Current trends in remote patient monitoring services
October 15, 2024
How remote patient monitoring solutions can help ease the burden on healthcare staff
Category:
Reducing travel time for nurses
One significant benefit of RPM is the reduction in travel time for home health nurses3. Traditionally, these nurses spend a considerable portion of their day traveling to and from patients’ homes, which can be exhausting and inefficient in addition to limiting the number of patients a nurse can see in a day.
With RPM, nurses can monitor patients’ vital signs, medication adherence, and overall health remotely. Home-based monitoring systems equipped with biometric devices, such as blood pressure monitors and glucose meters, transmit data to healthcare providers. This allows nurses to track patient health from a central location, reducing the need for frequent home visits. As a result, nurses can allocate more time to patient care and less to travel4.
Broadening communication capabilities
Effective and timely communication between doctors and patients can be critical for successful healthcare outcomes. RPM can enhance this communication by providing an extended, connected flow of health data, enabling doctors to stay informed about their patients’ conditions. This data exchange can facilitate timely interventions and more informed decision-making5.
For instance, if a patient’s blood pressure or glucose levels deviate from the normal range, the RPM system can alert the healthcare provider, allowing doctors to adjust treatment plans promptly and prevent potential complications. Additionally, telehealth platforms integrated with remote patient monitoring systems enable virtual consultations, where doctors can discuss health concerns with patients without the need for in-person visits, saving time and ensuring that patients receive the care they need promptly.
Lessening number of in-person visits
RPM can reduce the number of in-person visits6 while maintaining the same level of patient encounters. By remotely monitoring patients, healthcare providers can conduct virtual check-ins and follow-ups.
This reduction in visits does not compromise the quality of care, as RPM can allow for more frequent monitoring and quicker responses to health issues. Patients can use RPM devices to record their health metrics daily, providing a comprehensive view of their condition over time. Healthcare providers can then review this data and address any concerns during virtual appointments. Not only can this approach save time for both patients and providers, but it also can help to ensure that patients remain engaged in their care plans.
Enhancing efficiency and reducing workload
The integration of RPM in healthcare settings can overall enhance efficiency and may help reduce clinician workload7. By automating the collection and analysis of health data and streamlining workflows within health systems, RPM can help to eliminate manual data entry and reduce administrative tasks, allowing healthcare professionals to redirect their time and focus more on patient care — and less on paperwork.
Moreover, some RPM systems can identify trends and patterns in patient data, providing valuable insights that help in early diagnosis and preventive care. For example, if a patient’s heart rate consistently shows irregularities, the system can flag this for early detection and further investigation.
Improving patient outcomes and satisfaction
Ultimately, the goal of RPM is to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction. By providing personalized care, RPM can empower patients to take an active role in managing their health. This can lead to better adherence to treatment plans, improved chronic disease management, and overall better health outcomes.
For healthcare staff, seeing their patients achieve better health outcomes can be deeply rewarding, and the reduced workload and increased efficiency may help in preventing burnout (a common issue in the healthcare industry).
Remote patient monitoring is revolutionizing healthcare by leveraging technology to provide personalized care. For healthcare staff, RPM can reduce travel time, enhance communication capabilities, and decrease the number of in-person visits while maintaining high-quality care. By improving efficiency and lessening the workload, RPM can also allow healthcare professionals to focus more on patient care, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.
As RPM continues to evolve, its role in easing the burden on healthcare staff and transforming patient care will continue to become more significant.
Vivify Health is a remote patient monitoring company offering a powerful RPM software solution with integrated third-party biometric devices designed to help improve efficiency and effectiveness of your disease management and post-acute care programs.
- Scott, J. (2021, June 17). The Benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring Are Wide Ranging. HealthTech. https://healthtechmagazine.net/article/2021/06/benefits-remote-patient-monitoring-are-wide-ranging-perfcon
- Tarantini, R. (2023, April 3). Remote patient monitoring: A win for both providers and patients. Medical Economics. https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/remote-patient-monitoring-a-win-for-both-providers-and-patients
- Washington, D. (2023, July 21). How Remote Patient Monitoring Makes a Nurse’s Life Much Easier. HealthTechZone. https://www.healthtechzone.com/topics/healthcare/articles/2023/07/21/456563-how-remote-patient-monitoring-makes-nurses-life-much.htm
- Washington, D. (2023, July 21). How Remote Patient Monitoring Makes a Nurse’s Life Much Easier. HealthTechZone. https://www.healthtechzone.com/topics/healthcare/articles/2023/07/21/456563-how-remote-patient-monitoring-makes-nurses-life-much.htm
- Claggett, J., Petter, S., Joshi, A., Ponzio, T., and Kirkendall, E. (2024, May 30). An Infrastructure Framework for Remote Patient Monitoring Interventions and Research. National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11176884/
- Serrano, L., Maita, K., Avila, F., Torres-Guzman, R., Garcia, J., Eldaly, A., Haider, C., Felton, C., Paulson, M., Maniaci, M., and Forte, A. (2023, September 22). Benefits and Challenges of Remote Patient Monitoring as Perceived by Health Care Practitioners: A Systematic Review. National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10730976/
- Flynn, J. (2021, December 27). Remote Patient Monitoring: An Innovative Approach to Patient Care. Daily Nurse. https://dailynurse.com/remote-patient-monitoring-an-innovative-approach-to-patient-care/
