RPM: 5 Trends in the next year
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) has been growing in popularity in recent years as a way to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. I always think of RPM as a step further on from #telehealth - taking the basic definition of virtual medical encounters and adding monitoring devices to improve remote care. After working for two separate clients who are evaluating the market, I consider 5 things that are key trends that are likely to shape RPM and its capacity in the future of healthcare.
Increased Adoption of Wearable Devices
Many of us already have adopted wearable devices. We can track our and our patients’ vital signs, activity levels, and other health metrics, providing valuable data that can be used to guide treatment decisions. Wearable devices are becoming more sophisticated, with advanced sensors that can detect even subtle changes and are more targeted.
In addition, wearable devices are becoming more user-friendly, with intuitive interfaces and better integration with other healthcare technologies. This is necessary as patients are more likely to use them if they are easy to use and provide them value. RPM, of course, is a step further from the wearable devices many of us own but it has gotten all of us in the habit of monitoring our health data.
2. Advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are likely to have a significant impact on remote patient monitoring (like everything else). AI algorithms can analyze large datasets of medical records and patient data to identify patterns and predict which treatments are most effective for specific conditions. This can help healthcare providers make more informed decisions about patient care, leading to better outcomes and reduced costs.
AI can also be used to detect early warning signs of potential health problems, allowing for early intervention and better outcomes. We can potentially analyze data from wearable devices to detect changes in a patient’s heart rate or blood pressure, which could indicate the onset of a health problem - and intervene far before we would have caught it in an office.
3. Expansion of Telehealth Services
Telehealth will have continued expansion and RPM will enhance it. The concern of the lack of vitals, health data, objective information that limits telehealth visits will go away. The data will be available. Patients will be able to receive better care from their homes, reducing the need for in-person visits and improving access to care for those who live in rural or remote areas.
Telehealth services will also become more integrated with other healthcare technologies, such as electronic health records (EHRs) and patient portals. This will allow healthcare providers to access patient data more easily and provide more personalized care to patients. Even better if RPM data is there alongside.
4. Increased Focus on Chronic Disease Management
Chronic diseases are a major contributor to healthcare costs and a significant burden on patients and their families. Remote patient monitoring can be particularly effective in managing chronic diseases, since it can track patients’ symptoms, vital signs and monitor their progress over time.
I expect we will see some improvement on how we monitor this - i'd like to see less self reported data and more streamlined aggregation. RPM can monitor patients’ health status and provide personalized care plans. This will help patients manage their conditions more effectively and reduce the need for hospitalizations and other costly interventions.
5. Emphasis on Patient Engagement and Education
Remote patient monitoring can be a valuable tool for health literacy. It can engage patients in their own care and educate them about their health conditions. RPM doesn't have to simply be pulling data out - it can also give patients data and information back.
We can use remote patient monitoring to provide patients with personalized feedback about their health status, current status, and care plans. Patients will also have access to educational resources and tools that can help them better understand their health conditions and how to manage them effectively. This puts patients more in control of their care - a central tenet of patient centered care.
RPM continues to grow and we will see its continued expansion. While there are still things on the wishlist, the products and research grow daily. Incorporating into patient's lives and using that data to enhance clinical care should be a given.