The power of remote patient monitoring

Healthcare and real-time data—they’re more closely related than you might think. Monitoring patient data, such as vital signs, blood pressure, or weight, is often key to providing optimal care.

This is why remote patient monitoring—tracking health data remotely using digital devices—has become a crucial part of modern healthcare.

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) allows care providers to deliver more targeted and proactive care while also saving time and costs. For patients, this often means better health outcomes, fewer hospital visits, and more control over their own health.

Given these benefits, the RPM market is expected to nearly double in size between 2022 and 2028.

In this article, we’ll explore RPM’s key benefits and some real-world applications that are already shaping the future of healthcare.

In this article:

• What is remote patient monitoring, and how does it work?
• Benefits of remote patient monitoring in healthcare
• Applications of remote patient monitoring
• How TeamViewer empowers remote patient monitoring
• Summary: Shaping the future of healthcare with remote patient monitoring

What is remote patient monitoring, and how does it work?

Essentially, remote patient monitoring means using digital technology to monitor patients’ health. It allows healthcare professionals at hospitals, intensive care units, and nursing homes to record and track patient data without the need for in-person visits. This data can include things like vital signs, blood pressure, and weight.

RPM is often used to observe patients’ recovery once they’ve been released from the hospital to reduce the likelihood of readmission. Nursing professionals also use RPM to monitor the health status of older adults or people with disabilities. This can enable patients to live at home rather than in a nursing facility.

The digital solutions used to provide RPM are often powered by remote connectivity. This makes it easy for healthcare providers to connect with patients and access their data in real time. To ensure the best possible patient outcomes, it’s important that these solutions are secure, reliable, and easy for both the patient and the provider to use.

Remote patient monitoring mostly consists of collecting, transmitting, and analyzing medical data.

Usually, the patient is responsible for recording their health data, often daily or multiple times per day. For this, they use various devices such as digital scales, blood pressure monitors, heart rate monitors, and pulse oximeters.

Some of these devices can then transmit the recorded data automatically to the healthcare provider. Others require the patient to submit their data by inputting it into a digital patient portal.

Once the provider—usually a nurse or other clinical professional—receives the patient data, they can monitor and analyze it. If a patient’s data is outside of the normal range, the provider then contacts the patient and takes action if needed.

Benefits of remote patient monitoring in healthcare

Both patients and healthcare providers can greatly benefit from remote patient monitoring. Here are a few of the key advantages.

Improving patient outcomes 

By monitoring patient data in real time, medical professionals can detect and treat health conditions early. This can help to prevent long-term risks.

For patients with chronic diseases, RPM can reduce the number of hospital visits. For patients, fewer hospital visits often mean an improved quality of life, especially if they live in remote or underserved areas.

RPM also provides more detailed and consistent data than traditional methods. This allows providers to deliver personalized care, meaning they can tailor treatments to patients’ individual needs.

Read more: Improving remote patient care with digital technology | TeamViewer

Reducing healthcare costs 

Remote patient monitoring also helps to reduce the financial burden on the healthcare system.

For instance, a recent study found that patients who had been hospitalized for heart disease and received RPM after being released were 50% less likely to be readmitted than those who didn’t. This led to significant cost savings, considering the average adult readmission cost in the US is USD 15,200.

RPM also allows clinicians to improve their efficiency, saving valuable working time. This is especially crucial given the global medical staff shortage, which is projected to reach 10 million by 2030.

Supporting patients 

Another advantage of remote patient monitoring is that it empowers patients to take on an active role in managing their health. This gives them greater autonomy and often leads to more adherence to treatment plans and better long-term outcomes.

A study from MSI International found that four out of five patients are in favor of using RPM. And more than one-third see control over their personal health as a main advantage. Other patient benefits, according to the study, include convenience, efficiency, accuracy, and peace of mind.