Adopting a new technology solution like Remote Patient Monitoring can sometimes be challenging, especially when introducing it to patients. Depending on their level of comfort with technology, they may hesitate to try it. Yet, this solution has proven to have numerous benefits for chronically ill patients in helping them better manage their conditions and reach their care plan goals. It has also assisted them at a time when many from this vulnerable population have evaded face-to-face interactions but still needed quality care. If you’re starting to implement an RPM solution at your practice but would like to help your patients better understand the program, we’ve outlined some of its benefits below.
Remote Patient Monitoring is a technology used by patients to self-report their health data in real-time by using convenient devices. These devices relay that data to their provider and care team, which allows them to monitor the vitals relevant to their patients’ chronic conditions and care plan goals. Metrics tracked can include blood glucose levels, blood pressure, activity, and sleep.
Wellbox offers multiple RPM solutions focused on helping patients successfully manage their conditions. Once enrolled, they are directed to a device specialist who helps them select the right path and device before being assigned a registered nurse to work with them long-term. Matching patients to a technology solution they are most comfortable with leads them to be much more likely to become and stay engaged in their health progress.
Patients are given the choice between a carefully vetted device, provided to them free of charge, or the continued use of their preferred monitor. These devices include weight scales, blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximeters, and glucometers.
After being matched with a device, their registered nurse works with them to develop a personalized care plan and begins consistent outreach and coaching. All of our patients receive a custom kit that includes any required technology, devices, and instructions.
Once patients begin using their device and tracking their vital signs, the nurses can use the Wellbox HIPAA-compliant platform as well as weekly or biweekly patient outreach to monitor and discuss incoming data. With our centralized dashboards, care teams can analyze this data and interpret long-term trends to determine the best paths to better care management. Finally, we submit and track Medicare claims for rendered services including payment remittance, claims denials, and accounts receivables, then compensate the practice for their time at a predetermined monthly rate.
Monitoring patients’ vitals with RPM devices can help providers gather better, timelier, and more consistent clinical data. This information can also help care teams detect health concerns and trends earlier and so they can alert the patient’s healthcare provider to intervene sooner on their behalf.
Remote patient monitoring has been proven to effectively reduce heart failure rehospitalization, emergency visits, lengths of stay, and readmissions by alerting patients and their care team when intervention was needed. The earlier health providers know about their patients’ diagnoses, the better they can treat it or even prevent it.
For example, if a care team notices rising blood pressure or blood glucose levels, they will ensure the patient receives the assistance needed. This system can also be helpful when someone is using new or changed medications. RPM can quickly notice side effects and alert the provider if adjustments need to be made.
Managing several chronic conditions and visiting multiple providers can be overwhelming at times. It can even make patients feel out of control over their health. Remote patient monitoring is designed to encourage people to increase control over their self-management.
Easily checking their vitals can improve awareness of their health status and take the needed steps to improve or continue their care plan. For example, patients using RPM for diabetes self-management found that it was useful in tasks such as physical exercise, insulin dosage or medication, blood glucose monitoring, and diet. It supported them with decision making, alerted them, and tracked data, while also helping them feel in control of their self-management.
Studies about remote patient monitoring and self-management have also shown patients feel satisfied and confident in using RPM technology. It can help increase awareness of their health and provide a sense of safety in their home because they know what is going on with their body and when to ask for help when they need it.
One of the most important benefits of remote patient monitoring comes from the relevant health data it provides. With its consistent monitoring and tracking of vitals, it can give providers and care teams the accurate and timely information they need for patients’ health.
When visiting their providers a few times a year, it can be easy to forget certain symptoms or problems over time, but RPM gathers the information they may have missed. It can provide data and tracking of symptoms for the period not spent at providers’ offices. This is helpful because the sooner the care team learns of their health status, the better they can help the patient.
Not only is it helpful for providers when suggesting goals for a care plan, but RPM has resulted in overall improved quality of care. A case study found monitoring patients’ blood pressure from home has significantly reduced high blood pressure and controlled hypertension. The results were higher than compared to clinic blood pressure monitoring because RPM allows consistent and accurate tracking that helps treat and elevate blood pressure sooner.
RPM can be a great resource in helping patients understand their health decisions and manage their chronic conditions better. This is because the devices show the vital signs relevant to conditions and how to achieve health goals. Although patients are learning how to self-manage, they are not doing it alone.
Wellbox’s dedicated nurses reach out to patients on a weekly or biweekly basis to monitor and discuss incoming data found in the RPM devices. They also provide 24/7 support and develop customized messages for medication, appointments, or patient reminders. These efforts have proven to benefit our patients because they have reported a 90%+ satisfaction from the medical information and communication they gain through the program.
Our mission is to help patients better manage their conditions and reach their health goals successfully. With services like our remote patient monitoring, we can help patients every step of the way.
If leveraging Remote Patient Monitoring sounds like something that could work well for your practice and patients, our team can help set it up for you. Contact us today to get started.
If you would like to learn how to improve clinical outcomes while increasing patient engagement, this recorded webinar discusses how this remote solution can help providers like you advance patient outcomes, increase visibility into population trends, and improve performance against quality measures.
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