What is remote patient monitoring (RPM), and how might it benefit you?

One of the newest technological innovations in the field of healthcare is Remote Patient Monitoring, also known as RPM. RPM breaks down the barriers between clinicians and the patient, by allowing symptoms and conditions to be tracked no matter where the patient is. This cutting edge technology prevents several benefits to both patients and clinicians beyond basic convenience, and will revolutionise the way healthcare can be provided. 

Reach Out to New Patients

The immediate benefit  of RPM is allowing care to provided to a patient, regardless of distance. RPM removes the needs for constant check-ups with a clinician, and instead provides detailed data on a patient’s condition as they go through their day to day life. A diabetic patient can have their glucose levels consistently monitored with a remote device without having to worry about making their way to a clinic, giving the patient access to clinics that would typically be too far away to visit regularly.

These technologies provide a double benefit to expanding a clinic’s patient base. Not only does this reduce the need for patients to be close to their chosen clinic, it also reduces the number of check-up appointments needed to monitor a patient’s condition. This opens up space for your clinic to take on new patients and increase your coverage further. 

Capture Data From Outside the Clinic

Although tests carried out in a clinic can provide a great picture of the state of a patient’s condition, the data obtained from the patients home can prove invaluable. Those suffering from high-blood pressure can have White-Coat Hypertension (where blood pressure increases in a clinical setting) or Masked Hypertension (where blood pressure is lower in a clinic setting, but high elsewhere). If a patients blood-pressure is being monitored 24/7, clinicians will have data beyond these potential anomalies, and can make treatment suggestions accordingly.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted one of the biggest benefits of remote patient monitoring – removing any potential risks of having the patient in a clinical setting. This can incredibly important for immunocompromised patients, or those suffering from infectious diseases. No longer do these patients have to worry about a clinic visit aggravating their conditions, as they can have their condition monitored from the comfort of their own home.

Increase Patient Engagement

RPM is an incredible versatile technology, and providing data for clinicians is just one of the many uses. Many RPM devices give access to apps or virtual dashboards that both the clinicians and patients can view. This gives patients a new insight into their conditions, and can become more active in their care. 

Several RPM devices also have features to aid patients in managing their condition. An RPM smartphone app can use the data from the device to give patients reminders to take medication, or to make sure patients are engaging in appropriate aftercare activities. The data provided by the RPM device elevates simple automated reminders to context-enhanced recommendations. For example, if an RPM device detects that a patient’s blood pressure is high, alerts can be given to give suggestions on lowering it, or help the patient get in touch with their clinician immediately. RPM breaks down the barriers that prevent a patient from understanding how to manage their conditions, increasing both patient and clinician satisfaction.