The Impact of Remote Patient Monitoring on Healthcare

A remote patient monitoring system uses technology to monitor a patient's health outside of a traditional clinical setting.

Fremont, CA: Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) has experienced a trail run for the past decade, but a decade's worth of research has made this emerging technology ready for implementation in 2022. The push and adoption of RPM technology largely took off as a result of the benefits that it promises to the healthcare environment.

How does Remote Patient Monitoring Work?

Indeed, remote patient monitoring cannot replace in-person care entirely, but it can ease the burden on patients and providers. Using remote patient monitoring technology, patients can take a more active role in managing their health, eliminating nursing and hospitalization costs.

A remote patient monitoring system uses technology to monitor a patient's health outside of a traditional clinical setting. It collects biometric data (such as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and sleep quality) from a patient, analyzes and interprets it, and transmits it to the caretaker. RPM can prevent unnecessary readmissions and appointments by observing the patient in real-time.

By using remote monitoring solutions integrated with modern healthcare technology, risk-bearing organizations can remotely monitor patients with chronic conditions, helping to reduce costs and readmissions, improve care quality, and increase patient access to care.

Various RPM solutions use different methods, but they all require technology that collects and interprets biometric & physiological data.

Listed below are different RPM devices and their benefits

Wearable fitness trackers: The wristbands have sensors that measure the user's heart rate and physical activity. By directly transferring fitness and health data from a wearable fitness tracker to the patient's health record, physicians can:

- Improved remote monitoring of patients

- Providing patient care in rural areas

- Provide physicians with more data

Smart health watch: Formerly only used to track steps and tell time, smartwatches have evolved into advanced healthcare devices. Smartwatches can now be used to:

- Check notifications

- Send simple messages and make phone calls

- Keep an eye on heart rate count

- Tracking your health

- Tracking your sleep

- Tracking your activities and more

Wearable ECG Monitor: The ECG monitor measures an electrocardiogram and transmits the readings to a healthcare provider. The data is then integrated into the patient's medical record. A wearable ECG monitor also tracks atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), distance, and elevation, which is helpful for prevention.

Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor: BP Monitor measures blood pressure as well as daily activity, such as steps taken, distance traveled, and calories burned. In addition, it advises on how personal habits affect blood pressure.

Patch- Biosensors: Wearable biosensors are self-adhesive patches that collect data on movement, heart rate, respiration rate, and temperature. The patch streams data to the patient's smartphone and sends it to the healthcare provider via a suitable platform.