Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) holds immense potential, but only when thoughtfully executed. Simply adopting the latest tech won't guarantee success. To truly make RPM programs work, a layered system that allows people, processes, and technologies to collaborate synergistically is essential. Creating this complex system can be challenging, even for seasoned health systems.
That's where a comprehensive layered strategy comes in. By setting up a system in layers, healthcare systems can go far beyond data collection to improve healthcare outcomes significantly. Let’s explore how to implement this approach effectively and build a successful RPM program.
In a comprehensive RPM strategy, separate functional layers — each fulfilling a distinct role — serve as the building blocks of an effective system.
Data Layer. At the core of RPM is continuous health data collection from patients to help healthcare teams make informed decisions and jump in proactively when needed. For health systems, selecting the right RPM devices – which can include wearable sensors, smart devices, and other tracking tools — and managing the logistics of getting them to patients is crucial.
Once patient data is collected, that information must get to providers. Secure, accurate, and reliable data transmission ensure the seamless integration of various devices into a centralized platform for comprehensive and continuous monitoring of a patient's health status. Then, processing, data analytics, and automated interpretation come into play to identify trends, anomalies, and health issues in the data, triggering alerts for healthcare providers as necessary. This empowers the care team to make informed decisions, enhancing patient outcomes in remote care.
Clinical Support Layer. People make up the core of a successful RPM system, so clinical roles should be assigned to ensure each team member operates at their highest capacity. This might involve LPNs handling onboarding, training, and troubleshooting, while RNs manage monitoring and escalate issues as necessary. Physicians can step in for medication changes or office visits when needed.
An effective RPM system also gives healthcare providers real-time access to patient data, allowing them to monitor vital signs, track health trends, and manage care plans remotely. To achieve this, EHRs need to include a platform that integrates seamlessly with clinical workflows while also delving deeper into the virtual care context of patients. This platform should enable access to data, trends, and customized alerts within a clinical dashboard, which existing EHR systems often lack. In addition, a clinical decision support system that uses artificial intelligence tools can boost decision-making with automated alerts and recommendations from patient data, helping clinicians swiftly spot trends and critical events for timely interventions.
Patient Engagement Layer: A well-designed RPM program educates, motivates, and actively involves patients in their healthcare. User-friendly tools can take advantage of behavioral science techniques to engage more effectively with patients and get them actively involved with their healthcare. Personalized dashboards and health trend graphs, for example, enable patients to access health data and engage at different levels, from receiving automated reminder calls and SMS with tips to participating in educational tasks and sharing insights with their care team and community. This active engagement enhances patient satisfaction and can provide opportunities for ongoing education. In addition, personalized care pathways can deliver treatment and health maintenance plans that are both individualized and patient-centric, and digital alerts and notifications can act as an early warning system for quick intervention on the patient’s part, preventing graver concerns down the line.
Using a layered approach in remote patient monitoring ramps up patient engagement and improves outcomes while also making health systems more efficient. Clinicians benefit from real-time access to patient data, and integrated tools streamline communication and data management to foster effective collaboration and timely interventions. Additionally, analyzing data provides insights and alerts for healthcare professionals, helping them intervene promptly and manage care proactively.
The layered approach also keeps RPM programs flexible, making it easy to add new features, adjust to changing patient needs and care settings, or adjust clinical services. As healthcare needs shift or new tech gets developed, this modular approach can smoothly blend in new functions without disturbing what's already in place. It means healthcare groups can customize remote monitoring to fit certain patient groups, workflows, or care models, keeping everything running smoothly and in line with goals. Plus, this flexible setup can handle more patients or extend into new care areas, providing a solid foundation for providing top-notch remote care on a bigger scale.
If an RPM program isn't delivering the expected results, one of the necessary layers may be missing or incomplete. That’s where Veta Health can help – by offering complete logistical support and know-how for a layered RPM strategy. We help health systems put a strategy in place that boosts the impact of RPM efforts, resulting in better patient outcomes and smoother operations. Contact Veta Health today to learn more.