Remote patient monitoring is rapidly expanding as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic’s limits and the resulting legislative pressure to extend access to care.
Remote patient monitoring, in its most basic form, entails the use of linked electronic devices to collect personal health and medical data in one area and examine it by a physician in another.
This article will outline everything you need to know about remote patient monitoring.
What is Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)?
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is the use of digital technology to monitor and gather medical and other health data from patients, and then electronically communicate that data to healthcare clinicians for review and, if required, suggestions and instructions. It enables healthcare practitioners to keep track of patient data after they’ve been released.
RPM can also act as a motivation for people to take charge of their own health. The extra level of comfort it naturally gives enhances patients’ level of participation, and by boosting engagement, remote patient monitoring can improve treatment quality. Patients are incentivized to better engage with their own health because of the convenience of quality RPM models, but clinicians are also better equipped to understand and manage their patients’ health situations because of the constant stream of data that provides a much clearer picture of the patients’ health.
How Does A Remote Patient Monitoring System Work?
Remote patient monitoring products, unlike other remote health delivery techniques, do not necessitate interactive audio-video and virtual visits, nor do they require patients to live in remote regions. They merely require physiologic data collection and interpretation equipment. RPM services are reimbursed by Medicare in the same way as in-person clinical services are, with no extra criteria for utilization or originating place of treatment. RPM systems also have the potential to save money by avoiding more serious and costly health effects from developing.
Usually, an RPM gadget is given to the patient to collect health data. Remote patient monitoring equipment must be connected to the internet, which is done using cellular networking or Bluetooth. Blood pressure monitors, weight scales, blood glucose meters, and spirometers are the most popular RPM equipment. Then, health data is gathered by the device and communicated from patient to provider, generally electronically, once it has been set up properly. This information is analyzed by the clinician, who then provides health and wellness advice to the patient.
Main Benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring
To support high-risk, chronically sick patients in danger of hospital readmission, 88% of healthcare providers have invested in or are investigating remote patient monitoring technology, and here are the reasons why:
- Better patient/doctor communication: Because RPM devices transmit real-time health data, practitioners are kept up to date on their patients’ current health state, giving patients and caregivers more peace of mind.
- Fewer visits to the doctor’s office – This means patients are exposed to fewer diseases and spend less time and money traveling.
- Improved treatment quality – RPM allows practitioners to get a more comprehensive understanding of a patient’s health, which can lead to more precise medication modifications, fewer emergency department visits, and a longer time between in-office visits.
- More control over personal health – RPM usually comes with a user-friendly app for a phone or tablet that gives users a real-time assessment of their health. This enables patients to make tiny modifications to their everyday routine that can help them better manage their disease and detect aberrant changes and developments.
Examples of Remote Patient Monitoring Products
According to Insider Intelligence’s analysis, remote patient monitoring services and solutions are predicted to reach 30 million patients in the United States by 2024.
Remote Patient Monitoring products might vary from under-the-skin sensors or user-friendly wearables like the Apple Watch or Fitbit. The most common and globally used devices include:
- Electronic thermometers,
- Electrocardiographs (ECGs),
- Electroencephalography (EEGs)
- Cardiac monitors,
- Apnea monitors,
- Spirometers,
- Oximeters,
- Audiometers,
- Blood pressure monitors,
- Breathing frequency monitors
Buying a Remote Patient Monitoring System
As mentioned above, Remote Patient Monitoring Systems come in different brands and models with additional accessories available. We at Global Bases Medical Supplies always make sure to sell the latest RPMs equipped with the highest level of quality and affordable prices for individuals, healthcare professionals, and medical institutions.
You can find an array of selections here.