For the longest time, humanity has relied on a very conventional healthcare system — one that necessitated physical visits, often to facilities located at a not entirely convenient distance. And let’s not forget that these visits are also very time consuming, starting from traveling to the healthcare facility to executing formalities such as filing forms and whatnot. It takes up much time for the healthcare professional as well. So, you see, this system had some apparent issues even though it had been around since time immemorial. But given the challenges it posed, the industry has found a rather robust solution in the omnipresent phenomenon that is technology.
Technology, in turn, has provided ample solutions to deal with the many problems faced by the healthcare industry, including remote patient monitoring. Remote patient monitoring has proven to be one of the most promising tools because it tends to one of the most basic and pressing requirements: help connect patients with healthcare providers via digital means to enable the delivery of substantially better care. The benefits have been many, some of which have been listed below to demonstrate just how potent remote patient monitoring can be.
1. Better access: More often than not, some of the critical factors that prevent patients from seeking out treatment for their ailments are, one, distance, and second, lack of a specialist within easy reach. These two factors, together, can have devastating consequences on patients’ well being, even when they are being treated. However, with remote patient monitoring, patients even in the most remote corners can access precisely the kind of doctor they need and that too, without leaving the comfort of their home.
2. Improved quality of care: This system empowers healthcare professionals with relevant patient data, including medical history and treatment history, among other such factors. It helps doctors better understand their patients and adapt their healthcare and treatment plans that are best suited to their unique requirements. It also helps them account for any allergies or avoid any medicines that may not have yielded desired results while it is crucial for the patient’s well being as well as saving precious time during treatment.
3. Enhanced collaboration between doctors and patients: Unlike what some may believe, healthcare is not just one person’s responsibility; it is, as a matter of fact, a collaborative effort. Unfortunately, conventional systems are not exactly conducive to collaboration, especially between doctors and patients, which is the one arena where it is most important. However, with remote patient monitoring, patients are rendered a more engaged and active part of their healthcare plan by requiring them to share reports about their health regularly.
As you can see, a robust remote patient monitoring solution stands to benefit patients as well as their healthcare providers immensely. However, for it to bear results, one must pick their remote patient monitoring tool with immense care. The ideal way would be to first list down your requirements and then gauge the solution’s ability to fulfill those requirements.
As the name indicates, remote patient monitoring (RPM) involves the use of technology to monitor patients’ health and vital signs outside clinical settings. It has shown enormous potential to improve accessibility to care and address many inequities. Although the idea behind RPM was conceived over a decade ago, the Covid-19 pandemic pushed many providers as well as patients to re-think their stance on RPM.
Innovations in health information gathering form the cornerstone of remote patient monitoring platforms. Gadgets like Apple’s smartwatches, Fitbits, and other smart wearables capture important vital signs like heart rate, electrocardiogram, blood pressure, body temperature, and so on. Such devices are an excellent way for providers to track a person’s vitals in real-time.