How does remote patient monitoring work?
The development of technology continues to grow and is extending its wings in almost every field. Health technologies are playing one such crucial role in reshaping the healthcare system and providing better patient care. Health technology innovations are showing cutting-edge responses and are considerably improving patient outcomes. Out of dozens of novel ideas hitting the market each day, remote patient monitoring (RPM) allows you to access health care remotely outside the clinical environment.
What is remote patient monitoring?
Remote patient monitoring is a novel and advanced way of healthcare delivery with the support of technology. It allows easy access to patient’s data and delivers high-quality, on-time patient care to more patients in a given time. RPM platform allows healthcare delivery remotely without the need to approach a health clinic.
RPM devices help to reduce nursing care and provide continuous monitoring remotely. The medical devices are equipped with an alarming system that alerts the healthcare provider (end-user) when an abnormal reading is detected. Remote patient monitoring gathers patient data outside the traditional clinical settings where clinical staff need not attend to the patient in live. Remote patient monitoring is highly secure and provides real-time experience to the patients from a remote location.
Monitoring and tracking the vital signs
In remote patient monitoring, patients are seen with wearable tools and devices that track metrics and allows to monitor the vitals like blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and pulse rate. Technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) in remote patient monitoring help to secure the patient data and retrieve them when necessary. RPM tracks the patient data, reduces hospital readmissions, and improves patient outcomes.
Fall detection devices play a crucial role in remote patient monitoring. The wearable solutions are utilized for older patients help them at the time of accidental falls that can sometimes turn to be fatal. Health monitoring devices can immediately alert an accidental fall and helps them address it before it shows a significant impact on one’s health. Currently, various companies have come up with smartwatches, wearables patches, and many other wearables that can track the vitals effectively and accurately.
The devices and tools used in remote patient monitoring are connected to smartphones, tablets, and other end-user devices via Bluetooth using wi-fi and data to transmit the readings. The hospital clinical staff receive and interpret the data for further analyses, which is the key to diagnosis and treatment. Telemedicine allows consultation of healthcare resources through an online platform and provides a solution accordingly. Remote patient monitoring supports high-risk and chronically ill patients to avoid hospital admissions.
How does RPM work?
Remote patient monitoring allows tele conversation between a patient and doctor by using digital technologies. RPM helps to maintain health stability in patients suffering from chronic illnesses. Initially, when the user activates the patient monitor, the stored medical data in the internal systems is transferred to the healthcare physician. The physician examines the data and evaluates the patient’s condition. Electronic Health Records (EHR) allows access to patient health records. The evaluated concerns are noted, and the information is sent to the patient by the healthcare team. When any of the recorded data shows a sign of risk and is recognized as a medical emergency, the healthcare team will provide immediate assistance to the patient and responds accordingly. After giving required assistance, some of the patients experience a normal range of vital readings. However, suppose the medical readings still remain abnormal. In that case, the condition is identified as critical, and hospital admission would be suggested.
Remote patient monitoring – Increasing access to health care
With more solutions to provide better care to the patients, RPM platforms are facilitating novel changes by focusing on remote patient care. Technology offers a practical solution where RPM combined with telemedicine allows video conferencing with the doctor and helps to know the essential treatment further. Sometimes, based on the health condition, the doctor would advise medication dose adjustments until the patient get back to normal. With increased knowledge of health and disease conditions, most people can understand the importance of remote patient monitoring services.
The number of healthcare providers investing in RPM platforms is gradually increasing year on year. Hospitals are currently expanding their services with RPM solutions and ensuring patients with the proper diagnosis at the right time. Healthcare providers are implementing various novel technologies that are helping the patients to reduce hospital costs.