Innovations in Remote Patient Monitoring

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) has taken patient data collection from self reporting and infrequent testing to instant, intricate snapshots of patient health. Today’s RPM technology is giving providers the ability to track patient progress, populate patient data and ultimately leverage this information to shape their patients’ care, specifically according to patient goals, needs and trajectory. 

Innovations in remote patient monitoring tools have given providers, and the healthcare industry at large, access to remote connected devices that measure patients’ biometric data in real time and can sync with HIPAA compliant health portals for faster, more accurate reporting.

While remote connected health devices and the platforms that house the data have seen tremendous amounts of innovation in the last few years, the recent pandemic has also allowed for great strides in insurance and Medicare/Medicaid coverage for RPM solutions and remote visits.

To close out the final segment of the Remote Patient Monitoring Month series, here are the latest innovations in remote patient monitoring:

Touching Your Patients Sooner

Patients today are at a loss about how to better their health or improve their specific condition. With the overwhelming amount of information online, much of it unreliable, too many patients are diagnosing themselves without consulting their physician. This fuels fear and disappointment for many patients who want to improve their health, but don’t know how. 

The reality is, without proper guidance and oversight, patients who are struggling with their health may not improve without your support. Thankfully, remote patient monitoring technology has evolved to allow you and your patients insight into specific data relating to their health.

Never before have patients been able to seamlessly track their data in a way that providers can see each and everyday. Devices that populate this data range from basic calorie and step counting, to condition specific monitoring such as monitoring a patient’s blood glucose. 

Every year new RPM products hit the market and existing products become more and more user friendly, giving your patients a greater variety of remote patient monitoring technology, and options that exist for a host of biometric and activity tracking needs.

As these technologies become more advanced and synchronized, patients who utilize these monitoring devices have an even greater incentive to follow through with their health and wellness goals, because they know they have the oversight of their provider everyday.

This can simultaneously help patients to feel supported, knowing that if they are struggling or out of range this can be identified and rectified with their healthcare provider as soon as possible rather than during their next in-office visit. 

Discreet, Sleek and Effective Devices

25% of households are utilizing a connected health device [1], and it’s easy to see why. Patient wearables or connected health devices make monitoring one’s health fun, incredibly easy and in many instances sleek and compact.

Popular wearables include Fitbit for activity tracking, Oura ring to monitor sleep, Apple Watch for health data, and the Innotech scale for weight and body measurements. While these are just a few examples of devices used among consumers, all of these powerful tools provide both healthcare providers and patients with biometric data on demand.

This technology also allows patients to achieve better outcomes sooner. Instead of patients having to wait until their next in-office visit you and your patient can collect their biometric and activity data in a way that is both seamless, effective and enjoyable. 

Syncing to Your Preferred Software

Tracking patient progress digitally is a technological feat of its own, but where the true innovation lies is the ability for patient and providers to access this data in a way that allows for centralized care. In recent years the rise of remote patient monitoring platforms has allowed providers to conduct vital activities for patient success, digitally.

According to a study conducted by the British Medical Journal “To achieve significant changes in acute care use, RPM data need to be routinely entered and checked, automated where possible, alerts need to accurately highlight when a person’s data are beyond an acceptable range (for that person), and healthcare staff need to respond in a timely and appropriate manner.”

Therefore, in order to implement a successful remote patient monitoring solution in your practice, you’ll need your patient management software to be able to do a few things. First you’ll need to be able to monitor your patient’s progress from a HIPAA compliant portal, that can notify you when a patient’s metrics are out of range. Next you will need the ability for multiple staff members to participate in assisting your patient with their care digitally. Finally, you will want to ensure that the software seamlessly syncs their device to a joint patient provider portal for automating and optimizing patient analysis and care.

Using the BodySite remote patient care system, providers even have the ability to be notified if a patient tracks a metric that is out of range. This could create an opportunity for a conversation about how and where a patient’s program or regimen can be improved, and where you could provide more support.

Insurance Reimbursement

Innovations for remote patient monitoring go beyond improvements in the technology itself. Great strides are also being made for healthcare coverage of these services from both private healthcare providers as well as Medicare and Medicaid.

Private healthcare providers covering remote patient monitoring include, Humana, Aetna, Cinga, United Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and more [2]

Utilizing CPT codes, a single remote patient monitoring patient with maximum reimbursement could earn a healthcare organization nearly $3,000 per year. [3] This means having multiple patients on a remote patient monitoring schedule could be quite profitable.

Remote Patient Monitoring Isn’t Enough

Data by itself isn’t enough to improve your patients’ outcomes. It’s up to you and your staff to provide ongoing guidance and support to ensure your patients’ success. Remote patient monitoring will give you insight on the state of your patient’s health, but that alone can’t improve it. 

For your patient to succeed, they’ll need to connect with you virtually via telehealth technology and they’ll need the assistance of automated patient education to round out their care. The good news is that these tools are out there for providers who want to step up their care and step into the future of medicine. 

If you’re browsing tools that allow you to digitally care for your patients, improve patient outcomes, and increase practice revenues, check out the BodySite remote patient care solution. BodySite offers a 30 Day Free Trial to new or returning providers with no obligation, here: https://bodysite.com/start-a-free-trial/.

 

SOURCES: 

1. “Remote Care Reimbursements with Commercial Insurance – HealthArc.” HealthArc, 20 June 2022, www.healtharc.io/blogs/remote-care-reimbursements-with-commercial-insurance/#:~:text=Who%20are%20the%20supplemental%20insurance. Accessed 20 Oct. 2022.
2. Thomas, Emma E, et al. “Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Remote Patient Monitoring Interventions: A Realist Review.” BMJ Open, vol. 11, no. 8, Aug. 2021, p. e051844, 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051844.
3. https://Www.softwareadvice.com/Resources/Remote-Patient-Monitoring-Reimbursement/#Understand-How-Remote-Patient-Monitoring-Coverage-Works.