Remote Patient Monitoring and Home Care

December 5, 2023

Over the last decade, the healthcare industry has witnessed unparalleled change, with technology emerging as a vital tool in enhancing patient outcomes and care. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional healthcare practices and necessitated the adoption of innovative approaches to ensure continuity of care. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) has emerged as a crucial solution in this regard, enabling healthcare providers to remotely monitor patients’ health status and provide customized care to patients without them having to leave their homes. 

What is Remote Patient Monitoring?

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) is a technology-driven solution that gathers a broad spectrum of health-related information directly from the point of care, including but not limited to vital signs, blood pressure, blood oxygen, body temperature, and brain activity, among others. Following collection, the data is transmitted to healthcare professionals stationed at medical facilities such as hospitals, clinics, intensive care units, nursing facilities etc. RPM is carried out using various monitoring devices such as wearables, sensors, and mobile apps that help collect and transmit patients’ health data to healthcare providers.

Remote patient monitoring has been shown to reduce hospital readmissions, emergency room visits, and healthcare costs. Research shows that RPM reduced the risk of hospital readmissions by 76%, resulting in an estimated cost savings of $10 billion per year in the US. Furthermore, it is estimated that more than 70 million patients across the US alone will be using RPM tools to manage their health by 2025. This projection is based on the growing demand for remote care solutions and their potential benefits, showing RPMs increasing importance in the telemedicine industry. 

Remote Patient Monitoring and Home Care

RPM has great potential for home care, especially for patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 6 in 10 adults in the US have a chronic illness, and 4 in 10 have two or more. RPM can help manage these conditions more effectively by providing healthcare providers with real-time data, such as early warning signs through progress tracking, enabling them to make informed decisions about patient care.

Furthermore, the pandemic significantly accelerated the adoption of RPM, as healthcare providers sought to minimize in-person visits and reduce the risk of infection for patients and providers. According to reports, the global remote patient monitoring market is expected to reach $16.9 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.5%. This growth is being driven by the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, increasing demand for home-based monitoring, and the need for cost-effective healthcare solutions. As RPM continues to evolve, it has the potential to transform the way healthcare is delivered, especially for patients in remote or underserved areas with limited access to traditional healthcare facilities.

How Does Remote Patient Monitoring Work?

The process of RPM can be broken down into the steps outlined below:

• A healthcare provider first assesses and identifies a patient’s condition that could be managed through remote patient monitoring and starts a program to offer the service. 
• After determining that a patient would benefit from remote monitoring, the provider obtains the patient’s consent and prescribes an appropriate device, such as a blood pressure monitor or glucose meter, which is electronically connected through a chosen network. 
• The collected data is then transmitted electronically to the provider, who analyzes it and provides directions to the patient based on the results. 
• Providers must also complete other steps, including determining coverage, setting up patient intake, and training the staff to deliver the RPM services. 

Patients may require assistance to use the technology, and their ease of use depends on the design and complexity of the devices provided. Partnering with an RPM vendor such as Patient One can help medical providers implement successful programs for patients.

The Benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring for Home Care

The utilization of RPM has demonstrated several benefits in healthcare delivery and home care, such as:

• Improved Patient Outcomes: RPM enables healthcare providers to monitor patients’ health in real-time, allowing them to identify potential health complications early and provide timely interventions. This, in turn, leads to improved patient outcomes, reduced hospital readmissions, and lower healthcare costs.
• Increased Patient Comfort and Convenience: RPM allows patients to receive medical care from the comfort of their own homes, eliminating the need for frequent hospital visits. This reduces patient stress and discomfort, enhances their quality of life, and enables them to live independently.
• Personalized Care: RPM allows healthcare providers to collect and analyze patients’ health data, enabling them to provide personalized and tailored treatment plans that serve a patient’s specific needs and continue to adjust them as necessary to ensure the best possible outcomes. Additionally, RPM allows for more frequent monitoring than traditional in-person visits, providing providers with a more comprehensive understanding of a patient’s health over time.
• Enhanced Patient Safety: RPM devices such as wearable sensors and monitors can alert healthcare providers in case of emergency or abnormal health readings, enabling them to take immediate action and prevent adverse events.
• Efficient Healthcare Delivery: RPM streamlines healthcare delivery by reducing the need for in-person visits, freeing up healthcare resources, and improving patient flow. This, in turn, leads to cost savings, better resource utilization, and faster access to medical services.
• Increased Patient Engagement: RPM increases patient engagement by giving patients access to health information and enabling them to take a more active role in their own healthcare. Patients can monitor their health and communicate effectively with their healthcare providers, leading to improved adherence to treatment plans, greater understanding of their health condition, and increased level of overall satisfaction with their care.

The Challenges of Implementing Remote Patient Monitoring in Home Care

Implementing Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) in home care can be challenging due to various factors. Here are some of the challenges that healthcare providers may face when implementing RPM in home care:

• Technical Challenges: Implementing RPM requires the use of various technological devices such as wearables, in-home monitoring devices, and mobile health applications. Healthcare providers must ensure that these devices are compatible with their existing systems, as well as ensuring they are easy to use for patients.
• Data Management Challenges: RPM generates a significant amount of health data that must be stored, analyzed, and managed. It is imperative that healthcare providers transmit this data securely, and they must also ensure that the data is integrated into electronic health record (EHR) systems to enable informed decision-making.
• Patient Education and Support: Patients must be adequately trained on how to use RPM devices, and they must also receive ongoing support to ensure that they can use the devices effectively. This requires additional resources and staff time to provide the necessary education and support.
• Reimbursement and Cost: RPM implementation can be costly, and healthcare providers may face challenges in securing reimbursement for RPM services. Insurance companies may also be hesitant to cover the costs associated with RPM, leading to financial challenges for healthcare providers.
• Regulatory and Legal Challenges: RPM data is subject to various regulations and laws governing patient privacy and data security. Healthcare providers must ensure that they comply with these regulations and laws to protect patient privacy and prevent legal liabilities.

However, by addressing these challenges, healthcare providers can leverage the benefits of RPM and provide high-quality care to patients remotely.

The Future of Remote Patient Monitoring and Home Care

The future of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) has significant potential for growth and innovation. Rapid advancements in technology, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and 5G, are enabling the development of new RPM devices and solutions. These technologies make it easier for healthcare providers to monitor patients’ health remotely and provide personalized care. For example, smart home devices can monitor the environment and detect falls or other patient safety concerns.

RPM solutions are also becoming more sophisticated and easier to use. For instance, RPM platforms that leverage AI and machine learning can analyze vast amounts of patient data to detect patterns and anomalies that may indicate a potential health issue. These platforms can then alert healthcare providers, who can take appropriate action to prevent complications and improve outcomes.

Another trend shaping the future of RPM and home care is the shift toward value-based care models. In value-based care, healthcare providers are incentivized to deliver high-quality care while reducing costs. At PatientOne, we are dedicated to providing value-based care solutions that support patients. Our goal is to create a care model that supports hospitals, practices, or public health needs. With our OpenRPM model, you can select the RPM solution that best meets the needs of your patients. This includes ensuring proper management of chronic conditions, overcoming communication barriers that may hinder care, or engaging with behavioral health patients. PatientOne facilitates an extended care model that improves access and enhances the quality of care for all.