The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of remote patient monitoring (RPM). Nowadays, hospitals around the globe have seen an outstanding increase in patients. Governments and health professionals’ advice relies on staying at home to avoid spreading the virus while vaccines are developed and supplied. This is how RPM is an optimal solution for doctors to treat patients with medical conditions remotely and from the safety of their house.
Improving patients’ outcomes
A study* held by a primary care practice in Riverside, California, showed that patients enrolled in an RPM program decreased their systolic blood pressure by 13 points. On the other hand, 71% of participants lost on average 4% of their weight, and 95% lowered their blood pressure. These results were possible thanks to the integration of multiple actions:
- 1. Giving patients devices so they could check their blood pressure regularly.
- 2. Sending reminders through text messages to patients.
- 3. In-app user data and chart to manage progress.
- 4. Building a digital media library with relevant information for patients.
- 5. Multimedia chat groups for open discussions.
Better for the patient, better for the doctor
RPM systems are here to stay. Medical professionals have increased their use as they improve efficiency and effectiveness. A Qardio survey* revealed that 87% of care providers will be investing in RPM and telehealth. But more importantly, over 95% stated that they would be encouraging more patients to remotely monitor their health at home.
Health professionals understand RPM represents a great benefit for their patients. It helps reduce many of the barriers that can arise when making a medical visit or following up on a medical condition. The key relies on presenting the benefits for both parties. Once patients know and understand how RPM systems will improve their lives and their medical treatment, adoption will be faster and better, facilitating the implementation of these systems by medical professionals.
Real-time results, from the safety of their home
How safe do your patients feel about having to go to a hospital with COVID-19 patients? Many times, it does not matter if hospitals follow the right health and hygiene standards, patients will always have to deal with the fear factor of having to enter a hospital that treats COVID-19 cases. With RPM, patients no longer need to go to the doctor’s office as it can perform real-time diagnostics, consulting video calls, and detect any abnormalities remotely.
In 2020, we surveyed over 5,600* Qardio users to discover their opinion on using remote monitoring devices during the pandemic. The results showed that 70% of participants believed monitoring their heart health at home was ‘very’ and ‘extremely’ important since COVID-19. On the other hand, 93% shared that they felt safer having a blood pressure monitor at home.
Patient empowerment
Treating any type of condition involves both the doctor and the patient. From the patient’s point of view, how can they feel engaged with the process if they don’t know their health status? Thanks to RPM systems, patients now are responsible for taking the measurements and sharing the data with their doctor, improving their participation and engagement in the process.
In 2015, a study* on hypertension patients was held to determine the effectiveness of RPM. The study revealed that participants over 55 years old with remote monitoring showed significant improvements in their systolic blood pressure compared to the control group.
Helping patients save time and money with RPM
For patients, visiting the doctor’s office can be an investment in time and money. Calling to make an appointment, going to the medical center, waiting for the doctor, and going back home are some of the main steps that all patients must follow. RPM helps patients reduce travel costs and time and as more chronically-ill patients adopt RPM systems, doctors will have more time to focus on other patients and attend emergencies.
QardioMD – Complete remote patient monitoring for your practice
Looking to implement a remote patient monitoring solution? With QardioMD, you can get access to a full remote monitoring end-to-end service to easily track patient data, view patient trends, and make efficient diagnoses. To learn more how RPM with Qardio works, speak with a product expert here.
Sources
Lifestyle Medical’s RPM program shows improved outcomes during pandemic
What will healthcare professionals prioritise post COVID-19?
The results are in. Health at home is more important since COVID-19.
