Advances in Healthcare Delivery: Remote Patient Monitoring Solutions

Remote patient monitoring (commonly referred to as remote patient management) is a healthcare delivery practice that uses the updated advancement in information technology to obtain patient data outside traditional healthcare settings. The platform allows patients to feel comfortable managing their health by the privacy they provide.

This comfort naturally increases the level of engagement. Therefore, fostered collaboration, remote patient monitoring can help improve care quality. Patients are encouraged to be more conscious of their health and embrace the use of digital monitoring tools. Clinical officers are better equipped to understand and manage their patients’ health situations because of the constant stream of updated data.

Remote patient monitoring technology examples: 

RPM technology can include everything from handheld medical devices to online platforms that allow patients to enter data.

Here are a few examples:

• Glucose meters for diabetic patients.
• Monitors for your heart rate or blood pressure.
• Continuous screening monitors that can detect patients with conditions such as dementia and alert healthcare providers of an even more serious situation.
• Treatment and monitoring of infertility from afar.
• Substance abuse patients can use at-home tests to stay accountable and on track with their goals.
• Programs that track calorie intake or diet.
• Patients with neurological disorders.
• Monitors for those with sleeping disorders/obstructive sleep apnea.

How does RPM work?

Remote healthcare monitoring collects data and information from the patients to their healthcare service provider. They feed their device with information about their health daily, which is later relayed electronically. While RPM techniques differ depending on the device or ailment being monitored, the majority of the technology has the same components.

RPM collects data via non-invasive digital technology. This enables healthcare organizations to have recorded health information for their patients, even those who are off-site. As compared to a traditional in-office appointment, RPM has proven to be more efficient in having a proper follow-up for all kinds of patients with ease.

Benefits: 

Remote patient monitoring has several advantages;

• Patient engagement is increased because remote healthcare monitoring tool allows patients to take an active role in managing and understanding their health conditions.
• Connected healthcare saves people with disabilities, aging, or those suffering from chronic conditions from to and fro movement.
• RPM provides patients and healthcare providers with an updated patient data, resulting in improved overall quality and value-based care.
• Good health care access- Because RPM allows patients to perform basic health testing on their own, healthcare providers can treat more patients.
• Provides higher levels of understanding – RPM educates and supports patients by providing daily information and feedback about their conditions.
• It assures patients as constant monitoring gives patients peace of mind by ensuring that any potential problems are identified as soon as possible.
• Time spent at the hospital reduces significantly as the patient’s medical record is easy to retrieve.

Remote patient monitoring has ensured that most healthcare services can keep track of their patients regardless of the distance and hectic work of day-to-day life. Patients who use the technology have improved their health and well-being in general.