While some would argue that technology has halted our progress, others would respectfully disagree. One industry in particular that benefits from the advancements we’ve made in regards to technology as a country is the healthcare industry. With a number of these advancements, healthcare professionals are able to offer a unique method of care to their patients, known as remote patient monitoring.
Granted remote patient monitoring has existed for countless amounts of years, only now has it begun to feel as though it’s fully realized. As more and more technology has been able to integrate into the lives and homes of patients, the quality of care that can be established with remote patient monitoring has been on the rise. This technology allows health care professionals to not only remotely care for their patients, but also allows for the safest transmission of the information tracked back to health care facilities. This data is then stored and referenced from the electronic health records of any patient’s health care facility.
It might surprise you to find out just how many devices have been able to connect to these remote patient monitoring systems. Blood pressure cuffs, blood glucose monitors, spirometers for lung health and even water retention scales for heart disease patients are just some of the examples. Not only do patients get a better understanding of how these devices work, they also become responsible for making sure the data these devices are collecting are being safely transmitted back to their health care facilities.
It’s not likely that the amount of remote patient monitoring decreases any time soon, despite COVID-19 restrictions loosening. This is largely in part due to the fact that more and more people continue to be diagnosed with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease or even diabetes. These conditions often require regular visits to the doctor but are often met with a bit of dismay from the patients. This is all alleviated with remote patient monitoring. Doctors are able to determine whether or not a patient requires immediate attention based on the data the devices feed to them, if all looks good, no need for patients to come in.
None of this would be possible if remote patient monitoring weren’t as effective as it is. Patients with specific chronic conditions actually saw improvements as a result of remote patient monitoring. High blood pressure patients, asthma patients and many more saw improvements in their conditions as a result of remote patient monitoring. More patients also indicated they saw a decrease in the reliance of rescue medications as well.
As more and more insurance providers offer coverage for remote monitoring policies, the more relief that primary care physicians are able to receive. In connection with COVID-19, more and more people are seeking immediate medical attention to the point where physicians are being overwhelmed. Remote patient monitoring resolves this issue and provides a better quality of life to both patients and physicians. For additional information on remote patient monitoring, be sure to review the infographic accompanying this post. Courtesy of Pivot Point Consulting.
