RPM is Set to Transform the Healthcare Industry

WHAT IS RPM?

RPM is the use of digital technology to monitor and capture medical and other health records from patients electronically and further transmit them to healthcare providers for assessment. The process is implemented with prior recommendation and instruction from the physician. RPM helps continuous tracking of healthcare data for patients and encourages them to take control of their health regularly.

RPM can be used to collect patients’ health data, including blood pressure, vital signs, weight, heart rate, blood sugar levels, and physical activity. The most commonly used RPM devices are blood pressure monitors, weight scales, cardiac implants, blood glucose meters, and pulse oximeters. Specialties frequently embracing RPM include cardiology, pulmonology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, and bariatrics. Hypertension, obesity, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic lower respiratory disease (COPD), and diabetes are the most common disease managed by RPM.

Chronic patients are the biggest prospective clients for RPM, as they are synonymous with continuous asymptomatic issues. Adoption of the RPM model is now a must, as it focuses more on clinical efficiency than just clinical care.

WHO CAN DELIVER AND RECEIVE RPM SERVICES?

Physicians and qualified healthcare professionals can provide for RPM. It is soon becoming an integral part of the Home Health Agencies. The agency should ideally offer the RPM device to the patients and train them on its usage. Many a time, a patient might require more than one device. The agency has to make sure the patient has a WIFI connection, a Smartphone, and a Personal computer at their home to enable RPM services. Patients may also need in-person or virtual assistance to set up and use the devices for RPM.

RPM should ideally be suggested or prescribed for patients with the medical necessity to check medical records regularly or daily. These should reflect in their medical records. Generally, RPM is proposed for patients recently discharged from the hospital and patients who are critically ill or have a long-term ailment. People are empowered and engaged to manage their health when discussing self-generated health data through RPM.

BENEFITS OF RPM MODEL:

69% of healthcare professionals have ranked RPM the #1 reducer of overall costs. Over the next 25 years, $200 billion in healthcare costs will be saved globally due to the implementation of RPM. It is a driver for Value-Based Care, as it improves care for patients and cuts costs for providers by reducing hospital readmissions and ER visits.

Regular health monitoring keeps people healthy
It helps reduce the number of hospitalization and re-hospitalization of patients
Regular monitoring helps reduce the stay of patients at the hospitals works well for older and disabled patients as they can remain at home in the able hands of health care staff, instead of nursing homes and hospitals.
Cuts down overall health expenses for patients, Home Health Agencies, and eventually the Government Healthcare Program.
RPM’s growth hinges on its ability to improve care for patients and cut costs for providers and ease the burden currently placed on physicians and clinicians.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOME HEALTH AGENCY RPM READY?

RPM has different models, so the agency’s readiness will vary according to the program they have chosen. However, a few general steps need to be followed by all HHAs for the smooth implementation of RPM.

Identify the kind of patients that can be taken into the RPM category.
Select effective and efficient devices that can be provided to the patients for RPM service.
Choose a reputable technology partner to help your agency draw the right processes for your agency. The tech partner can help you install, streamline and train your staff.
Train your caregivers and clinicians, who can train the patients on the usage of RPM devices.
Establish policies and procedures to prevent future disputes.
Establish a good Market program to advertise the awareness and benefits of RPM.

Your Home Health Agency should follow HIPAA security and privacy regulations and ensure that the RPM devices and technology are compliant with FDA standards.

HOW DOES THE DATA CAPTURED VIA RPM HELP PATIENTS AND AGENCIES?

The personal health records received through different patients are captured systematically in a central data repository – EHRs. Longitudinal data from the patient will uncover more effective feedback coupled with usability.

Long-term data from patients can also provide new insights into the effect of medicines, therapies, and preventive applications to manage more complex conditions. Such processes will promote improved adherence and adoption of medication and treatment, leading to the desired outcome. Once health care providers and patients genuinely grasp the value of RPM and its data, there’s no turning back.

HOME HEALTH NOTIFY IS RPM READY NOW!

Home Health Notify App can streamline all the medical readings of the patient through their RPM devices in real-time. The RPM readings are integrated and displayed directly on the Home Health Notify App for the doctors and physicians to check and take necessary action quickly.

All the RPM machines, i.e., weighing scale, blood pressure monitors, weight scales, cardiac implants, blood glucose meters, and pulse oximeters, are synced with a simple scanning of QR code, and the App is ready to take the reading from the hardware within minutes. No complicated integration procedures are required to accomplish this process, which can be easy for elderly patients operating the systems independently.

HHN also offers devices for RPM on a rental basis. It helps to ease the financial burden of the high purchase cost of the hardware for HHAs.

Conclusion

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) is the new staple medical service for delivering value-based healthcare. It is soon becoming a need in both primary and specialty care. Patients are increasingly embracing new and innovative ways, and it is just a matter of time before the policymakers will implement RPM’s adoption in the years to come.

For more information on how to make your Home Health Notify RPM ready, register now for a free trial and demo. https://homehealthnotify.com/contact-us/