In a recent report, ‘Digital Transformation in the Healthcare Sector’, technology analyst firm Transforma Insights identified and highlighted eight key areas where disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and the Internet of Things were contributing to the digital transformation of the healthcare sector. One of those eight areas was Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM). In this article, we provide an overview of Remote Patient Monitoring, including how implementing RPM solutions can help the healthcare sector in achieving greater efficiency as well as becoming more sustainable.
What is Remote Patient Monitoring?
RPM solutions support the collection and sharing of patients’ vital health information with doctors and healthcare providers for continuous monitoring. Using them, patients can be accurately monitored without admitting them to hospitals or clinics. They are becoming increasingly critical in those countries which are dealing with a large number of patients with chronic diseases and/or with a shortage of medical personnel.
How do RPM solutions drive efficiency and cost savings?
RPM reduces visits to physicians, decreases hospital admission and readmission rates, and has the potential to save billions of dollars. For instance, according to a study by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre, using RPM devices can decrease patient visits to physicians by 47% and reduce hospital admissions of elderly patients by 40%. Besides, according to some estimates, the resulting reduced demand for hospital resources from RPM solutions can save around USD6 billion annually in the USA alone.
There are many examples of healthcare providers deploying RPM solutions. An NHS Trust Hospital in Kent used Current Health’s AI-based wearable device to monitor discharged patients and achieved a 22% decrease in subsequent home visits. Banner Health collaborated with Philips and carried out a telehealth pilot of remote home monitoring for patients with over five chronic conditions. The trial showed a 27% reduction in the cost of care, a 45% reduction in hospitalisations, and a 32% reduction in acute and long-term care costs. Trinity Health partnered with Vivify Home which provided a care kit comprising connected monitoring devices and a 4G cellular-connected tablet computer. Within 30 days, this decreased the hospital readmissions rate from 16% to 8% and enhanced patient experience.
Matt Hatton 