Telehealth & Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) solutions enable risk-bearing organizations to remotely monitor and manage high-risk patients with chronic conditions including CHF, COPD, Diabetes, Hypertension, and Asthma to help control healthcare costs, improve care quality and outcomes and increase access to care for patients living in underserved rural/remote areas. There are now numerous RPM solutions out there, including a select few that have had very favorable outcomes toward meeting the quadruple aim – improved patient experience, improved clinical experience, better outcomes, and lower costs.

Healthcare providers have discovered that RPM solutions are clinically useful as an early symptom management tool when used to support patients participating in disease management and care coordination program to automate the collection of patient vital signs and symptomatic data, and proactively identify if a patient’s condition is deteriorating or becoming life-threatening.  Common chronic conditions monitored include congestive heart failure, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, asthma, and hypertension.

With these benefits in mind, some of the largest healthcare companies are embracing telehealth and RPM with open arms, investing millions of dollars into new telemedicine platforms, digital records systems, remote patient monitoring tools and the Internet of Things. Recent polling shows that 83% of healthcare organizations are likely to invest in telehealth, and 84% believe offering telehealth services will allow their organizations to increase their reach and coverage areas.

Healthcare provider investments in RPM solutions are being driven by several underlying market factors, including exploding healthcare costs, a rising ageing population, the increased prevalence of chronic diseases, and continuous healthcare professional labor shortages. Burnout continues to be a prevalent issue for physicians. Ernst and Young’s 2018 survey on digital health revealed that almost 65% of physicians believe that “technology that captures consumer-generated data will reduce the burden on doctors and nurses specifically.”

Remote monitoring allows patients with non-critical conditions to remain at home and manage their own care, reducing unnecessary in-person visits. It also affords providers and care teams more opportunities to ‘work at the top of their license’ and spend more time with high-risk patients. Remote monitoring technologies enhanced with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, such as those from advances in analytics and machine learning, can also automate non-essential tasks within providers’ workflows by offloading manual tasks, such as data entry, with automated processes. Providers can analyze aggregated PGHD (patient-generated health data) collected through remote monitoring to derive actionable and valuable insights on patient populations. In addition, analytics algorithms take real-time data into account, rather than static information collected during episodic visits, which enables providers to better understand why a patient is experiencing a specific outcome. Collecting and monitoring PGHD between visits also creates more opportunities to detect potential health issues that could otherwise go undetected. Remote monitoring technologies generate documentation of events, signs, symptoms, and interventions, potentially reducing provider liability.

Recent studies find around 88 percent of hospitals and health systems have invested or plan to invest in remote patient monitoring (RPM) solutions to help care managers monitor and manage complex, high-risk patients with chronic conditions who are considered unstable and at-risk for hospital readmissions and/or emergency department visits.

Cost avoidance is one of the primary investment drivers for RPM solutions, which has been beneficial to organizations by reducing hospital readmissions, emergency department visits, and overall healthcare utilization. In contrast to traditional care that requires costly in-person visits and patients bringing their data into the clinic via spreadsheets, notebooks, or disparate apps, remote monitoring programs passively and continuously collect and transmit patient-generated health data from in-home medical devices to providers and care teams. PGHD, when compared to health data collected exclusively during in-person doctor’s visits, more accurately and holistically reflects lifestyle choices, health history, symptoms, medication, treatment information, and biometric data such as heart rate, blood glucose, blood pressure, temperature, oxygen levels, and weight.

Financial benefits derived from RPM and PGHD take the form of cost savings from reduced hospital readmissions, in-person visits, nurse engagements, and emergency department visits. Hospitals can also avoid penalties for readmissions within 30 days of discharge by implementing programs that help clinicians intervene before an adverse health event can occur. Additional financial benefits include lower operational costs, such as a reduced number of bed days when admitted to the hospital and reduced overall resource utilization. Improving health outcomes with early intervention, chronic care management, and increased patient engagement is a worthwhile endeavor financially when remote monitoring is scaled beyond disparate pilots and used to manage health outcomes more proactively. At a time when care continues to become more expensive, and hospitals are routinely expected to cut costs while improving care, these financial savings can be critical.

Early market adopters of RPM solutions are capitated managed care organizations with fiscal responsibility for their patients across the spectrum of care.  This includes accountable care organizations, health maintenance organizations, home health agencies, hospices, disease management companies, and government.

89% of providers have developed or are in the process of developing engagement strategies to encourage patients, family members, and caregivers to take a proactive role in managing their chronic conditions.  They are leveraging mobile technologies, including Smartphones and Tablets, deploying EHR-based patient portals, offering telehealth video conferencing services, and evaluating emerging healthcare wearables.

