What is remote patient monitoring (RPM)?

Medically reviewed on February 24, 2023 by Jordan Stachel, MS, RDN, CPT. To give you technically accurate, evidence-based information, content published on the Everlywell blog is reviewed by credentialed professionals with expertise in medical and bioscience fields.

Table of contents

• How does remote patient monitoring fit into telehealth services?
• What happens after your healthcare provider receives data?
• Who can benefit from RPM?
• How can you find out more about RPM programs?
• Related content

Depending on the diagnosis, some health conditions can require routine testing or frequent communication with your care provider. Constantly traveling back and forth between medical centers for such reasons can be costly, time-consuming, and increasingly unnecessary.

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is an effective means of keeping tabs on your health and sharing data with your healthcare provider. RPM can cut down on trips to the clinic and cut back on healthcare costs overall.

But what is remote patient monitoring, and how can it improve how you receive healthcare?

Read on to discover more about how RPM technology works and how you can use it to manage your healthcare needs.

How does remote patient monitoring fit into telehealth services?

RPM is an integral component of telehealth, which is itself an increasingly popular way of receiving healthcare services. Telehealth is an umbrella term covering nearly every healthcare service rendered digitally, including virtual consultations, booking in-person appointments, and, of course, RPM [1].

At its core, RPM is when patients collect their own health data and remotely report it to their healthcare providers. Usually, this means administering tests in the comfort of your own home and digitally transferring the results.

RPM isn’t for times when you need an X-ray or MRI. Many of the tests patients perform on themselves are basic and likely already familiar to you, including [2]:

• Measuring bodily characteristics such as height and weight
• Reading blood pressure
• Checking blood glucose levels
• Counting pulse
• Taking temperature

These basic tests are simple to administer, and patients have long been doing them on their own. Due to advancements in medical technology, however, you can now perform a wider range of patient health assessments at home. It’s become easier than ever to collect and share health data using [1]:

• Heart monitors
• Apnea and breathing devices
• Fetal monitors
• Oxygen saturation meters

Patients treating illnesses, monitoring developing conditions, or taking extra precautions during pregnancy may already use such equipment. RPM service platforms allow you to share data instantly and effortlessly from these devices with trusted professionals who can use it to keep better track of your health.

What happens after your healthcare provider receives data?

When a healthcare provider recommends an RPM program, they give the patient a list of measurements—such as heart rate and weight change—that they must provide. The patient will send the results at the instructed intervals, allowing the healthcare organization or provider to keep an eye on the patient’s condition from a distance.

Using RPM, a healthcare provider can [3]:

• Monitor and manage conditions – Some ailments (such as COVID-19) can typically be handled with bed rest, basic medication, and close monitoring. Keeping a professional updated with results from Oxygen Saturation and Antigen Tests can let them know if you’re on the mend and when you’re no longer contagious.
• Assess and instruct a patient – The results of at-home tests and self-reported information can be enough for healthcare providers to diagnose their patients and create a care plan. In such cases, qualified parties can write prescriptions and further instruct their patients on how to treat their condition.
• Recommend further treatment – If changing test results indicate a cause for concern, healthcare providers can recommend additional assessments or a specialist. Remote patient monitoring software allows healthcare professionals to keep a closer eye on a patient’s condition as they don’t have to wait for intermittent appointments to receive vital information.

In the modern, interconnected world, remote monitoring can help patients and healthcare providers manage conditions more seamlessly than in the past. Testing, monitoring, and treatment are all accessible on integrated platforms, meaning streamlined medical services are literally at your fingertips.

But, is RPM for all patients? What makes someone a suitable candidate for RPM programs?

Who can benefit from RPM?

Remote patient monitoring services expedite healthcare for patients and alleviate much of the burden that clinics and specialists bear for routine testing. There are many benefits of remote patient monitoring. However, an RPM service isn’t the perfect answer to every situation, but it can make medical services more easily accessible for those with [2]:

• A risk of infecting others or being infected – RPM rose to prominence during a time in which gathering in groups—even to receive healthcare—was a major concern. Those who are immunocompromised or contagious can handle their conditions without needing to visit crowded clinics, which are prime places for infectious diseases to spread.
• Mobility issues – For some people, waiting at a medical office isn’t just a drag—it can be extremely physically taxing. The remote patient monitoring software eliminates the effort and pain of long journeys and lines at the clinic and allows patients with limited mobility to skip straight to the front of the queue.
• Anxiety about medical appointments – For some, seeing a healthcare provider in person can be a nerve-wracking experience. Digital consultations in the comfort of your own home can alleviate much of the stress of medical appointments. Healthcare providers and the patient’s care team can also provide psychiatric consultation and prescriptions through RPM programs if a patient needs further psychological assistance.
• Less severe and well-documented conditions – Note that a remote patient monitoring system isn’t for medical emergencies or unfamiliar conditions. But, it can help patients and healthcare providers work together to keep track of ongoing illnesses and treat familiar, less medically-intensive issues.

Patients with more severe conditions or those experiencing unfamiliar symptoms should still seek conventional medical help. However, if RPM seems like the right fit for your healthcare needs, there’s a fantastic platform available to test, consult, and treat conditions alongside licensed healthcare providers.

How can you find out more about RPM programs?

Everlywell provides access to virtual care providers with their own robust RPM systems to help you better manage your personal wellness. From providing testing materials to connecting you with online healthcare providers and prescribing medications, Everlywell has your health covered every step of the way.

With one provider doing all the work, the path from assessment, to diagnosis, to treatment is smooth and seamless. With Everlywell, your digital healthcare experience can be even easier than in-person visits.

If you believe an RPM program can make your healthcare routine easier, reach out to discover the many benefits of telehealth and the wide range of services and at-home tests we provide.

Related content

Benefits of remote patient monitoring

Remote patient monitoring for diabetes explained

Synchronous vs. asynchronous telehealth: key points to know

References

 
1. Mechanic OJ, Kimball AB. Telehealth Systems. National Institutes of Health. Published April 5, 2019. Accessed February 8, 2023. URL.
2. Telehealth and remote patient monitoring. Telehealth.HHS.gov. Accessed February 8, 2023. URL
3. Mantena S, Keshavjee S. Strengthening healthcare delivery with remote patient monitoring in the time of COVID-19. BMJ Health & Care Informatics. 2021;28(1):e100302. doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjhci-2020-100302