RPM Is The New Standard Of Healthcare
RPM Is The New Standard Of Healthcare Anthony Capone, Forbes Councils Member
Anthony Capone is the CEO of DocGo, a leading AI-powered mobile health services and transportation provider.
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Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is a critical component of solving the United States' health crisis. The pandemic widened the gaps that already existed in traditional healthcare and drove a massive cultural change: Patients are now significantly more expectant of accessible healthcare solutions that don't require leaving home.
We've learned two things since the start of the pandemic. First, a 2022 Commonwealth Fund survey found that over 40% of Americans are underserved when it comes to healthcare. Even those who are fortunate enough to have health insurance tend to be underinsured and still can't afford to have their needs met. Second, we know telehealth by itself is not enough to meet those needs.
Chronic disease is a major contributor to avoidable healthcare costs each year, especially chronic diseases exacerbated by poor health management. As the rate of the disease progresses, the cost of care also rises.
Right now, the CDC notes that healthcare costs in the U.S. reach $4.1 trillion annually. Of that, 90% is spent on treatment related to mental and chronic health conditions. In addition, 40% of American adults suffer from two or more chronic illnesses.
Chronic care management (CCM) programs are designed to improve health outcomes and mitigate unnecessary hospital bills. CCM services comprise a personal care plan in a certified EHR, enhanced non-face-to-face communication between patients and care teams, referrals, prescription management, and ongoing reviews of patient statuses.
The concurrent implementation of RPM and CCM is a key driver for a sustainable value-based care model that improves the quality of care and health outcomes for patients while still lowering the overall cost of healthcare. This is why the future of RPM is so important. Integrated RPM is the innovation expanding the scope and efficacy of CCM.
When these two programs are used in tandem, clinicians can get the quantitative data they need to continuously create, evaluate and improve each patient's individualized health plan. Interventions made earlier in the progression of a chronic disease can decrease the overall cost of care and improve outcomes.
On the RPM side, you're collecting remote data to validate and improve upon the monthly patient/provider meetings to manage chronic conditions. On the CCM side, you're providing virtual services to patients who have multiple chronic conditions and need an enhanced understanding of their health. When a CCM program is guided by RPM technology, it can enable the delivery of disease awareness, recognition and prevention. Additionally, it can minimize the frequency and severity of acute care.
RPM uses medical devices like blood pressure cuffs, weight scales, pulse oximeters and spirometers to electronically capture clinical data from patients throughout the day. That clinical data is then streamed in near-real time to a platform for monitoring, providing a fuller picture of a patient's health and its potential impact on their care plan.
The long-term benefit of RPM is in the data obtained. It equips clinicians to analyze and interpret a veritable anthology of each data group and customize treatment protocols for the individual. Healthcare professionals can observe deviations in their patient's baseline health and are even notified of abnormal values that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Conversely, if RPM technology is incorrectly used, it can result in a detrimental net value for health systems. Before healthcare organizations transition to offering RPM services on their own, there are several considerations to make.
Connectivity
A good internet connection is essential for transmitting near-real-time data from patient to clinician. A 2022 Broadband America report from the NPD Group showed that about 34% of homes in the continental U.S. receive internet access at speeds of 5Mbps or less. Some RPM device manufacturers offer tech that can use a cellular connection or even store data until a patient can bring the devices to their medical facility, but even a great RPM strategy without a reliable internet connection will not perform at its highest potential.
Workflow Integration
Whether you build or buy your RPM service, it needs to incorporate seamlessly into your workflow and EHR system. RPM transmits a tremendous amount of data. If your clinical staff has to work on two separate systems to ensure each patient's data is added to their EHR, implementation has failed. The goal here is to connect RPM data to EHR without interrupting your staff's workflow or adding to their workload.
Training And Onboarding
Instituting an RPM program within your organization affects multiple departments, not just your clinical staff. You'll need to communicate early and often to ensure the teams in your front office, clinical, billing and IT departments are all aligned and understand their roles prior to rollout.
Once your clinicians are trained on managing RPM on the healthcare side, they'll also need to understand the IT readiness and user experience on the non-provider side so they can teach patients how to use their devices. This should include explaining how patient data will be used and offering basic troubleshooting for the tech like what to do if a Bluetooth device won't sync or, if your RPM requires one, how to use an app.
Error Margins
Finally, it should be noted that a margin of error exists—even with wearables like basic fitness trackers and health watches. Errors can occur on the tech side if the devices are not purchased through a reputable manufacturer, on the clinical side if staff is not thoroughly trained on how to use the software or interpret data, or on the patient side when people without medical training aren't aware they are improperly using their devices.
This is why regular ongoing education is critical for a well-functioning RPM program. As you, your staff and your patients adopt RPM technology, you should actively monitor and engage all aspects of the program. Continue to regularly evaluate your education practices, care coordination workflows and patient compliance.
Conclusion
RPM is the impetus for a much-needed transition from largely reactive healthcare practices to proactive healthcare strategies. These programs, particularly when combined with CCM and skillfully implemented, can be leveraged to shift the paradigm of healthcare in this country.
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