Virtual care is a growing care modality in the healthcare industry today. While most individuals will think of telehealth when hearing the phrase “virtual care,” that’s really just the beginning. Another way to enhance patient care is using remote patient monitoring. Read on to learn more.
What is remote patient monitoring (RPM)?
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is a telehealth-related technology that allows providers to monitor their patients outside of the practice walls using digital medical devices like blood glucose meters, scales, pulse oximeters, and blood pressure monitors. Providers can then analyze the data collected and use that information to inform patient care. Often, workflows are established in which providers are alerted when a patient’s data shows the potential of a problem, so they are able to act quickly.
5 Features to Look for in an RPM Solution
When searching for an RPM solution, it’s important to find a product that will work seamlessly for both patients and providers. With that in mind, here are five features that a quality RPM solution will have.
- Ease of Use. Providers are busy and can’t sacrifice time and energy to clunky software. But with RPM, patients are also users, and different patients have different levels of tech literacy. With this in mind, patient devices must be set up so that they are always ready to use by patients, no matter how tech savvy they are. Look for RPM solutions that integrate with cellular-enabled devices, which allow data to flow directly from device to platform without complicated syncing or pairing on behalf of the patient.
- Workflow Integration. The idea behind using remote patient monitoring is to enable providers to monitor patients’ conditions without increasing the burden on already strained providers. This means it’s important to find an RPM solution that seamlessly fits into your practice’s existing workflow so that you’re not increasing clinicians’ responsibilities. Even better is if the solution integrates into the practice’s existing EMR software, allowing providers to see the data RPM serves up right alongside their other administrative tasks for the day.
- Reliable Analysis of Accurate Data. It’s important that the devices used with your RPM software pull accurate data in order to properly provide patient care. Ideally, the RPM solution will be able to analyze and interpret the data and serve up notifications and recommendations to providers when there is the indication of a problem.
- Strong Cybersecurity. As with all other digital means of transmitting patient data, it’s imperative to have solid cybersecurity measures in place with RPM. Choose a solution that has high standards for security in order to keep your patients’ information safe.
- Cost-Effectiveness. This doesn’t necessarily mean choosing the least expensive solution, but rather the one that is the best value. When you’re searching for your RPM vendor, have an idea of what you want to be able to accomplish with the solution and be sure that the product you choose allows you to do those things. Also consider the best option for a solid return on investment. Choosing a solution that can cover multiple different clinical use-cases is a better value than a product with more limitations. Paying a higher cost could be worth it if the ROI is better.
There are so many benefits to be realized by using remote patient monitoring, and selecting the right solution for your practice is the first step to seeing positive patient outcomes with RPM. At Henry Schein SolutionsHub, we take pride in offering up best-in-class solutions for your practice’s technology needs so that you can always find the right fit.
When it comes to RPM, we have two options for your practice to choose from. Rimidi is a SMART-on-FHIR platform that brings data from an ecosystem of devices, as well as patient surveys, into your EHR workflow where you can engage with the data to inform patient care. Medpod’s RPM platform comes in highly versatile configurations, including a cloud-based version without devices and complete units deployed in a standalone cart, suitcase, or mobile facility. No matter your practice’s specific needs, we have the solution for you.
