The outbreak ushered in the new age of remote monitoring of patients (RPM). To those who want to reduce the possibility of becoming sick from COVID-19, the idea that their health status could be monitored safely at home was an important step forward. However, if there is no longer a public health emergency and remote patient monitoring of patients will fall out of the spotlight?
Although the pandemic could be the catalyst for RPM advancement, there are many other reasons to believe that it will remain an essential component of the healthcare system in the years to come—for instance, the aging population. The number of U.S. adults aged 60 and over is projected to grow by 30 percent by 2050, and 88% of those who are 50 or older would like to stay in their homes for the longest time possible. It means that an enormous number of people aged 60 and older will require care at home.
Here’s the place where RPM can be of assistance. RPM gives security. If older people can be monitored for their chronic ailments at home without any risk and comfortably, they will not require moving into an institution for this type of treatment. With caregivers that can help with monitoring technology, and their clients’ other day-to-day requirements, older adults who would like to remain at home for the remainder of their lives stand a greater chance of doing it with ease.
What is Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)?
RPM is now an umbrella for the healthcare treatment of patients at home. However, there are a variety of categories that relate to this kind of care. Let’s examine each in more depth.
RPM vs. RTM vs. CCM
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) is a term used to describe remotely monitoring a patient’s condition. It uses connected electronic devices or tools which record the patient’s medical and personal information. These physiological data, like glucose levels or blood pressure, are recorded at one place (usually the patient’s residence) and then examined by a doctor at another site.
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) is the use of medical devices or platforms to monitor the health status of a patient and response to treatments; however, RTM employs non-physiological data to achieve this goal. RTM is able to monitor aspects like medication adherence, the response to therapy, musculoskeletal activities, and breathing activity. In addition, RTM allows for self-reported data from patients.
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Chronic Care Management (CCM) is care coordination services that are done outside of the regular office visit for patients with two or more chronic conditions expected to continue for at least 12 months, and that place the patient at significant risk of death, acute exacerbation/decompensation, or functional decline. CCM can include services such as an established care plan for the patient or caregiver tailored to both the patient and the caregiver, assistance with medication management, and access 24/7 for emergency medical needs.
Types of Care Devices That Can Be Used in the Home:
- Pulse Oximeters
- Blood glucose meters
- Weight scales
- ECG machines
- Spirometers
- Monitors of blood pressure
- Heart monitors
The Benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Include the following:
- Lower hospitalizations
- Reduced number of visits to emergency rooms.
- Health outcomes that are better for patients living in rural areas
- Better management of chronic illnesses
- Shorter hospital stays
- Lower risk of illness for patients and health care professionals
Remote Patient Monitoring and Social Determinants of Health
Although caregivers aren’t typically expected to manage RPM, they are crucial to its success. When they work together, homecare providers and clinicians can help patients stay home longer and avoid the hospital. One way to accomplish this is to work with each other to overcome the difficulties caused by certain Social Determinants of Health (SDOH).
Problems such as transportation issues could result in patients being unable to get regular preventative health services. However, with the help of certain RPM solutions, healthcare access can be extended to patients who may otherwise need help to travel to the doctor’s office. Caregiver assistance can be provided to patients when setting up telemedicine calls and other communication required for remote healthcare.
Furthermore, caregivers are able to be part of the team who manages the client’s chronic ailments. Caregivers can disclose potential dangers within the home, customer complaints, and even the absence of healthy food. Even though the caregiver isn’t a medical professional certified, this information can help the care team of the client act and intervene when required.
How RPM and Homecare Can Work Together
The home care providers and the clinicians who utilize RPM share the same objective: to allow people to stay at home for the longest time possible. RPM devices and other remote monitoring technology, such as telehealth, offer patients peace of knowing they’re being medically monitored and not having to visit a medical facility. In-home caregivers monitor the activities of their day-to-day lives and ensure that patients are relaxed and secure at home.
Hucu.ai has joined healthcare forces with Remote Focus, a patient safety program that collaborates with healthcare providers at home to ensure that patients are protected with 24/7 real-time monitoring to treat chronic conditions and improve their results in clinical care and reduce the possibility of hospitalization. With Hucu.ai remote patient monitoring application, healthcare staff uses the information from the RPM-connected devices to assess and monitor patients’ health and raise concerns whenever necessary.
Remote Patient Monitoring is the Future of Medicine
Technology is evolving each day. With improved technologies in the field of healthcare, widespread use of digital marketing, and advances in internet connectivity, remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) has been growing in popularity day by day.
Telemedicine is not just efficient, but it’s incredibly convenient for both sides. There are systems in place that are working towards providing the best quality, comfort, and services to patients treated through telemedicine.
The primary goal of normalizing and making telemedicine accessible to more people is to simplify the experience for patients and healthcare professionals. The equipment must be explained to the people who will use these devices. The information that needs to be analyzed through these devices must be accessible and understandable. The most important thing is that an app for managing mobile devices must be available to offer instant technical assistance to the end user in the event of. Troubleshooting can include remote access, monitoring device performance, and creating alerts for unusual activity.
Remote Patient Monitoring includes monitoring weight, vital signs, blood pressure, blood sugar, blood oxygen, heart rate, etc., to allow for better analysis. These readings provide the crucial information collected through remote patient monitoring and then analyzed by the personnel back at the hospital.
As we saw during the epidemic, the population is now more content to stay in their homes and work completed from their homes. RPM is a tool to consider investing in because it can help you grow your services as a healthcare service provider. Technology gets better each day, and those who resist changing their practices to keep up with the latest trends could end up harming their own business.
