Remote health monitoring services are available in several forms. These services can help manage chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart conditions. Additionally, they can be used in times of crisis, such as natural disasters. The following are some of the benefits of remote monitoring for patients:
Convenience
Researchers claim that the number of patients being monitored by physicians remotely increased by 44 percent in 2016 and that this figure is projected to increase further. Some researchers believe that the increase is due to medical institutions cutting back on staff and attendance, and others speculate that there are a variety of reasons why this practice is growing. Whatever the reason, it is certainly a benefit for patients. The benefits of remote health monitoring for patients are clear.
One of the most attractive features of remote health monitoring is the ease of use. Remote patient monitoring systems should be easy to use and allow testing before the contract is signed. It should also be user-friendly and allow doctors more freedom to work with patients. Automated alert systems, billing and reimbursement calculations, and rich visualizations of data analytics should also be available. For example, a patient can check blood pressure or glucose levels. In addition, it can help monitor symptoms of more serious conditions.
Reduced readmissions
A recent Wall Street Journal article highlights how remote health monitoring can reduce hospital readmissions. The remote health monitoring model can help hospitals avoid penalties for having high readmission rates. While the cost savings are substantial, remote patient monitoring can help keep costs down for health payers and hospitals.
The COVID-19 crisis, nursing shortages, and the incentive to reduce penalties in healthcare have spurred innovation. For example, remote patient monitoring telehealth programs combine wearable technology with telehealth response capabilities to provide frequent patient monitoring without in-person visits and tests. These programs are particularly important for remote areas since they can contact patients with immediate issues such as medication-related problems. In addition, by preventing unnecessary re-hospitalizations, hospitals can increase their bottom lines and improve patient satisfaction.
Savings on resources
The costs of telemedicine and remote health monitoring are similar. However, there are some differences in the extent of savings. In general, remote monitoring results in reduced medical costs and increased efficiency. However, the costs of remote monitoring may vary according to context. Among other things, remote monitoring of one vital sign may be less costly than remote monitoring of multiple signs, such as hypertension. Savings may be higher for certain conditions, such as respiratory disease or congestive cardiac failure.
Telehealth services, which often involve consumer payments, can significantly reduce costs by substituting for government-funded health services. However, few services are eligible for reimbursement under the Medicare Benefits Scheme. In addition, consumers who use such services will have to pay for the entire service fee out of pocket. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a way to cut costs while improving the quality of care, telehealth services are worth considering.
Time savings
By focusing on vital clinical signs and pre-set triggers, remote health monitoring programs enable healthcare providers to detect small problems before they become large. This technology can also help prevent acute health problems and hospital readmissions. The result is a reduction in patient care costs, nurse engagement, and emergency department visits. In addition, the time savings from remote health monitoring is significant. But it’s not without challenges. Remote patient monitoring requires significant workflows and EHR platform changes.
Remote patient monitoring is beneficial for chronic disease care. Remote data from patient-generated health information can help care teams make critical decisions about a patient’s treatment. A remote health monitoring system can record hundreds of data points per month for a single patient. An algorithm can then translate the data into notifications and alerts, enabling timely interventions. In addition, remote patient monitoring systems can improve the care of patients and reduce healthcare costs, allowing them to receive a higher quality of care for a lower cost.
