The demands on healthcare providers in all areas of medicine continue to rise and with them, the need for efficient care solutions. According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), an aging population, a growing incidence of chronic disease, and a higher demand for mental health services are shaping the current medical landscape and increasing inpatient and outpatient volumes.[1] Additionally, the consulting firm Mercer projected a significant healthcare worker shortage of more than 400,000 home health aides and 29,400 nurse practitioners by 2025.[2]
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) offers providers a way to improve the function of their practice, enhance the quality of patient care, and meet the needs of the mounting patient population using digital technology. Moreover, providers should know these ten benefits of RPM when considering whether to integrate it into their practice.
Better Patient Outcomes—Perhaps the biggest advantage of RPM is its correlation to improved patient outcomes. RPM allows for continuous monitoring of many medical conditions, promoting a proactive approach to care and enabling providers to detect issues early. Patients with heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions can participate in their care from the comfort of their own homes or anywhere outside of a clinical setting. The diminished need for office visits can also reduce stress for patients with mobility and transportation issues.
Fewer Hospitalizations—Early detection can decrease hospitalizations and the risk of complications. RPM can also reduce emergency room visits, relieving some of the pressure they experience and easing the strain on other medical resources. RPM monitors the heart rate, blood pressure, and other vitals of high-risk individuals and patients under chronic care management (CCM). It alerts a clinical team and the provider of concerning changes in the health data, and they can address issues before they escalate. By avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations, RPM can prevent extra costs associated with them.
Enhanced Chronic Disease Management—Under the traditional model of care, individuals living with chronic illness require consistent office visits to monitor their health. RPM constantly streams and records patient health data so clinical team members and providers can track vital signs, medication adherence, and lifestyle changes. Using this information, providers can also change patient treatment plans without an office visit, saving time, money, and resources. This can improve the experience for patients with chronic conditions as a more effective care method.
Improved Patient Engagement and Satisfaction—RPM gives patients the tools to monitor their health conditions from home. In addition, patients can have regular check-ins with clinical staff, ask questions, and express concerns to their provider. They can receive medication reminders. This increased contact leads to better communication and patient satisfaction regarding their care. Positive reinforcement also encourages treatment participation and medication adherence. The convenience and improved patient experience can also boost the provider’s reputation.
Streamlined Workflows and Superior Efficiency—While setting up RPM takes some integration and investment, the efficiencies and reduced administrative burden can significantly improve office operations. RPM technology collects and analyzes patient data. It is integrated with other health systems within a practice. This organizes information and allows health practitioners to monitor patient health trends in real-time. RPM teams act as the first-line contact for the patient, consistently monitoring, checking in, and answering questions. This enables providers and their in-office teams to focus on direct patient care and superior service.
Smarter Resource Allocation—Busy practices must manage their resources carefully to provide quality care. RPM minimizes in-person visits and fields minor issues that can bog down a practice. This allows for a more effective use of time and distribution of responsibilities across personnel.
Reimbursement Opportunities Supporting Revenue Growth—AHA projects that virtual care will continue to grow and by 2034 one in four evaluation and management visits will be virtual.[3] Increasingly, insurance providers including Medicare, are encouraging RPM use by offering reimbursement for these services. Practices can earn additional income by billing for RPM while maintaining the usual volume of office visits. Financially stable practices with extra cash flow can continue to invest in further advancements to improve operations and quality of care.
Compliance with Value-based Care Models— RPM supports the current healthcare shift toward value-based systems. Improving patient outcomes is a core objective of RPM, and it accomplishes this through better CCM, reduced hospitalizations, strengthened communications, and increased patient engagement and satisfaction.
Enhanced Data Collection and Analytics—The ability to track health trends in real-time is invaluable to making informed decisions for patient care. Additionally, the breadth of data RPM collects and analyzes remotely is expanding, further aiding providers in effectively diagnosing, monitoring, and treating patients.
Scalability and Flexibility—RPM’s unmatched scalability and flexibility make it possible for practices to increase volume and quality of care. Traditional models cannot grow without additional resources and those costs, whether for a larger office space or more personnel, are permanent. An upfront investment in RPM today can yield financial dividends later with minimal changes to a practice’s infrastructure.
RPM is shaping the future of medical care. It fulfills a need for better systems and more support for an aging and growing patient population. It provides medical services when there is a shortage of skilled practitioners. Providers integrating RPM technology into their practice can benefit from more efficient operations and better patient outcomes.
Whether you are a patient or provider looking to learn more about RPM, we would love to hear from you. Click HERE to schedule a demo today.
Sources
[1] https://www.aha.org/aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2024-07-02-4-takeaways-coming-shift-health-services-demand
[2] https://onlinenursing.duq.edu/post-master-certificates/shortage-of-healthcare-workers/
[3] https://www.aha.org/aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2024-07-02-4-takeaways-coming-shift-health-services-demand