One of the biggest challenges for patients and their care team in managing chronic disease is identifying health changes between office visits. A single appointment can only offer a snapshot of a patient’s health, leaving providers in the dark about crucial symptoms or subtle changes that may occur in their day-to-day lives.
In the past, care teams may have tried to offset this challenge by asking patients to keep manual logs of their symptoms and vitals. However, this outdated approach is prone to human error and inconsistency, and the data isn’t always accessible to providers when they need it most. Luckily, technology has helped close the gap between office visits to ensure better outcomes.
What Is Remote Patient Monitoring?
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is a digital healthcare technology and type of telehealth that uses electronic devices—such as weight scales, blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, and pulse oximeters—to collect patient-generated health data while the patient is at home or out with their loved ones. The data is then securely transmitted to their providers for review.
By incorporating RPM into a comprehensive chronic disease management plan, patients and their care team can collaborate more effectively to improve communication and gain valuable treatment insights. We’ll explore the benefits of this technology for both patients and providers and examine how RPM supports a transition from reactive to proactive care, particularly for seniors managing one or more chronic conditions.
RPM Benefits for Patients and Their Families
For patients, RPM can be a transformative tool that empowers them and their families to take an active role in managing their health. A 2020 study found that RPM improved both patient satisfaction and self-management of chronic conditions. By strengthening the support system, it encourages independence and builds stronger relationships between patients and their care team. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of RPM to understand its value from the patient’s perspective.
Proactive Health Management
RPM helps support early detection by providing real-time health alerts and detecting subtle changes in vitals before they become severe. Too often, these new symptoms, if not reported, aren’t known until the next doctor’s visit, when it may already be too late. Early detection helps prevent health complications, reduces stressful emergency room visits, and lowers hospital readmissions.
Greater Independence
With user-friendly interfaces and automated measurements, patients can track vital signs independently, monitor medication schedules, and record their symptoms. Sensors and alarms built within the system can help inform the patient of any alerts or irregularities. RPM allows them to feel in control of their health without the constant need for in-person check-ups.
Streamlined Communications
The data collected through RPM supports informed communications with healthcare providers. Patients can get instant feedback on their health data and receive answers and resources to help manage their condition. RPM reinforces positive behaviors and helps patients understand how lifestyle choices impact their health.
Medication Adherence
Automated reminders and adherence tracking within RPM systems help patients stay on schedule with their prescribed medications, a common challenge in managing chronic conditions. Studies have shown that reminder systems of any type can improve adherence by up to 20%.
RPM as a Tool to Support Healthcare Practices
For healthcare providers and the healthcare system as a whole, RPM can provide many different benefits that support better decision-making and improve cost efficiency. Below are some of the benefits that have been identified to help providers manage their practices and deliver better care.
- 1. Streamlined workflows and efficiency
- 2. Stronger care coordination
- 3. Cost-savings for care
- 4. Expanded patient reach
RPM can help patient care teams of different providers access a continuous stream of data, reducing the need for as many in-person follow-ups and prioritizing patients who need immediate attention. Different providers can share information and insights within the team easily to create a more unified treatment plan.
From a business perspective, RPM has proven to be very beneficial to practices. Many healthcare organizations have reported significant savings of up to $8,000 per patient annually by using RPM to prevent hospital visits and manage conditions proactively. In some cases, RPM has enabled practices to expand their reach and create new, scalable revenue streams.
How ARCM Helps Seniors Live Healthy and Independent
For seniors and their families, RPM offers an opportunity for more independence and peace of mind while living at home. As seniors typically face a higher rate of chronic disease, they are uniquely positioned to benefit most from this technology. While implementing it can present challenges, the right partnership with an RPM provider can ensure a seamless and successful transition.
Accessible Remote Care Management (ARCM) features an intuitive, HIPAA-compliant platform that makes registering and tracking health data simple for all users, including seniors who may not be as technically proficient. With over 20 years of experience in providing home care services, we offer a complete solution for chronic care management.
Our expertise covers every aspect of remote patient monitoring, from providing advanced devices and software to offering hands-on training and dedicated ongoing support.
Physicians, seniors, and caregivers can connect to discuss treatment options and address feedback based on real-time data. As a whole, the technology is designed to be flexible and accessible with customizable features that encourage engagement and make it more manageable for seniors.
By providing consistent health monitoring and a direct line to their care team, ARCM empowers seniors and caregivers to stay on top of chronic health issues and helps providers deliver the best available treatment interventions. Families can also rest assured knowing that their loved one’s health is being continuously tracked, with immediate alerts sent if any measurements fall outside personalized targets.
Ultimately, though, regardless of age, ARCM is a remote care solution that ensures quality care is always within reach. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of switching to ARCM.
