Remote Patient Monitoring As Telehealth

Remote patient monitoring is a promising new tool to help doctors monitor the health of their patients at home. However, there are some concerns surrounding the system. These include the costs, the effectiveness of the system, and privacy concerns. The article below provides an overview of the pros and cons of this innovative tool. Also, it discusses possible reimbursement scenarios and co-payment policies. By this article’s end, you should clearly understand whether remote patient monitoring is the right choice for your practice.

Efficacy

Telehealth solutions are a great way to extend healthcare to far-flung regions. However, the telemonitoring providers must be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They must also be able to transmit patient data at predetermined times, according to a defined plan of care. In addition, patients may need in-person testing or diagnostics, but a remote patient monitoring guide may also be helpful for these patients.

To measure the efficiency of remote patient monitoring, researchers looked at the effectiveness of several methods. First, they classified telehealth applications and feedback methods according to how well they improved patient outcomes. Some studies showed that remote patient monitoring led to lower hospitalization rates, fewer intensive care admissions, and shorter stays. Among these benefits, the researchers noted that remote patient monitoring telehealth reduced hospitalization and intensive care usage and improved health care quality.

Costs

While some patients may require in-person care, many other conditions can be managed via remote patient monitoring. For example, remote patient monitoring can provide reminders to take vital signs, provide educational content, and enable a video or in-person visits. This is especially helpful for providers under value-based contracts. In addition, some hospitals have begun to use remote patient monitoring to reduce the cost of readmissions, which can lead to heavy financial penalties.

While the cost of remote patient monitoring services varies widely, Medicare and Medicaid can cover the costs of using this technology. In addition, some insurers and Medicaid agencies may reimburse for these services. State-specific waivers or special state programs may also cover these programs. For example, a physician can use the service if the patient has a condition that requires remote monitoring, such as diabetes.

Vendors

Several types of telehealth solutions are available, with varying fee requirements and agreements. Some vendors offer software as a service, while others provide hardware that needs to be purchased or leased. The different options can have advantages and disadvantages for various organizations. Some vendors include hidden costs, such as staffing requirements and maintenance costs. Others charge additional fees if a unit is lost or a replacement is needed. These hidden costs can add up quickly and become prohibitive.

A remote patient monitoring solution can help hospitals reduce associated healthcare costs by limiting expensive services. At the same time, it can expand the scope of care provided. The top 10 remote patient monitoring vendors use various tools and services, including enhanced healthcare metrics, patient messaging, mobile device integration, and in-home monitoring solutions. The following table lists these vendors in alphabetical order. You can also read case studies and vendor reviews to get an idea of their capabilities and the features they offer.

Privacy Concerns

Concerns about privacy and data security are among the top problems with remote patient monitoring as telehealth. Healthcare providers must protect their patients’ data by following privacy laws, which may require third-party companies to obtain patient consent before using this technology. Furthermore, there are concerns about the misuse of patient data by third-party providers and the possibility of unauthorized disclosures. While these concerns are reasonable, they should not be overlooked.

A Kaspersky survey commissioned by Arlington Research found that more than 80 percent of healthcare providers are concerned about data security, which may explain some patient refusals to telehealth services. The survey also showed that 70 percent of respondents use outdated legacy operating systems, which may be vulnerable to cyberattacks. Despite these concerns, healthcare providers believe telehealth will be a significant driver of the healthcare sector in the next five years.