Financial benefits for the care provider (the one, which invests in information and communications technology infrastructure, the RPM technology itself, as well as the clinical and care services), those will include; lower costs in providing staff efficiencies, travel costs for the staff, and higher payment from the payer as an incentive for avoiding more expensive procedures or penalties. There is also the benefit of no overcrowded facilities, especially when it comes to patients with chronic diseases. When it comes to the care provider, it is easier to make accurate ROI(Return on investment) calculations as all benefits are cost-tied, as opposed to many personal benefits in the case of patients and their families.

The healthcare industry has been steadily investing in telehealth for years with some organizations further along than others. According to a recent report, 56% of healthcare executives say they have already implemented telemedicine in their organization. Another 24% are currently looking for telemedicine solutions, and 20% are just starting to learn about telehealth and explore their options.

Choosing to invest in telehealth can be a complicated decision for some providers. Updating the current system can take years as these companies figure out ways to incorporate these new platforms into their current operations. With so much money at stake and lots of options and applications to choose from, some companies are easing into the digital healthcare revolution while others are diving in head-first by pouring millions of dollars into telemedicine platforms.

While still reasonably modest, telehealth budgets are growing year after year. Roughly 66% of organizations with telemedicine systems have an annual telehealth budget of $250,000 or less, 24% have an annual telehealth budget of $250,000 to $1 million, and 9% have a budget of over $1 million. These numbers will continue to grow as telehealth reimbursement rates rise, and more providers learn about the benefits of telehealth.

With cost-saving benefits and more flexibility for patients and providers, healthcare companies have good reason to invest in telehealth. Patients are starting to get on board with these programs as well. The number of global telehealth patients continues to rise year after year, reaching over 7 million in 2018. A new report shows that 74% of the surveyed consumers would be open to using telemedicine services, and 76% prioritize having access to care over the need for human interactions with care providers.

With a telehealth platform in place, patients would typically use smartphones and computers to communicate with their care providers. Many consumers already have access to these digital devices, so using them for healthcare purposes seems to make much sense. 30% of patients already use their smartphones and computers to check for diagnostic information.

As more information becomes available about telehealth and how both patients and care providers stand to benefit from these systems, patients are starting to rethink their approach to healthcare. While telehealth by no means eliminates the need for face-to-face interactions with care providers, these platforms make it easier for patients and providers to keep in touch. The average wait time for a telehealth visit is only 20 minutes, and the average cost is just $40, helping the consumer save time and money as they go about their busy schedules.

Healthcare companies need to start investing in telehealth if they want to keep their customers satisfied in the years to come. As more companies invest in telemedicine platforms, patients will continue to benefit from these new digital services. Companies can get ahead of the competition by investing in these new platforms sooner rather than later.

As governments impose strict restrictions to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus, delivering healthcare services has become significantly challenging. Hospitals are moving towards home care facilities to reduce the number of hospitalizations, as a result, telehealth has taken the spotlight.

Due to limited health system resources and patients hesitant to receive in-person treatment due to COVID-19, virtual, and home care adoption has increased dramatically.

How does it Work?

Telehealth services are being utilized in many different ways during the pandemic. But there are four main categories of telehealth services:

• Remote Patient Monitoring: Mostly used for chronic disease patients as individuals fill out forms about their health conditions and forward them to healthcare providers. Based on the collected data and disease symptoms, healthcare professionals advise the patients.
• Asynchronous: Also known as Store and Forward. The results, interviews, clinical training, and other medical data is electronically stored for patients to review at a later time.
• Synchronous: Live-video conferencing between the patient and healthcare professionals. This lets them communicate for consultations and training in a way similar to face-to-face meetings. This service is also utilized for patients in Intensive Care Units.
• Mobile Health: This is the use of apps and software for disease management.

Why is there a Demand?

• These healthcare services enable interaction between patients and healthcare professionals while maintaining social distancing.
• Reducing infectious exposure mitigates the threat of COVID-19.
• Remote patient monitoring allows experienced medical personnel to observe and aid patients in chronic disease management.
• Improved and inexpensive healthcare access for the rural and elderly population.
• Using telehealth services, individuals can not only seek physical health treatment but therapy as well.

A Silver Lining?

As the pandemic forces people to turn to telehealth services, they are simultaneously beginning to realize the pros of these services such as:

• Relatively lower treatment cost compared to in-person visits.
• A customizable interface, which can be modified according to the unique needs of both healthcare providers and patients.
• Patients can contact their medical supervisor immediately, which saves a lot of time as e-prescriptions are more convenient.
• With telehealth advancement, several healthcare issues such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, COPD, etc. can be better diagnosed and monitored.

