Once we finish the pandemic chapter, there will be many more. However, one thing is clear – the disruption of our healthcare system has already begun. Although the COVID-19 epidemic has caused widespread havoc around the globe, it has also helped to accelerate the adoption of Telehealth as an alternate to traditional physical appointments. Remote patient monitoring has been a growing area of telehealth in the last two years.
Let’s take a look at remote patient monitoring and how artificial Intelligence saves the day.
Basics of remote patient monitoring
Remote patient monitoring is a new field in healthcare. It uses technology to collect data from patients outside the hospital or doctor’s offices. RPM can collect many patient data such as vital signs, activity levels and other information.
Fortune Business Insights predicts that the market for remote patient monitoring devices will exceed $101 billion in 2028. RPM software adoption is increasing due to rising prevalence of chronic diseases such diabetes and other diseases.
Remote Patient Monitoring: Benefits
Remote patient monitoring can be used to monitor patients or groups of patients who are unable to visit you in person. Remote monitoring can be used in certain cases to monitor vital signs like blood pressure and pulse rate. Remote patient monitoring is also possible to monitor patients at risk for hypothermia, or any other medical condition that requires constant attention.
Cost savings
RPM solutions offer tremendous cost savings potential. RPM was ranked the #1 reducer in overall healthcare costs by 69%.
Remote patient monitoring allows patients access to professional diagnostics and treatment without having to travel long distances to reach the clinic or hospital where they are being treated. Remote treatment can be used to:
Optimized time spent talking to patients (no need for routine vitals or additional questions, since all the data are already available).
Increased accessibility of RPM solution solutions allows for improved communication.
Safety of patients increased
Hospitals were the main source of transmission during the pandemic. Online consultations emerged as the most secure way to obtain professional advice. Remote patient monitoring means that doctors and nurses can monitor patients from their homes, which makes it less likely that they will catch something in hospital.
Qualitative care
Remote patient monitoring is a great way to improve the quality of patient care. Doctors and nurses can monitor patients’ vitals remotely without ever having to visit them. Access to this information is a great way to help patients with chronic conditions receive better treatment.
Better patient outcomes
Doctors and nurses have the ability to monitor patient data 24/7. This improves compliance. Patients can live more independently and are more involved in their treatment.
Healthcare accessibility improved
Remote monitoring of patients reduces inequalities in traditional healthcare. Remote monitoring solutions allow for remote consultations, follow-ups, and support for those who live in rural areas.
How does RPM work?
There are many RPM products on the marketplace, and they come with a wide range of sizes and shapes. Some RPM systems can be used alone, while others can be integrated into existing electronic medical records (EHRs). However, all RPM systems share one thing in common: the ability to collect patient-generated information and then send it to healthcare providers for monitoring.
RPM solutions can embed telehealth and homecare capabilities into:
Stand-alone medical measuring instruments (patches, blood glucose concentration and pulse oximeter)
Implantable devices (e.g., Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices (CIEDs))
Digital platforms enable patients to be supported 24/7 via continuous monitoring and support, including telehealth.
RPM solutions usually connect to the Cloud, which allows for compliant data sharing, seamless access to patient information, and seamless access.
Here is how to send a patient’s vitals from RPM Software to the healthcare provider.
The system allows a patient to register so that it can authenticate the device.
The system starts monitoring and data collection via a medical device.
The device receives and transmits data, to an RPM server (or the cloud).
Algorithms analyze the data of patients and produce reports and visualizations.
The doctor can access the visualization and follow the corresponding actions.
How artificial intelligence is helping telehealth
The AI market has seen significant growth due to the impact artificial intelligence has on healthcare. The market for artificial intelligence in healthcare will reach over $187 Billion by 2030.
Remote monitoring and telehealth are two other applications of AI. AI-driven technologies transformed RPM platforms from a data aggregator to an advanced data analysis platform. RPM platforms can be used in conjunction with analytics to allow doctors to integrate patient data into their clinical workflows and generate precise predictions.
Artificial intelligence is a tool that enables proactive care, as well as more data-driven and personalized treatment options. Let’s look at where machine intelligence fits.
Diagnosis
According to the L.A. County Department of Health Services (L.A. County Department of Health Services), telehealth monitoring of diabetic retinopathy decreased patient visits by approximately 14,000 visits. The number of patient visits and wait times will drop further if artificial intelligence is added to the screening stage.
Machine learning classification algorithms are able to analyze RPM solutions patient data and flag patients at highest risk for certain conditions. Patients can also upload their medical images to a secure website. AI-based Image Recognition can detect anomalies without the need for professional assistance.
Treatment plans
In precision medicine, artificial intelligence is also proving useful. The AI-powered system compares patients’ images with a list of high-quality treatment plan databases created by experts. This information is combined with your personal health data to produce a customized treatment plan.
IBM says that expert systems can help patients to be grouped by similar treatment responses, to provide the most effective treatment.
Patient engagement
Another responsibility of AI remote patient monitoring is to engage patients in medication adherence and scheduling appointments. AI can generate action items by analysing software data. This includes reminders for appointments, follow up actions, and other. Chatbots can be used to automate communication and improve access to healthcare.
Management of chronic disease
Complexities in chronic disease management remain a mystery to the healthcare industry. AI, however can identify early signs of chronic diseases in the patient’s records and prevent them from becoming serious. The algorithms can recognize CKD patients based upon the stage of their disease and whether they have suffered from acute kidney injury.
Remote patient monitoring and AI are a match made in Heaven
Remote patient monitoring provides a vital addition to traditional healthcare. This makes professional diagnosis possible and allows for treatment. RPM software incorporates artificial intelligence to enhance its data processing capabilities, making it an effective tool that complements offline therapies. Artificial intelligence is a tool that improves patient outcomes by enabling efficient disease diagnosis and personalized treatments.
