How Remote Patient Monitoring is Changing the Game in Healthcare

According to multiple research study, patients who have heart-related ailments opted for Remote Patient Monitoring, not more than 46% reduction in hospital admission as compared to the usual care. Similarly, for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is close to 74% less in admissions. The healthcare landscape has experienced a paradigm shift with the revolutionary development of the latest technologies, with remote patient monitoring being the game changer and creating a benchmark in the world of medical professionals.

Singapore General Hospital for example, they have successfully implemented advanced patient monitoring systems to improve patient care with the usage of smart sensors, wearable devices, and analysis, which helped not only in providing the patient-centric approach but also optimized workforce utilization within the hospital.

Rahul Kishore Singh, CEO, bonatra said that "As lifestyle diseases become more prevalent, tools that can monitor and provide feedback on one's health are in demand"

Chronic Disease Management

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) has impacted a lot with chronic disease management and plays a critical role in finding the early detections of several medical conditions such as hypertension, hypertension, heart diseases and many others. To substantiate this fact, Cleveland Clinic, the renowned medical center based in the USA, has been proactively engaged with telehealth programs for chronic disease management and utilized RPM technologies to provide support to the patient. They also encourage the patients to leverage connected devices, and these will also aid the medical team in assessing patients remotely and can perform timely adjustments to care plans.

Dr. William Michael Johnson, Pulmonologist, Bryan Medical Center said that ""For respiratory conditions like COPD, remote patient monitoring is a game-changer. Patients can use connected devices to monitor their lung function, symptoms, and medication adherence"

Preventive Care and Timely Interventions 

Remote patient monitoring has accomplished a milestone by lowering hospital admissions and providing more timely interventions, even without the assistance of a healthcare professional; the guidance has adequately communicated to the patient so that they can deal with it as there is a system that is strictly monitoring their progress to ensure their safety. For instance, Geisinger, a healthcare system, has been efficiently leveraging RPM solutions to monitor patients and also advising them suffering from chronic conditions to use devices to track vital signs, helping them to give proper treatments.

Shilpa Arora, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Insurance Samadhan "Through preventive care, policyholders not only safeguard their health but also reduce the likelihood of incurring expensive treatments or extended hospital stays in the future"

Increased Patient Awareness

These days, the healthcare market offers a wide variety of apps and devices through RPM wherein patients can take part in educational programs to make themselves aware of their health conditions and what preventive measures to adhere to stay away from various ailments that can cause serious health issues. Mayo Clinic has provided an opportunity for patients to focus on education and empowerment. Their patient portal and mobile apps make the overall engagement process smooth between patients and themselves.  

“We know that food is a medicine, perhaps the most powerful drug on the planet with the power to cause or cure most disease.” – Dr. Mark Hyman, medical director, Ultra wellness center

Seamless Delivery

Telehealthcare facilities have significantly reduced the burden on healthcare providers and patients; with the focus on Remote Patient Management, it helps streamline healthcare activities through frequent monitoring and communications between both parties, which allows to find the early detection of ailments and take necessary treatment to be safe. The NHS is attempting to be techno-centric to improve patient care and operating efficiency, leading to seamless delivery. Their goal is to deliver the overall healthcare delivery and significantly lower the economic burden on the medical system.

"Remote patient Monitoring helps improve care for those at high risk for decompensation" Dr. Brooks T Kuhn, MD, MAS – Pulmonology, UC Davis Medical Group

Addressing Challenges and Ensuring Security

The healthcare sector is well structured with the remote patient monitoring technique since it provides several benefits and ease for both patients and medical professionals. However, it is imperative to look into the challenges, such as security and privacy concerns. Strong cybersecurity has to be put into practice to minimize the risk and maintain the patient's trust. Johns Hopkins Medicine has implemented safe communication, strict access control and data encryption, which adhere to the industry standard to deliver an impeccable patient experience for better outcomes.

Jonathon Dixon, Vice President and MD - APJC, Cloudflare said that "The most commonly used tactic by cyber attackers to steal data is by sending malicious links to users within a private network."

All in all, Remote Patient Monitoring plays a pivotal role in lowering admissions at hospitals and making patients sit at home serving their basic medical needs. This approach has become transformative and reshaping the healthcare landscape. Security can be a challenging aspect in the future, but with the appropriate safety measures, it can be sorted. As the medical industry continues to grow, this innovative technology will take the lead and provide a more efficient and patient-centric approach to the healthcare system.