RPM and its Role in Reducing Hospital Readmission

When a patient is in a controlled environment like a hospital, he can rest assured that his health condition is in good hands. Physicians and nurses armed with advanced medical devices monitor his case around the clock, but what happens when the patient returns to his home? Who is going to follow up on his case? and how? Considering that health-related challenges are compounded in a less controlled environment like homes! Since 1953, when the term “Hospital Readmission” first appeared in medical literature, there have been continuous efforts everywhere in the world to reduce the rates of hospital readmissions. Now, we’re witnessing the rise of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), which helped reduce readmissions rates by a significant percentage. Let’s first define what hospital readmission is. And why are its rates concerning? Hospital readmission is an unplanned or unpredicted patient admittance to a hospital after being discharged within a specific time interval. One month after discharge has been the most common time frame. The readmission rates are a direct indicator that evaluates the quality of hospital care. Hospital readmission is psychologically painful for the patient and their beloved ones. It’s also an economic burden on the patient, health insurance companies, and the government healthcare system. Furthermore, hospital readmissions form pressure on the hospital capacity and aren’t the best utilization for emergency departments, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following paragraph will answer your questions if you wonder about the connection between RPM and hospital readmission rates. RPM devices use various sensors to collect patient live biometric data (e.g., blood pressure, oxygen saturation, glucose levels) and send it securely to a cloud-based platform. All patient data will be analyzed and summarized into easy-to-read reports for physicians and the patient himself. The AI ​​engine attached to the platform can detect any critical signs patterns in real-time and immediately notify the patient and clinicians to take the necessary precautions to prevent the patient from being hospitalized. And it works! In recent studies and clinical trials, Christus Health reported that using RPM devices reduced hospital readmissions among congestive heart failure patients by 65% ​​, which is impressive. One of the main reasons for hospital readmission is the patients themselves because it’s their responsibility to monitor their health conditions, adhere to the medication regimen, dietary restrictions, and report any worsening symptoms immediately. We can’t blame the patients because they’re usually tired and healing under stress. Most patients don’t have the minimal medical training to absorb physicians’ instructions. The recent revolution in RPM and wearable devices solved all post-discharge hospital problems. Now, patients don’t have to worry, as physicians will keep a close eye and stay engaged with them even if they’re not around. They can alarm the patients when they notice any concerning symptoms, schedule a video conference if needed, and answer their questions. They can adjust their medication plans or instructions according to their vital signs. We should consider ourselves lucky to live in this prosperous telehealth era. In RPMAhealthcare, we have been developing our solutions since 2015 to provide a magnificent experience for our customers. Our platform is already integrated with more than 250 RPM devices and 40+ medical diagnoses. Please take advantage of the telehealth revolution and visit our website to know more: www.rpmahealthcare.com