5 Common Myths About Patient Monitoring Systems Debunked by the Experts

In the middle of a healthcare crisis, the COVID 19 pandemic has taught us many lessons. The healthcare sector has struggled to accommodate innovative means around social distancing as the new normal. With this calamity, virtual reality has emerged as the need of the hour. Innovative opportunities in remote health monitoring systems have taken on priority. A recent Frost and Sullivan study has projected a surge in growth opportunities. In particular, patient monitoring devices are now emerging as the way forward. With scalable, meticulous solutions and offer a virtual environment, remote patient monitoring services of healthcare are poised to address the needs of the current healthcare environment. As more than half of U.S. hospitals have adopted patient monitoring devices and with a global valuation of 20% annual growth in mobile patient monitoring, healthcare organizations need to, quite literally, get with the program. Remote patient monitoring software adoption will ensure a pathway into the future of healthcare.   

In a nutshell, the adoption of a remote patient monitoring system offers the following advantages:  

5 Common Myths Clarified:

1. RPM systems are too Expensive:

On the contrary, patient monitoring companies for hospitals are constantly offering cost-effective remote patient monitoring platforms. Healthcare software product development can now be undertaken to offer solutions specific to the organization’s requirements. Remote patient monitoring vendors offer custom healthcare software solutions to align the system health monitoring software with the organization’s goal and mission. Healthcare companies should eliminate fixed costs as far as possible while developing remote health monitoring solutions. This will aid in creating strategic value toward the deployment while achieving goals. Unnecessary costs can be avoided if the healthcare organization is crystal clear on the purpose of deployment. For example, if the aim is to offer an advantage to the patients, then patient engagement systems should be the answer. Analyze the remote health solutions to address the need of that division, which could be reducing fixed costs, increasing regularity, etc.   

2. RPM systems are too Complicated

Remote patient monitoring tools should be deployed with the priority to keep the patients, physicians, and organizational staff at the center of decision-making. A clear timeline toward implementation can make the process seamless and simple. Additionally, key project stages can be identified and monitored to ensure implementation timelines. Timelines should be made realistically, considering organizational size and capacity and the type of automated healthcare solutions. Other factors for consideration include time taken to troubleshoot and test, practice sessions, etc. After deploying remote patient monitoring tools, there is an essential step before implementation. This is the training of every organizational entity involved in the onward processes. Integration should go hand in hand with training for simplified usage. For example, real-time healthcare monitoring solutions’ audio and video components should be used in practice. Internal meetings and conferences can be planned to increase familiarity with the technology and reduce hesitation toward health care management.   

3. RPM Systems are Highly Dependent on Connectivity:

Companies can now deploy patient monitoring systems through healthcare cloud computing. A remote patient monitoring system on the cloud can be accessed across multiple devices and locations, and it can operate through basic connectivity. Health monitoring companies can begin execution on a small scale and gradually increase it for seamless adaptation and electronic data interchange. This method allows for natural integration between old systems and innovations. For example, a hospital can begin with automated appointment scheduling and slowly ramp it to virtual visits. Technology can slowly be excited to offer higher levels of health care monitoring. In this manner, gaps can be easily identified and mitigated quickly. A remote patient monitoring solution has a higher chance of success when undertaken in a phase-wise manner that merges old systems with new ones.   

4. RPM systems are Very Limited for Integration:

Remote patient monitoring systems can always be accentuated with additions. As deployment and implementation are underway, medical informatics can be applied to identify more opportunities for innovations. Let us consider a medical remote monitoring solution that offers at-home services to the critically ill by monitoring their vitals. Organizations can install medication reminders, fitness goals, diet plans, etc. The opportunities in health monitoring applications are endless. Additionally, merging the remote patient monitoring program is crucial to success. Beginning with the executive leadership, the remote healthcare monitoring system has to be prioritized. From physicians to administrative staff, every involvement will assist in merging the system into the organization’s mainstream processes. Administrative support is integral to the remote monitoring system in healthcare through accessibility. Furthermore, physician buy-in is another crucial factor in success. For example, appointment scheduling should merge to offer a combination of virtual and physical visits.   

5. RPM Systems Pose Data Risks:

Data security on remote health monitoring devices is a non-negotiable aspect of the development process undertaken by remote monitoring companies. Due to the sensitivity of health data and the consequent hesitation from patients in sharing this data, advanced encryption and security features are deployed within every aspect of remote monitoring system healthcare development. HIPAA compliance is given priority in patient monitoring systems as they are in practice management solutions. Next, when it comes to malpractice, that risk exists irrelevant of a remote health management system. Adopting safety procedures, such as patient education, consultation protocols, agile documentation techniques, and data privacy, can considerably reduce malpractice risk.   

