cancers.

How effective is remote patient monitoring?

A large majority of healthcare organizations report that using Remote Patient Monitoring has improved outcomes for their patients, lowering their risk for being admitted to the hospital. The U.S Government Accountability Office performed a study showing RPM as a significant factor in improving quality of care, patient convenience, and reduced costs.

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Remote Patient Monitoring and Telehealth