The elderly population in America is projected to hit 80.8 million by 2040 and 94.7 million by 2060, according to the Administration for Community Living (ACL). With such growth, remote patient monitoring services will become quite crucial for managing age-related medical conditions. This invaluable telehealth has provided convenient and customizable health solutions that prevent overcrowding in hospitals while championing high-quality, individualized patient care. This post will help you learn some of the main benefits of a remote patient monitoring platform.
Improved Quality of Patient Care
Patients with chronic illnesses require consistent care, which can be a burden to manage. RPM devices allow physicians to check and monitor their patients’ blood pressure and glucose levels without physically getting into contact with them. It also allows healthcare professionals to focus on treating patients who need urgent care while monitoring those at home without feeling overwhelmed. Patients also receive personalized care without disrupting their daily routines and work schedules with hospital visits. They feel valued and respected when engaged in generating their own health data, which leads to compliance and successful treatment.
Reduction in Readmissions
Remote patient monitoring services reduce readmissions in patients with single conditions that physicians can easily monitor through device readings. Readmissions can be costly in most US hospitals. According to Kaiser Family Foundation, readmissions cost $563 million every year. That means they stand to lose more than 3% of Medicare reimbursement due to high readmission rates. When RPM devices collect biometric data, clinicians can check and detect concerning trends in real-time and respond promptly before a patient requires hospitalization.
Decreased Clinician Burnout
Every once in a while, hospitals have to struggle with shortages of medical practitioners. The Association of American Medical Colleges predicts that America will have over 55,000 primary care provider shortages in the next 12 years. With a 10 percent population growth rate in the same number of years and a 45% population increment in people aged 65 and above, it’s evident that most healthcare workers will suffer severe burnout in the coming years. Remote patient monitoring offers a strategic way to alleviate the burden while extending care to those that need it most.
Low Healthcare Costs
Hospital visits and readmissions are often expensive as patients skip work and spend a few hours getting checked. Remote patient monitoring helps physicians monitor patients from wherever they are and reduce long-term costs associated with complications such as testing and evaluation procedures. Note that with the looming shortage of practitioners, healthcare costs are likely to go up.
Easier Access to Care, Feedback, Support, and Education
Patients play a significant role in remote patient monitoring services. The generated data provides valuable insights that healthcare providers don’t always have access to and provides timely feedback before a disease worsens. Patients also learn what is normal and what is not in their temperatures, glucose, and blood pressure levels. They can tell when there is a problem and seek help immediately. Physicians also get a chance to have a one-on-one conversation with their patients, monitor, encourage and follow up on their treatment.