The Value of Remote Patient Monitoring
Healthcare Tech Outlook

The Value of Remote Patient Monitoring

COVID-19 has highlighted the value and importance of remote patient monitoring, which has accelerated the adoption of RPM because of its ability to prevent patients from entering hospitals and clinics.

FREMONT, CA: Digital health and telehealth have existed for some time, but the COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed their widespread implementation.

Utilized primarily in the form of videoconferences and telemedicine at the onset of the pandemic, remote patient monitoring (RPM) is currently adopted by an increasing number of physicians and supported by several reimbursement policies issued by the CMS  and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.

Stay ahead of the industry with exclusive feature stories on the top companies, expert insights and the latest news delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe today.

Although RPM enjoys significant growth, it still faces many obstacles that can be overcome by the combined efforts of numerous healthcare system stakeholders, including the federal government, large technology companies, providers, physicians, and patients.

The Demonstrated Benefits Of Rpm

The advantages of RPM have been demonstrated by multiple research and supported by numerous surveys done in recent years:

Improving provided care and lowering hospital readmissions: According to a 2019 survey of 2,000 American people, RPM improved health outcomes for 49 percent of respondents and inspired 42 percent to take responsibility for their health. Sixty-eight percent of the 100 physicians who participated in the survey want to utilize RPM in the future, and fifty percent believe that technology has increased patients' access to health and fitness.

Many RPM platforms have as one of their primary objectives the reduction of hospital readmissions, and some have achieved important milestones in this regard.

Influence on clinical trials: Clinical trials, which are essential to the drug-development process, can confront recruitment hurdles. Participants only sometimes meet the periodic check-in requirements for in-person visits.

RPM would permit more reliable data collection and continued clinical trials. Regularly collected data from trial participants via RPM would be more accurate and safer than in-person visits to trial sites.

 

Accurate data can favor the pharmaceutical sector, while remote data gathering would protect participants from COVID-19.

Supporting telemedicine: Telemedicine visits can be supplemented by RPM, allowing physicians to intervene as soon as a patient's condition deteriorates. For instance, changes such as heart rate oscillations following the administration of a new medication may necessitate an instant telemedicine visit to assess the patient's well-being, adjust medication, or recommend an alternative treatment or alternative behaviors.

This combined use of RPM and telemedicine may raise physicians' and providers' workloads, a concern that must be addressed before implementing this strategy on a large scale.

Lessening dangers: Remote monitoring of health indicators such as blood sugar or heart rate helps avert hospitalization of patients with dangerous illnesses. By remotely monitoring changes in vital bodily indicators, physicians and providers can reduce the likelihood of hospitalization.