It is safe to conclude that the pandemic had an immense impact on the telehealth industry, mainly because of the contagious nature of the virus. Globally, international healthcare organizations, hospitals, and governments are encouraging healthcare delivery via telecommunication or telehealth services rather than in-person visits.

Crowded hospitals and ERs may be hot spots for transmission of infection, so limiting non-essential exposure during the pandemic is necessary to control and minimize the spread. Telehealth is expected to have a more permanent place in the conventional healthcare system even after COVID-19 is over as users and providers recognize its potential.

RPMAhealthcare is comprehensive and robust telemedicine and remote patient monitoring solution for healthcare professionals, clinics, hospitals, and businesses aiming to provide remote care for patients. The solution is customized based on the doctor and the individual patient requirements.

RPMAhealthcare is a mature and scalable RPM solution with 8 years of full-scale production deployment across the EU, handling millions of patients & 10th of Millions of records collected. RPMAhealthcare is both Disease-agnostic & Device-agnostic, supporting any individual patient’s needs.

The platform provides clinically proven patient pathways for patients suffering from COPD, CHF, and Diabetes. It offers treatment as well as lifestyle management services to empower the patients to control their own treatment.

Telehealth services are an innovative way to relieve hospitals’ congestion and maximize the utilization of medical resources. By eliminating the time and cost barrier, it facilitates a better patient experience. High patient expectations and increasing medical needs are the top reasons for the adoption of telehealth globally.

In simple words, telehealth can be defined as a set of methods framed to improve healthcare provision by using telecommunications technologies. With modern coordination and healthcare management solutions, health professionals can handle patient data more effectively.

Telehealth has the ability to completely digitize the doctor-patient relationship, which drastically reduces the need for in-person treatment. In fact, the majority of users already believe that virtual visits are a better option than a hospital visit.

Benefits to the Patient and Doctor

Telehealth is of great benefit to both patient and doctors in the following ways:

Convenience

Telehealth is a practical method for both clinicians and patients. Doctors can provide health services from their homes, workplace, or even while traveling. Patients from rural or remote areas don’t have to travel to far off regions for better healthcare facilities, wasting time on round trips. They can easily access their doctor by staying at home using any telecommunication device like smartphones or tablets.

Modern telehealth services are designed for convenience; the patient can use electronic devices with high-speed internet to connect to their doctor. They can get recommendations or a follow-up via a video conferencing system.

Better Communication

Doctors can send notifications and alerts to their patients, so they remember taking their medications, book appointments, or check-on for follow-ups. Telehealth can also save the patient and doctor from incorporating a virus as there is no physical interaction. Both can easily communicate through video conferencing, and the physician can seamlessly diagnose the disease symptoms. The patient can even exchange photos of any bruise or burn for further advice without the difficulty of traveling.

Telehealth can also improve engagement among healthcare professionals. Doctors have more time; they can see a patient for a longer time and provide better care, enhancing patient satisfaction. Telehealth is a hassle-free approach; patients don’t have to wait for their turns, and doctors don’t have to worry about the next patient. It allows both of them to share the medical reports and other healthcare records quickly. There is less chance of losing the data because it is remotely accessible to both parties.

Cost Savings

Since there is no hassle of traveling, telehealth presents cost savings to both patients and doctors. The healthcare facilities don’t have to waste money on buying extra resources or employing medical staff until required as virtual appointments require fewer resources than in-person visits.

To conclude, telehealth lowers healthcare facilities’ cost as timely access to physicians decreases overall treatment shortfalls, leading to better patient outcomes. It reduces the healthcare sector’s burden by minimizing the number of staff members required for chronic disease or routine health management. Video conferencing, messaging facilities, email updates, automatic alerts help all parties stay updated.

RPMAhealthcare is comprehensive and robust telemedicine and remote patient monitoring solution for healthcare professionals, clinics, hospitals, and businesses aiming to provide remote care for patients. The solution is customized based on the doctor and the individual patient requirements.

RPMAhealthcare is a mature and scalable RPM solution with 8 years of full-scale production deployment across the EU, handling millions of patients & 10th of Millions of records collected. RPMAhealthcare is both Disease-agnostic & Device-agnostic, supporting any individual patients’ needs.

Key Features include: Preconfigured high ROI conditions, +40 Patient’s Indicators, Support for CO-Morbidity, Integration with any EHR/EMR & ISO 13485-2016 Certified.

The platform provides clinically proven patient pathways for patients suffering from COPD, CHF, and Diabetes. It offers treatment as well as lifestyle management services to empower the patients to control their own treatment.