Digital technology has acquired unmatched importance because of the pandemic, and healthcare is no exception. The technology has existed, but the adoption of remote care models is skyrocketing. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) is an important care model element particularly for patients with multiple chronic diseases. And RPM has seen dramatic increase in demand. The big question is – Is it Practical or just a passing fad?
Many feel Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) is a relatively new model and, thus, we see skepticism around it – does it actually work to make a difference in patient’s care?, can it be done in an economically viable way?. Etc. As a matter of fact, the model has been around for years and is always evolving with technology.
The sharp rise in its practice over the last one year is definitely triggered by COVID-19. Its like ordering on Amazon, there is hurdle to setup an account, enable access figure out the apps etc. But once it is done, there is no going back. From the usage of RPM one thing is very clear – It’s here to stay.
That said, driving towards more remote care will have its share of roadblocks. Providers across the nation are still on the horns of a dilemma over remote care.
- Is Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) practical?
- Will patients trust and use it?
- Will physicians/clinicians embrace it?
- Will RPM provide ROI in both fee-for-service and value-based models?
- Is it possible to keep up with technology changes and innovation?
Today we tackle the first question – is RPM a practical idea?
Yes, RPM actually works! We at Raziel Health have been doing this for many years and have studies to prove the high efficacy of the model.
Here is what the data says about effectiveness of RPM
- 60% reduction ER visits,
- 41% drop in 30-day hospital readmission,
- and 87% retention rate.
What did it take to get the results?
- Real Integration: We ensured that our model works well with the EMRs.
- Zero Setup For Patients: We created a “zero setup” model for patients that made it extremely easy for them to use. The “zero setup” was particularly beneficial for seniors who often struggle with understanding how to use tele visits, connect their medical devices through Bluetooth, etc.
- RPM-SQUARED (and NOT just RPM): We deployed a whole care model – Remote Patient Monitoring and Management – that is complementary to the current care model
There are multiple ways to make RPM viable. But to us, the ones mentioned here make the difference between failure and success. I encourage you to take an introspective view when building remote care capabilities. Ask yourself, “Would I like my loved ones to opt for this model for care?” Data proves it works perfectly. It’s really a matter of getting the implementation right.
In the next set of blog posts, I will tackle the remaining questions providers have on remote patient monitoring.
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