Some Additional Myths About Remote Patient Monitoring

Apart from these five common myths about patient monitoring solutions, there are a few more. Although these misconceptions aren’t much relevant among big healthcare players, some smaller practices still believe them. Take a look at these three misconceptions about a health monitoring system.   

1. RPM doesn’t lead to Better Patient Outcomes

Some healthcare players argue that patient monitoring solutions don’t affect patient outcomes. Perhaps, it’s not true. Not only do patient monitoring systems empower patients to manage and participate in their health management proactively, but they also use the data from RPM devices to make informed clinical decisions. And these decisions are aimed at improving patient outcomes. The data collected from patient monitoring devices helps clinicians to monitor patients closely over time and develop care plans accordingly.   

Moreover, the level of care rendered through RPM isn’t restricted to urban regions only. This has made quality care even more accessible to rural or underserved regions. And with better patient engagement, patient monitoring solutions enable doctors to impact their patient’s health and wellness more.   

2. RPM Eliminates Human Touch in Care

When remote patient monitoring technology was in its early stages, many clinicians and health practices felt it would remove the human touch in caregiving. In other words, many still feel that RPM dehumanizes care. But that is not true. A patient’s relationship with the doctor isn’t just about the physical examination. Perhaps it depends a lot on communication and trust. And remote patient monitoring services can transform the patient-doctor relationship through consistent monitoring and maintaining a point of contact.   

RPM enables patients to trust their caregivers and doctors to trust their patients. And the dynamics of patient-doctor relationships don’t remove the human element from care. It helps improve patient engagement and overall care outcomes. 

3. RPM only focused on reducing Hospitalizations

Remote health monitoring applications often start with the idea that they exist to minimize hospitalizations and only last for a little period. However, the landscape is quickly changing to embrace programs focusing on care management and long-term health and well-being for months, if not years.  

Healthcare providers now connect patients to care teams for as long as necessary as they employ RPM to address chronic care management, post-discharge rehabilitation, and other services which benefit patients with lifelong care needs. Patients and providers may eventually connect less frequently or only when necessary. This is possible only through the evolution of these services. But they will eventually focus on long-term health and wellness, with measurables like lower medical expenses.  

What’s the Future of Remote Patient Monitoring?

All of these common myths and misconceptions are based on real concerns. And apps and solutions are developed to ease RPM-related issues. The increased usage of RPM is expected to result in more accurate data, improved patient interactions with clinics, and lower costs for all parties. Besides, the future of remote patient monitoring is quite bright.   

According to an Insider Intelligence report, nearly 26.2% of the US population will use RPM tools by 2025. Also, a KLAS report that surveyed 25 healthcare organizations found that nearly 38% of healthcare organizations with remote health monitoring programs focused on chronic care management reported reduced hospital readmissions. And nearly 17% of them cited cost-reduction benefits. 

Here are some future RPM trends one can expect in the next few years.

• RPM Advancements in Wireless Technology  

With growing advancements in wireless technology, healthcare solutions, specifically remote patient monitoring solutions, are also becoming more reliable and better. Doctors no longer need to wait for patient data separately, as patient monitoring devices can now provide real-time data—all thanks to wireless technology.   

• Miniaturizations   

Miniaturization is the next big trend in remote patient monitoring technology. Device manufacturers are reducing the size and intrusiveness of their solutions while collaborating with new players to increase their market share. Miniature RPM devices will make it easy for patients to carry it wherever they go without compromising their health monitoring.   

• Increased Interoperability   

Interoperability is a serious problem, as remote healthcare monitoring uses more and more devices and systems. However, interoperable systems make it simpler for practitioners to obtain and use patient data by enabling various devices and systems to communicate and share data seamlessly.  

• AI and ML technology  

To evaluate RPM data and find patterns that can assist healthcare workers in making more informed decisions about patient care, artificial intelligence, and machine learning is integrated into patient monitoring systems. AI and ML technology can assess and analyze RPM data, enabling clinicians to provide timely interventions.    

• Higher Scalability  

The scalability of patient monitoring systems to meet the needs of a bigger patient population will become more crucial as the population being monitored continues to rise. This will necessitate the creation of more adaptable and scalable systems that are simple to modify to suit the requirements of various healthcare environments and patient populations.  

Conclusion

The development of a remote health monitoring system aims to address the needs of the Community and the patients related to the organization. Therefore, remote monitoring software solutions should be identified based on these needs. Devising solutions based on the Community’s needs is the foundation to ensure success. Direct communication with patients, data analysis, feedback forms, etc., will aid in determination. For example, in an organization where critically-ill patients are experiencing poor outcomes, a remote monitoring service can address their needs. Remote patient monitoring solutions are a broad technology category with plenty of innovative offerings. From the management of critically-ill patients to clinical workflows, many healthcare opportunities can be explored in this domain. A smart deployment strategy can prove instrumental in successful implementation and take the healthcare organization from strength to strength.