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✍🏾 Chidinma Nwonye | SEO Content Writer & Poet
The possibility of virtually monitoring specific aspects of a patient’s health has increased since the pandemic. From improved doctor-patient communication to virtual care, remote monitoring of patients offers various benefits to the healthcare sector globally.
Research shows that remotely monitored patients report a 76% decrease in re-admission and an 89% rise in patient satisfaction.
What is Remote Patient Monitoring? 🧠
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is a method of tracking patients' health away from a hospital or other traditional healthcare setting.
It is a subdivision of homecare telehealth that lets patients use their mobile technology and devices to collect patient-generated health data.
These data are subsequently sent to the appropriate healthcare personnel. There are telehealth software applications that aim to be user-friendly and can easily be installed on a smartphone, computer, or tablet.
Some common conditions that can be monitored through RPM include:
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Chronic obstructive pulmonary illnesses
Heart conditions
Asthma
Sleep apnea
What are some examples of RPM technologies? 🥭
Remote patient monitoring technology can vary from online platforms to mobile and portable devices.
Some examples include:
Blood pressure/heart rate monitors
Glucose meters for diabetic patients
Remote devices for infertility monitoring and treatment
Continual surveillance monitors with the ability to track patients with issues like dementia. These devices can notify healthcare personnel in the event of patient falls.
Home tests that ensure accountability for substance abuse patients. It further keeps them on track with their objectives.
Diet logging or caloric intake programs
Pulse oximeters
Apnea monitors
Breathing apparatuses
What are the benefits of RPM? 🦠
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about many technological advancements (including RPM) that have improved healthcare services.
RPM can strengthen the patient-provider, boost patient satisfaction, and ensure a smooth recovery process.
RPM can benefit patients, providers, caregivers, and healthcare infrastructures by:
1. Alleviating Clinical Staff Shortage
A significant benefit of RPM is enabling healthcare personnel to prioritize effectiveness-of-care delivery. Additionally, RPM services offer virtual visits thereby reducing the in-person visits burden by clinicians.
These devices synchronise doctors’ electronic health records software to reduce the risk of duplicating documents. Overall, the RPM uses a team-based model that enables provider flexibility.
2. Enhancing Mental Wellbeing
3. Reducing Care Cost
4. Improving Patient Self-Care
5. Increasing Net Patient Revenue
Written by: Chidinma Nwonye (Content Writer)
Edited by: Grace Pountney (Editor-in-Chief)
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