Remote patient monitoring complements telemedicine when it needs to monitor certain health conditions of a patient. It also prevents health complications for patients who cannot travel easily.
Many symptoms and conditions can be tracked through remote patient monitoring, including high blood pressure, diabetes, weight loss or gain, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea, and asthma. Many devices that patients use may be familiar to them, including scales, pulse oximeters, blood glucose meters, and blood pressure monitors.
As the popularity and convenience of telemedicine have grown, so has remote patient monitoring. Due to various reasons, a growing number of providers are implementing remote patient monitoring, including advanced medical technology, growing awareness of telemedicine among providers and patients, providing more guarantees during the COVID-19 public health emergency, and the ability to monitor and prevent serious complications in remote areas.
When patients are able to track their health status at home, they are more likely to achieve positive health outcomes due to a better understanding of the condition. When patients are able to self manage their condition using RPM devices, they may reduce costs (for themselves and the health system) by minimizing emergency room visits, long hospitalization, and preventing readmission.
Benefits of remote patient monitoring:
1. Improving data-driven clinical decision-making;
2. Reducing the cost of care for payers and providers;
3. Increasing the net income of patients;
4. Decreasing the cost of patients and enhancing work efficiency;
5. Improving access to care;
6. Promoting patient participation;
7. Optimizing the efficiency of clinical staff and narrowing the shortage of clinical staff;
8. Preventing the spread of infectious diseases and hospital-acquired infections;
9. Improving patient experience and satisfaction;
10. Expanding referral opportunities and improving retention;
11. Consolidating the relationship between clinicians and patients;
12. Helping patients improve self-management and compliance with nursing plans.
Some patients will need to be tested, diagnosed, or monitored by themselves, which depends on their condition, Internet ability, or personal preferences and abilities. However, remote patient monitoring can help treat chronic diseases, pregnancy complications, and short-term diseases in many ways.
Other benefits include:
1. Decreasing hospitalizations;
2. If the patient can leave the hospital at home with remote monitoring equipment, the hospital stays will be shorter;
3. Reducing the number of emergency room visits;
4. Bringing better health outcomes to patients in remote areas;
5. Better preventing management of chronic diseases;
6. Reducing the risk of patients and medical staff being exposed to COVID-19 and other diseases.
