Study Case: How Remote Patient Monitoring helps healthcare providers and patients.
The objective of the Remote Patient Monitoring programs is to gather a wide variety of patient-generated health data (PGHD). Then send it to healthcare professionals for them to make accurate, informed, and timely decisions about treatments and diagnostics.
Patients can generate this medical and lifestyle data by using medical devices or wearables (smartwatches or fit bands).
Under the supervision of Dr. Madrid, Medical Director (MD) of Rancho Family Medical Group located in Temecula CA. Esvyda had the opportunity to deliver the best remote patient monitoring and Telehealth solutions to over 1000 patients. Because RFMG was facing a major problem with the patients not being compliant with health plans and some HIPAA regulations. In this case, the main reason behind this was the group’s inability to communicate with patients efficiently, quickly, and properly.
With the help and support from customers, pilot program managers decided to target five senior couples. First, they provided five sets of medical devices for patients to do their vital signs measurements from home. Including devices like a blood pressure monitor, glucometers, pulse oximeter, scale, and temperature monitoring system. Then, a doctor followed this process, obtaining the compliant data seamlessly. Everything was running through the device, the middleware, and the Esvyda cloud.
A week later, all the five kits were back at the office. None of these couples wanted anything to do with vital sign collection. Little did we know that technology, without human touch and ease of use, does not help at all. Thus, we learned that the technology needed some improvements in several areas to work. Esvyda made adjustments in both the technology and the human interaction (using wellness coaching techniques). These resulted in many satisfied customers using the platform in earnest.
Why the need for Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)?
Remote Patient Monitoring enables physicians to access real-time data to prevent complications and significantly improve a patient’s quality of life. Additionally, patients and their family members feel comfortable knowing that they are being monitored and supported if any problem arises. Also, RPM will help avoid costly ER visits and needless hospitalizations through proactive intervention.
Results of the Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Program
As a result of the usage of RPM solutions, RFMG presented a readmission rate lower than 10% during the pilot program. This means that they saved in ER visits and readmissions in 90% of the studied patients.
Growing is always a learning process, gathering data and evaluating the processes are the main learning focuses. Pilot programs allow companies to have an idea about how markets and workflows behave.
A happy couple
A 52-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man with diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, who enrolled in the Telemonitoring Pilot Program from July 7 to September 22 in 2017, were actively engaged, through Lifestyle Coaching.
Coaches motivated them daily to take readings and keep doctor’s prescriptions. Acting as “Partners”, listening to them without “Judgment” and sharing similar experiences was the key. Neither readmission to the hospital nor ER visits happened. Certainly, they were more self-conscious about their health and started using their garage as a small gym. Due to this, they started to work out every day because they wanted to be an example for their grandchildren.
Mr. S
Similarly, a 75-year-old man with diabetes and hypertension enrolled in the Telemonitoring Pilot Program from June 2017 to date. He has been followed up by Lifestyle Coaches, who have been partners, listeners, and kept an eye on his readings.
Soon, an episode of out-of-range blood pressure readings was shown on the platform. Then the Wellness Coach communicated with the doctor immediately and an appointment was set up. The coach proactively intervened and possibly avoided complications that certainly might have sent the patient to the hospital or a visit to the ER.
Esvyda has been dedicated to improving and refining the design, development, and marketing of software products for chronic disease management. With a Remote Patient Monitoring, and Behavioral Health Integration focused on diabetes, hypertension, and CHF. We also started experimenting with Artificial Intelligence, Big Data analytics, and new cellular or IoT (Internet of Things). , . This will enable faster and efficient communication between doctors and patients.
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