How Patients Benefit From Remote Monitoring
The quality of care health care providers are able to offer to their patients has been greatly improved through technology. Telemedicine is one of the most important innovations the healthcare industry has adapted to in order to service their patients. Of all that telemedicine has to offer this industry, remote patient monitoring has made the most significant difference for patients.
While it’s true that remote patient monitoring has had its time in the healthcare industry for a while now, its value has increased immensely as a result of COVID-19 and its related restrictions. Through advanced technological systems capable of tracking important health data of patients, health care professionals are capable of offering care to these patients without requiring them to be physically present in their facility. Not only do these devices ensure quality tracking and collection they also prioritize doing so with utmost security in mind. The collected data is transferred back to health care providers and stored securely in their facility’s electronic health records.
As more and more devices improve their remote capabilities, remote patient monitoring will continue to evolve. Blood pressure cuffs, blood glucose monitors, spirometers, water retention scales and more currently makeup some of the devices available to these patients. Some of the responsibility of this unique care falls into the hands of patients. The devices they are equipped with will track the necessary data; patients are then responsible for securely transmitting this data back to their physicians.
As the nation continues to adjust to pandemic restrictions, remote patient monitoring has become even more prevalent. Though some states have loosened restrictions, the number of COVID positive individuals continues to increase and care for these patients tends to take priority. In addition to priority shifting away from some patients, more and more patients continue to require care for their chronic conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Health care providers need to provide quality care to all those in need and remote patient monitoring simplifies that immensely through not requiring patients to visit their doctor’s physically.
None of this would be possible if it weren’t for remote patient monitoring’s effectiveness. Recently conducted research indicates that patients suffering from high blood pressure saw a much more impactful reduction through remote monitoring practices than through self-monitoring. Patients suffering from asthma have also seen an improvement in their control over their condition in addition to a decrease in the use of their rescue medications.
Not only has the quality of care been improved, more and more insurers have begun offering policies that cover remote patient monitoring. As more and more patients opt into this practice, it becomes easier to address the shortage of physicians in many health care facilities. The number of patients requiring medical care and attention will continue to increase rapidly, which can make meeting that demand much more difficult. However, through remote patient monitoring, it can be much easier to meet that demand for physicians. For more information on how remote patient monitoring is revitalizing the health care industry amidst the COVID crisis, be sure to review the infographic accompanying this post. Courtesy of Pivot Point Consulting.