10 Questions To Ask Before Choosing a Remote Patient Monitoring System
Today’s healthcare landscape is filled with an ever-growing number of choices for patients and providers. One of the newest and most popular choices is the remote patient monitoring system. This type of system can offer many benefits, but in order to properly milk those benefits, it is important to choose the right one for your needs. Let’s look at some questions you should ask yourself and your physician before choosing a remote patient monitoring system.
Remote patient monitoring industry — the growth of a powerhouse
The remote patient monitoring industry is growing because of the new and innovative technologies that are being developed to make it easier for patients to keep track of their health.
In the past, remote monitoring systems were only available for those who were in a hospital or those who had a caregiver at home. But with new consumer-grade over the counter technologies, people can now remotely monitor their health from anywhere in the world — at a fraction of their former costs. Patients can use these devices to monitor their health themselves and know when they need medical attention.
On top of that, most tech industry leaders – Google, Samsung, Fitbit, Apple, etc – are investing heavily in this market. Incorporating all types of sensors and devices into their smartphones and smartwatches. Making RPM not only affordable but mainstream.
Those are just the tip of the iceberg – Here are some of the reasons of the sudden growth of remote patient monitoring systems and what it means for the future of healthcare:
Cost-effective
Remote health monitoring technology is a cost-effective way to monitor patients and collect data. This is a growing industry because it has been shown to save lives and significantly reduce hospital admissions.
Reliability and affordability
Remote patient monitoring has been around for over a decade, but it’s only recently that the technology has become affordable and reliable enough to be used on a large scale. It’s now being used in countries like China, India, the UK and the US.
Reduces the number of patients
Hospitals are increasingly looking for ways to reduce the number of patients they admit. Remote monitoring provides them with an opportunity to do this while still providing quality care for their patients.
COVID-19 impact
At the height of the pandemic, numerous nations experienced health regulations and lockdowns. Patients packed hospitals and other healthcare facilities to capacity. In this instance, remote patient monitoring technology allowed doctors to treat patients in their homes.
Rising global geriatric population
The World Health Organization – WHO – predicts that by 2050, the percentage of people over 60 will rise from 12% of the world’s population in 2015 to 22%. In this demographic, chronic illnesses are very common — the market is being driven by the use of various remote patient health monitoring systems to manage these disorders.
Growing awareness
The popularity of remote patient monitoring devices has increased over time due to technological advancements and the financial advantages. People are growing more likely to utilize a remote health monitoring system to regularly check on their health without disrupting their daily routines.
Why is it difficult to understand which remote patient monitoring system can be the best fit?
Remote patient monitoring is a medical technology that allows healthcare providers to monitor the health of patients outside tehri offices or centers. It helps to improve the quality of care and reduce costs.
There are many factors that need to be considered when choosing which remote patient monitoring system is right for your needs. Some of these factors include:
– The type of device you want to use
– The level of integration with other devices or programs
– The type of data you want to track
– How often you want data collected
What are the questions that you should ask before choosing a remote patient monitoring system?
Remote patient monitoring systems are becoming more and more popular in the healthcare industry. There is no doubt that these systems provide many benefits to patients and doctors alike. However, there are a few questions that you should ask before making a decision on which system to choose:
What type of data do you want to collect?
There are different remote patient monitoring devices to choose from depending on the type of data to collect such as blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, blood sugar, weight, among others.
How much data do you need?
A remote patient monitoring system should be able to gather all types of health data from a patient. This makes it simple for patients to provide their healthcare professionals access to a smorgasbord of information. Even if their patients are far away, it enables doctors to analyze the data and give the right advice.
Who will be using the system?
The majority of industry-leading remote monitoring platforms are adaptable enough to support a range of clinical use cases and assist patients with chronic conditions that do not need constant care from a doctor.
What are the risks associated with remote patient monitoring?
– Data breach: If the remote monitoring data is not adequately protected, there is a risk of a data breach.
– Malware and viruses: they can endanger patient privacy and the functionality of medical devices by infecting them.
– Device Malfunction: physicians should stay up to speed on the most recent information on the device in order to avoid malfunctions with the company contending that the physician misused the gadget.
– Inadequate personnel: providers need to have the sufficient employees to process the incoming data and expert personnel to handle any inconveniences with the device.
How can the remote patient monitoring system improve clinical outcomes?
By gathering and exchanging biometric data and patient-reported insights with care teams, remote patient monitoring systems can help clinicians make better decisions and provide better care. It can also help patients by giving them the opportunity to take more control over their health.
How difficult is it to set up and use?
Setting up a remote patient monitoring system is not difficult. All you need to do is to ensure that you have the right equipment and software. You can also outsource the installation process to an expert who can help you with this.
Is there technical and clinical support?
Remote patient monitoring systems are a way for physicians to monitor patients from a distance. They are an important part of the medical field, but there has been no evidence that they have been supported by technical and clinical support.
How is patient data secured?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 – HIPAA -, establishes guidelines for managing and transmitting electronic medical records – EMR – which have been used by the federal government to secure sensitive electronic patient data. Remote health monitoring devices need to be HIPAA compliant and use technology platforms with up-to-date data-transfer security measures, including numerous data encryption techniques, thorough system testing, and other comparable factors.
Is there daily reporting?
The answer to this question is yes. Remote patient monitoring systems use a variety of technologies to send data back and forth. There are many possible methods for transmitting data, including but not limited to:
-Satellite
-Cellular networks
-WiFi networks
-WiMAX networks
-GSM networks
-CDMA networks
-LTE networks
How are coding and billing completed?
A practice can save on expenses by using remote patient monitoring. Per enrolled patient, practices can cut back the cost per patient of about $120 per month – over to $72,000 a year with only 50 patients engaged in it. Coding and billing are completed by a network of healthcare providers that may include nurses, physicians, and other specialists who work remotely.
The kind of remote patient monitoring system you deploy will affect how much time staff needs to spend paying for services.
Importance of choosing the right remote patient monitoring system for your needs
The remote patient monitoring system is a technological innovation that is being developed to better monitor the health of patients. The goal is to provide more efficient and effective care to those who need it. It can be used in various clinical situations such as intensive care units, emergency rooms, nursing homes, and others.
The key features of the system are:
– It provides convenient access for healthcare professionals to monitor patient’s vital signs
– Provides a way for nurses to have more time with patients by providing real-time data on their condition
– Allows healthcare providers to make better decisions about when and how often they need to visit patients.