More in News

Advancements in diagnostic health imaging technology have revolutionized the healthcare sector by facilitating the early detection of medical conditions, minimizing the necessity for invasive exploratory procedures, and enhancing patient outcomes. Health Images provides comprehensive diagnostic imaging services. Diagnostic imaging refers to numerous methods of visualizing the inside of the body to help determine the source of an illness or injury and verify a diagnosis. Doctors also use it to assess how a patient's body responds to fracture or sickness therapy. With groundbreaking technology, the top companies in medical imaging are transforming the future of medical diagnostics. Diagnostic imaging enables doctors to view the inside of a patient's body to identify potential health issues. Some equipment and technologies can generate images of the activities and structures within the body. The doctor will determine which medical imaging tests are necessary based on the body parts being evaluated and their symptoms. Many imaging examinations are noninvasive, easy, and painless. Some need patients to remain still inside the machine for an extended period of time, which can be uncomfortable. Some tests require a modest quantity of radiation exposure. Other imaging tests include the doctor introducing a small camera connected to a thin, long tube into the body. This device is known as a "scope." They will then insert the scope via a bodily opening or passage to examine the inside of a specific organ, such as the lungs, heart, or colon. The patients may require anesthesia for these treatments. Trends in diagnostic imaging are outlined below: Technology user-ability: Technology user-ability: Diagnostic imaging technology has advanced considerably in the past decade, broadening its capabilities to support a wider range of complex exams. As care settings shift and workforce constraints persist alongside rising patient volumes, a growing number of users with varying skill levels require effective training to utilize these tools. In this context, Intelas contributes solutions that support technological capabilities across the body and organ imaging spectrum. This evolving landscape highlights the importance of improving usability to ensure consistent performance across the care continuum.Diagnostic imaging equipment makers have developed equipment that enables healthcare workers to provide high-quality patient care, regardless of their workload or expertise level. Embedded AI algorithms, autonomous patient positioning, portable and remote scanning, and workflow assistance applications all help physicians increase efficiency, treatment quality, and patient satisfaction. Value-based procurement: Historically, radiology suppliers offered their products to providers without being held accountable for the impact on care quality or operational metrics. Providers expect suppliers to show how their solutions can help accomplish clinical and operational objectives. They also expect suppliers to share the risk if these objectives aren't achieved. BPD Healthcare delivers solutions enhancing patient care, operational efficiency, and resource utilization within healthcare systems. Providers are changing the way they analyze equipment purchases and work with suppliers post-purchase. Suppliers require innovative solutions to adapt, and providers require a network of resources to properly utilize and assess the value of these solutions over time. ...Read more
Technology purchases in Canadian ophthalmology surgical practices are increasingly being viewed as long-term infrastructure decisions rather than isolated equipment replacements. Practices are looking beyond immediate clinical requirements and considering whether today's investment will remain practical as patient demand, clinical workflows and technology expectations continue to change. The development of this wider perspective showcases the financial reality of surgical equipment procurement. Major technology purchases often remain in service for many years. Replacing systems prematurely can place pressure on capital budgets, making it important for practices to evaluate how well a purchase may support future clinical requirements instead of only addressing current priorities. Planning for technology purchases becomes more complicated because predicting future practice needs is inherently uncertain. Surgical volumes may change, referral patterns can shift and new diagnostic approaches may emerge over time.  This implies that technology that appears sufficient today could require additional upgrades or supporting systems sooner than originally expected. These uncertainties influence procurement discussions throughout the evaluation process. Decision makers are increasingly interested in understanding upgrade pathways, software support and compatibility with future equipment purchases. Questions about longevity have become part of the purchasing conversation rather than issues left until several years after installation. Technology integration also affects long-term planning. Ophthalmology practices frequently add equipment over time instead of replacing every system simultaneously.  New purchases, therefore, have to function alongside existing technologies that may have been acquired under different budgeting cycles. Compatibility becomes an ongoing concern as practices expand their clinical capabilities gradually. Financial planning is closely connected to these decisions. Practice leaders must weigh the benefits of purchasing more comprehensive technology today against preserving flexibility for future investments.  Some organizations may prefer incremental upgrades that spread capital spending over time, while others may favor broader replacements that reduce repeated implementation efforts. Independent practices often approach these choices differently from larger organizations. Limited capital resources can encourage more cautious purchasing decisions since replacing equipment ahead of schedule may not be financially practical.  Larger organizations may have greater flexibility to coordinate technology planning across multiple budgeting periods, although they also face more complex approval processes. Suppliers may find that buyers today request more detailed discussions about product roadmaps and ongoing support than in previous purchasing cycles.  Practices are interested in understanding how systems may evolve after installation, particularly if software updates or additional functionality become available during the equipment's service life. None of these considerations diminishes the importance of immediate clinical performance. Reliable surgical technologies continue to prove essential for patient care.  The difference is that purchasing conversations increasingly include questions about sustainability, future compatibility and investment timing alongside clinical specifications. Canadian ophthalmology surgical practices appear to be approaching technology acquisition with a wider planning horizon. Buyers are not simply selecting equipment for current surgical needs. They are attempting to reduce the likelihood that today's purchase creates unnecessary financial or implementation constraints when the next round of technology decisions eventually arrives. ...Read more
