Remote patient monitoring enables medical professionals to communicate critical health-related information with geographically separated patients. People can receive remote medical care to address a wide range of health conditions thanks to network-connected remote patient monitoring equipment.
To provide better treatment and achieve better results, physicians can exchange data with patients through remote patient monitoring devices. New levels of care can now be delivered outside conventional healthcare facilities thanks to the convergence of mobile technologies, quicker and more dependable networks, and specialized remote monitoring services.
What is Remote Patient Monitoring?
Remote patient monitoring is the technique of keeping track of patient health data outside conventional clinical settings like hospitals or clinics. Healthcare providers get data that has been obtained and sent through a network. Teams of medical professionals evaluate the data gathered to prescribe treatments or, as necessary, get in touch with patients.
RPM in medical specifically refers to telemedicine options that connect patients with doctors or other medical professionals on a one-to-one basis. Before the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, this application of technology was becoming more and more common in the healthcare industry. Apps for remote patient monitoring have made it easier for the medical industry to tackle the virus’s difficulties.
How Does Remote Patient Monitoring Work?
Over the past ten years, remote patient monitoring technology has undergone several advancements. Telehealth services and remote monitoring services have become more popular, and remote patient monitoring is crucial.
The steps involved in remote patient monitoring are as follows:
1. Collection of Health Data
The patient health monitoring devices are first activated to set up a remote patient monitoring system. Typically, these medical devices feature a Bluetooth module that allows them to interface with the patient’s mobile app, which gathers data from the device.
Contemporary gadgets are capable of gathering a multitude of data, from heart rate and oxygen levels to blood pressure. These sensors are worn beneath the skin or as wearable gadgets like an Apple watch or Fitbit. The majority of the time, specialized mobile apps for remote patient monitoring are available on smartphones. These devices use them to record health data and transmit it to healthcare practitioners.
2. Transmission of Health Data
The RPM device must convey the health information to the corresponding healthcare professional after sending it to the specialized mobile app on the smartphone. An appropriate hospital or healthcare professional the gets thi information. The precision and speed of this communication have dramatically increased in recent years.
Modern remote patient monitors can also analyze real-time data more effectively to quickly and precisely identify abnormal or irregular signals. The healthcare facility receives health data via the internet, SMS, or phone. Additionally, the healthcare facility can also use a web application via which it can receive and “see” the patient’s health information.
3. Evaluation of Health Data
Patient’s RPM device gathers data which is then stored in a data repository at the hospital or in the cloud. This vital sign data is then manually or automatically compared to the upper and lower (threshold) values established by a doctor. When the threshold value is exceeded, the RPM system at the healthcare facility initiates a notice. This creates a warning message and informs a doctor that something is not normal.
Numerous RPM systems also include an analytics module that makes use of BI technology and data visualization tools to deliver real-time metrics to doctors and patients. In order to see patterns and trends in the patient’s medical data, the healthcare provider can also use these technologies. With the use of this information, doctors can identify potentially dangerous situations and consequences and decide on the most appropriate course of action.
4. Taking Action
The RPM system, nurses, or doctors may send an alert to emergency responders when a notice has been triggered. If the patient’s health information indicates that they need immediate medical attention, doctors contact appropriate authorities are contacted and give quick aid. The doctor can make the right choice and inform the patient via a variety of communication channels, such as email, phone, or in-app notifications, if the data simply shows that a change in the course of treatment is necessary. Additionally, the doctor might offer suggestions on how to stop the recurrence of past unfavorable events.
Benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring
Solutions for remote patient monitoring are becoming more and more popular. And this is because they provide significant advantages for both patients and healthcare professionals. Let’s examine a few benefits associated with the use of RPM solutions.
Advantages for Healthcare Professionals
- RPM allows for more efficient workflows, which encourages increased productivity in a healthcare facility. In order to prioritize patients who require urgent care, healthcare professionals can simultaneously monitor many patients.
- Hospitals can achieve more patient participation and satisfaction with their healthcare plan. For instance, RPM devices are tracking individuals with diabetes. They are aware that their doctor will be notified if they don’t take their prescribed prescription. We can deliver better outcomes for people dealing with chronic health problems by enhanced patient involvement.
- A healthcare facility using tools for remote patient monitoring may see a boost in revenue. Improved patient satisfaction will aid in gaining new clients. A healthcare organization’s financial line benefits immediately from increased productivity and the capacity to eliminate in-person appointment no-shows. Medicare and other insurance companies can pay healthcare providers that spend time interacting with patients using RPM solutions.
- Another significant benefit of remote patient monitoring is the capacity to provide healthcare to areas with restricted access to conventional options. RPM aids in resolving issues related to patient location, lack of mobility, and potential provider scarcity.
Advantages for Patients
- By owning important data, patients have more control over their treatment. They are receiving and communicating comprehensive information about their health. In an emergency, they may connect immediately to their providers.
- RPM solutions give quicker access to healthcare practitioners and services. Long before a patient is physically seen, a doctor can determine the modifications in the treatment plan. It is primarily based on the data supplied by an RPM device.
- RPM devices cut down on travel time and costs. Patients can avoid making time-consuming in-person appointments to have conditions that can be safely and successfully treated via remote monitoring.
Conclusion
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) devices will significantly increase over the following ten years and with a growth rate of 12.5% yearly. This trend is will continue to increase. This is because of the impact of aging on the population as a whole, the high expense of inpatient care, and the tremendous strain COVID-19 is putting on hospitals.
Healthcare providers are using more equipment for remote monitoring services than ever before. Many hospitals began remotely monitoring the vital signs and symptoms of patients with coronaviruses and those without them in order to free up beds. Many companies like Fututrionic, provide healthcare app development services to develop healthcare apps. These apps can further ease up the application of the remote patient monitoring model.