Remote patient monitoring is a subcategory of telehealth that allows caregivers to monitor patients remotely, which ensures conditions or complications are addressed quickly, and no potential problem is allowed to escalate. When it comes to both home health and hospice care as we offer at Doctor’s Choice Home Health and Hospice, this type of remote monitoring can help nurses and doctors have “eyes and ears” on their patients and even oversee multiple patients simultaneously, increasing the quality of care they can provide.
According to the Government Accountability Office, remote patient monitoring is “a coordinated system that uses one or more home-based or mobile monitoring devices that transmit vital sign data or information on activities of daily living that are subsequently reviewed by a healthcare professional.” There are several types of devices that fall under this umbrella definition, which can be utilized to create a better patient experience, especially when patients are at home. Some of the more common patient monitoring devices that might be utilized to increase the standard of care given by home health or even hospice medical professionals include the following:
Blood Pressure Cuff: This measures the heart rate and blood flow by evaluating the changes in artery motion. This type of device is especially helpful when treating conditions like kidney dysfunction, or hypertension. Day-to-day monitoring through a remote device can provide increased insights that would not be obtainable if it was only monitored sporadically. It can also prevent false spikes or dips in blood pressure that might be brought on in the presence of a healthcare professional, which is sometimes called white coat hypertension.
Pulse Oximeter: This is a non-invasive device that attaches to the patient’s finger or, in some rare cases, the earlobe. Its purpose is to measure the wavelengths that determine how much oxygen is circulating in the red blood cells, providing an accurate measurement of blood oxygen level. It can also monitor a patient’s pulse. This type of monitoring device is particularly useful for patients with lung issues like COPD or for those with chronic heart issues. It can also be a great way to monitor patients with asthma or pneumonia.
Wearable Tracker: Sometimes, wearable tracking devices are used to create a better overall picture of a patient’s health for their caregivers. This type of tracker can monitor a variety of measurements, from heart rate to a patient's steps and even their sleep quality. The healthcare professional can look at the data gathered over time and be able to create a more personalized treatment approach. While sometimes these trackers are worn on the body like an Apple Watch or Fitbit, other times, they are in the form of a sticker or patch that attaches to the patient, allowing them to always have it on. These are more applicable for biometric tracking. Generally, wearables can be a great way to track a variety of factors, including glucose, blood pressure, heart rate, stress, and even weight in a single device.
Scale: Speaking of weight, it is more than vanity that is brought into play in terms of weight when a patient is ill. In fact, changes in weight can often be the first indicator that something serious is going on with a patient. For example, in CHF patients, weight fluctuations can indicate they are retaining water, which can signal that their condition is worsening. Bluetooth scales allow patients to track their weight over time and give caregivers a much better picture of their health overall.
Glucometer: This medical device allows patients to test their blood sugar levels. In many instances, the machine is connected to the provider's system, allowing caregivers to monitor these numbers in real-time. Patients who have been diagnosed with either Type 2 or Type 1 diabetes often have to use these devices multiple times a day. This device will give caregivers a much clearer picture of a patient’s blood sugar and help them discover potential influences that might be driving it up.
While there are other types of remote patient monitoring devices available, and each healthcare provider will determine what devices and monitoring systems work best for their at-home patients, most of these devices are helpfully implemented in monitoring and treating specific health conditions, like the following:
Cancer: When treating a patient who has been diagnosed with cancer, some devices can help caregivers oversee their condition remotely. Devices like blood pressure cuffs, thermometers, pulse oximeters and more, along with a tablet to enter information into, can be used to keep track of vital signs and then shared with a patient’s doctor or nurses.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD): Patients with chronic conditions like COPD can use remote devices to prevent hospitalization by discovering issues early and being able to predict exacerbations.
Dementia and Related Falls: Wearable medical devices can help a medical team detect a fall or alert them if a patient with dementia is in distress of any kind. This can help caregivers who are trying to keep these patients safe who have the tendency to wander and fall.
Many Others: There are countless medical conditions that could be positively impacted by using remote medical devices in some manner as part of patient care. In fact, nearly all of them would be better managed with these devices.
At Doctor’s Choice Home Care & Hospice, we are committed to providing our patients with the very best care possible. Our team of medical professionals approach each patient’s case uniquely and provide a strategic approach to their care, involving their families and several additional supportive team members. Thankfully, remote monitoring devices are one element that can be used to provide enhanced care for our patients and keep them connected with their caregivers, even when they are not physically present in the home with them. This allows more effective care, allowing medical professionals to see problems coming before they escalate, and providing patients with preventative care before they even know there's an issue. This is just one of the many tools in the toolbox that we use to provide our patients and their families with superb medical care through either home health or hospice.
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