Monthly Writings

Evaluations and reviews of the latest in the field.

A New Care Model: Moving From Remote Patient Monitoring to Remote Patient Care

After reading this article, you will be able to discuss the need for a new care delivery model moving from Remote Patient Monitoring to Remote Patient Care.

SUMMARY:

  • Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) provides consistent physiologic measurements.

  • To date, results of RPM on clinical and cost effectiveness have been mixed.

  • Although the technology is reliable, a new clinical care model is needed to maximize the potential of RPM


RPM CHALLENGES RESULTING in MIXED OUTCOMES:

  • Data overload with large volumes of continuous or intermittent data

  • Lack of patient context of the data

  • Lack of clinical prioritization

  • Lack of integration and interoperability with existing systems

  • Ongoing patient adherence

  • Digital skills of the patient and ability to use devices

  • Loss of trust in RPM accuracy

  • Diminishing likelihood to take appropriate actions

NEED A NEW MODEL:

  • To drive success, need to shift from RPM as a technology tool to a mode of true care transformation and delivery.

  • Need to shift focus toward a team-based, protocol-driven program providing total care

  • Patient Risk Stratification becomes critical.

    • Consider readmission and clinical deterioration likelihood

  • Not everyone needs to be remotely monitored/cared for

  • The New Model: An Inter-collaborative Team

    • Designed to provide comprehensive integrated strategies to provide coordinated patient management, improve outcomes, and decrease costs.

    • Patient Centric

    • Dynamic process

    • Action steps at each tier of the model

    • Clear escalation points from predefined clinical thresholds or demonstrate concerning trajectories

    • Who provides the care and when?

    • What is the staffing model?

    • How is the team workforce managed?

  • Various reports document the benefits of an outpatient Inter-Collaborative Team Care with inconsistent results:

CONCLUSIONS:

  • RPM  can be used for a variety of chronic outpatient conditions, driving patient engagement and self-care.

  • RPM has produced inconsistent clinical and economic results in real clinical practice.

  • The issue is not the technology but rather the level of clinical interpretation and care delivery.

  • A new care model is needed to move from Remote Patient Monitoring to Remote Patient Care involving an Inter-Collaborative Team.

  • Use of RPM has rapidly expanded, providing a potential safety net.

  • Despite this promised performance, RPM has resulted in inconsistent outcomes (clinical and financial).

  • The issue is not the technology perse, but rather the care delivery model.

  • A new Inter-Collaborative team model is needed with a patient-centric approach of care delivery.

  • Supporting patient self-management of multiple chronic diseases over a lifetime is a significant challenge.

    Let’s have a brief chat to optimize your RPM program.

Erkan Hassan