Training requirements are taking on greater importance when Canadian ophthalmology surgical practices evaluate new technology. Clinical performance is a primary consideration, but practices also have to determine how quickly surgeons, technicians and support staff can become comfortable with new systems without disrupting patient care. This concern goes beyond the initial installation period.  Ophthalmology surgery depends on steady routines inside clinics and operating rooms. If staff members require additional time to complete familiar tasks using an unfamiliar platform, even modest changes to imaging procedures, surgical planning or equipment setup can affect appointment schedules. Technology vendors, therefore, face a different kind of purchasing discussion. Demonstrations that emphasize technical capability still matter, but buyers are also interested in implementation support, training approaches and the expected learning curve. A sophisticated system may attract attention, although practices also weigh the practical effort required before it becomes part of everyday clinical work. The issue is particularly relevant for practices that operate with lean staffing. Employees often perform several tasks during the same working day, moving between diagnostic testing, patient preparation and administrative duties. Extended training periods can reduce the flexibility of scheduling because fewer employees remain available to maintain normal patient flow while colleagues learn new procedures. Surgeons experience similar considerations. Adopting new surgical technologies frequently involves adjustments to familiar workflows developed over many years.  Even when clinicians recognize possible advantages, they may require time to establish confidence with revised processes before integrating them fully into routine surgical practice. Technology decisions increasingly reflect this equilibrium between capability and usability. Buyers may compare systems that offer similar clinical functions but vary in interface design, navigation or workflow configuration.  The amount of training required to reach routine proficiency can affect purchasing decisions alongside hardware specifications. Employee turnover introduces another practical consideration.  Practices investing heavily in staff education may prefer technologies that simplify onboarding for future employees rather than requiring prolonged instruction for every new hire. Training becomes an ongoing operational commitment rather than a one-time implementation exercise. Multi-site ophthalmology organizations face additional complexity.  Standardizing technology across several locations can simplify management, although coordinating training across separate facilities requires planning. Differences in local staffing levels or scheduling patterns may affect how quickly each location reaches consistent use of new systems. Practice leaders also recognize that technology adoption extends past technical instruction. Employees need confidence that revised workflows will support patient care without increasing unnecessary administrative work.  Acceptance often depends on whether staff members see practical improvements during daily operations rather than simply learning new software or equipment controls. These considerations suggest that purchasing decisions nowadays include questions that once appeared later in implementation. Instead of viewing training as a post-purchase responsibility, many practices evaluate education requirements before selecting a system. That approach may reduce unexpected disruption after installation while helping practices estimate the full cost of technology adoption. Canadian ophthalmology surgical practices continue to invest in technology that supports patient care. Yet successful implementation appears increasingly linked to workforce readiness. Buyers are paying closer attention to whether staff can adopt new systems efficiently because the benefits of advanced equipment depend on confident and consistent use throughout the surgical practice. ...Read more
Care continuity is an issue in healthcare. Many patients do not show up for their appointment. A doctor may make a plan for a patient when they leave the hospital. That does not mean the patient will follow it. The problem is not that we do not have information about the patient. We have a lot of information. It is not always easy to use it to help the patient. Healthcare organizations have a time keeping track of patients when they go from one doctor to another or from a hospital to a clinic. Now people are starting to use intelligence tools to help with this problem. These tools can find patients who have missed appointments or who are not following their treatment plans. They can also identify patients who need help. The goal is not to replace doctors and nurses but to help them focus on the patients who need their attention. This is a deal because when patients do not get the care they need, it can cause a lot of problems. They may have to go to the hospital, or their treatment may not work as well. If doctors and nurses can catch these problems early, they can help the patient before things get worse. What is interesting is that people used to think artificial intelligence would be used mostly to help with paperwork and other administrative tasks. Now people are starting to realize that it can be used to help patients stick to their treatment plans. When healthcare organizations are looking to buy these systems, they need to think about a few things. They need to make sure they have data to make the system work well. They also need to make sure that the system is not sending many alerts, or doctors and nurses may get tired of using it. The conversation about intelligence in healthcare is changing. People are starting to talk about how it can be used to help patients over time, rather than just making administrative tasks easier. The big question is whether these tools can really make a difference in patients' lives. Healthcare organizations want to know if they can help reduce the gaps in care that happen when patients are not getting the follow-up care they need. They want to know if these tools can really help patients get better and stay healthy. ...Read more