The RPM approach has a solid basis in the profound technology literacy of patients and the easily accessible devices of the 21st century.
BIOFEEDBACK DEVICES
Under conditions of rapid progress in nurse healthcare technology, the concept of remote patient monitoring has emerged to advance the patient-provider relationship. Remote patient monitoring, or RPM, is a telehealth delivery approach where the patient-provider information is shared in real time or in delayed response.
RPM devices are evolving with great speed to increase patients’ accessibility to healthcare services. This is especially relevant now, during COVID-19 variant outbreaks, when personal interactions may need to be limited but without limiting the access to healthcare. RPM devices fill this gap.
Types of remote patient monitoring devices
Remote patient monitoring devices can be divided into two groups: wearable and portable.[4]
Practical application of the telehealth concept ‘remote patient monitoring’
Preparing for orthopedic surgery
Narrowing the focus to the field of orthopedics, it is important to discuss how the devices are utilized at the different stages of healthcare services. Patients begin using remote monitoring software beginning at the pre-operative period.
Pre-operative period
During this period, orthopedists and patients use remote healthcare technologies for virtual access to important data related to the pending orthopedic surgery and the postoperative treatment plan.[5]
Before an orthopedic surgery, patients are asked to fill in a personal health data survey, reporting pain severity, stiffness, limitations in motion, and other parameters. Using this data patients and healthcare professionals work as a team to identify desired clinical health outcomes and expected patient goals.[2]
Patients also use RPM systems to send their patient-reported outcome survey (PRO) to the orthopedist for consideration, evaluation, and professional feedback. This survey is used to compare pre operative presentation with the post operative gains.[2]
Telehealth approaches increase the safety of patients and medical personnel especially in the face of contagious diseases. RPM notifications allow medical staff to better prepare for their patient’s presentation, creating a safer environment for the whole hospital. Specifically, patients are encouraged to monitor and report possible symptoms of COVID-19 and/or other infections, or health conditions that may require postponing the surgery.[5]
In this regard, remote patient monitoring has an important advantage compared to eye-to-eye visits.
Surgery period
During surgery, RPMs are used by medical personnel to document many aspects of the surgery. This includes documenting patient vitals, details about the prosthesis or hardware used in the surgery, and important operative data. Documenting this perioperative information is important as it helps the orthopedist create the best rehabilitation course for the patient.[5]
Post-operative period
During the post operative period, RPS systems are again utilized for patient surveys and questionnaires which compare patient symptoms with preoperative levels. Also, the devices are implemented to track patients’ compliance with a treatment therapy.[4]
Health providers use both results to track their patient’s treatment progression and identify potential rehabilitation concerns before they become a bigger problem. Telehealth technology enhances the patient-provider relationship by providing faster follow-up appointments which is important if a medical concern is flagged on the RPM devices.
This approach is safer and more cost-efficient for the patient. The implementation of orthopedic telemedicine is positively praised by patients. According to the recent orthopedic randomized controlled trial, patients who used orthopedic telemedicine during rehabilitation reported the same level of satisfaction with received services as a control group under a conventional treatment approach.[4]
The favorable political environment for telehealth services
The interest in remote patient monitoring software is impressive. In 2019, even before the onset of the pandemic, the US market of remote patient monitoring technologies demonstrated an annual growth rate of about 20%.[4] Exploring the targeted audience, the researchers concluded that the lion’s share of investments (almost 90%) was given for developing devices for chronically ill patients.[4] Such a decision is not surprising. Health conditions associated with long recovery time or life-long healthcare issues imply prolonged interaction with customers, their loyalty, and a high percentage of returning customers.
The expansion of RPM industry is stipulated by loosened restrictions in reimbursement for telecommunication and telehealth services. Current Procedural Terminology Codes (CPT) were revised and expanded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the US federal healthcare delivery programs.[4]
Specifically, codes 99091, 99453, 99454, 99457, and 99458 allow health providers to receive reimbursement for consulting and training patients on how to set up and utilize their patient remote monitoring devices. Also under the new regulatory changes, healthcare providers can be paid for “reviewing remotely collected RPM data, and consulting patients regarding their RPM data”.[4] The discussed regulatory changes created a favorable environment for further expansion of the remote patient monitoring industry.
Remote patient monitoring under conditions of the pandemic
Conclusion
The industry of telehealth services, including remote patient monitoring software, demonstrates drastic growth and expansion in the United States and around the world. Its benefits of cost-effectiveness and advanced safety for patients and medical personnel alike has garnered it legislative support as a necessary extension of the healthcare system.
The ever-increasing patient satisfaction surveys about receiving medical services via telecommunication fully support this movement. Under the conditions of the pandemic, Smart Crutch Tips & Mobile Apps provide professional tracking of patients’ treatment compliance. This RPM device educates the users on how to achieve optimal weight-bearing that meets their postoperative rehabilitation needs, and thus improves their recovery rate.
To learn more about Smart Crutch Tips & Mobile App, visit ComeBack Mobility.
