Remote Patient Monitoring Apps: Benefits and Applications

In the growing healthcare industry, technological advancements have paved the way for transformative approaches to patient care. Among these innovations, Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) offers healthcare professionals the ability to remotely monitor and manage patients' health conditions.

This paradigm shift is facilitated through the integration of Remote Patient Monitoring Apps, which empower patients to actively participate in their healthcare journey.

An Overview of Remote Patient Monitoring

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) is a healthcare technology that allows medical professionals to monitor and manage patients' health and medical conditions from a distance. It uses various digital tools and devices to collect and transmit patient data.

Key Components of Remote Patient Monitoring

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Patient Devices: Patients actively use various medical devices, including wearable sensors, blood pressure monitors, glucometers, or scales, to proactively gather vital health data. These devices are seamlessly interconnected with smartphones or tablets, empowering patients to take charge of their well-being.
Data Transmission: Patient data, encompassing critical vital signs, unwavering medication adherence, and detailed symptom reporting, is meticulously collected and securely transmitted to a central server, a cloud-based platform, or the healthcare provider's robust system. This proactive data transmission ensures healthcare professionals have immediate access to real-time patient information.
Healthcare Provider Interface: Healthcare professionals, through an innovative and secure portal or dedicated software, actively access patient data. This interface empowers them to proactively review and meticulously analyse the information, enabling swift and informed decisions.
Alerts and Notifications: RPM systems can be finely tuned to automatically dispatch alerts and notifications to healthcare providers when specific health parameters venture outside the desired range. This proactive system enables healthcare professionals to promptly intervene and make necessary adjustments to treatment plans, ensuring optimal patient care.
Patient Engagement: RPM apps actively cultivate patient engagement by granting patients the ability to proactively input their health data, establish direct communication channels with their healthcare providers, and seamlessly access an array of educational resources. This active involvement empowers patients to play an informed and participatory role in their healthcare management.

Advantages of Remote Patient Monitoring Apps

1. Enhanced Access to Care

RPM apps simplify access to healthcare, particularly for patients in remote areas. The ability to monitor health remotely reduces the necessity for frequent in-person visits.

For example, elderly individuals residing in distant villages can now regularly assess their health using RPM apps, eliminating the need for arduous journeys to healthcare facilities.

2. Efficient Chronic Disease Management

RPM apps are invaluable for individuals with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

They empower patients to take better care of themselves by continuously monitoring their vital signs and receiving expert guidance.

An example is a person with diabetes who can closely track their blood sugar levels and seek advice from their healthcare provider without leaving the comfort of their home.

3. Cost Savings

RPM apps offer economic benefits by reducing the number of hospital or clinic visits. This can result in substantial cost savings for both patients and healthcare systems.

For example, patients with heart conditions can avoid expensive hospital stays by using RPM apps to detect and address potential issues before they become critical.

4. Patient Empowerment

RPM apps encourage patient engagement by granting them more control over their health.

Patients can actively monitor their health data, communicate with healthcare professionals, and access educational resources.

Consider someone with asthma who uses an RPM app to check their lung function and gain insights into managing their symptoms more effectively.

5. Improved Postoperative Care

RPM apps are indispensable for postoperative care, allowing medical professionals to monitor patients during their recovery at home closely. This ensures a smoother and more informed recovery process.

For example, individuals recovering from knee surgery can use RPM apps to share their progress and communicate any concerns with their surgeon, resulting in a more seamless recuperation journey.

Top 5 Remote Patient Monitoring Apps

1. Jotform

Initiating remote patient monitoring swiftly involves creating forms for patients to independently share the data they are already collecting. These forms can be tailored to be simple or detailed, with a basic version including fields for the patient's name, address, and patient ID number to align their data with their patient record.

2. Dexcom

Dexcom specialises exclusively in monitoring blood glucose levels. The company offers a comprehensive system, encompassing both hardware and software, for remote patient monitoring.

The Dexcom G6 CGM system comprises a wearable sensor and transmitter that transmit glucose readings to a smart device.

The accompanying software allows patients to share their data with up to 10 individuals, enabling them to keep family members informed about their health status.

3. Philips

The remote patient monitoring system by Philips comprises the eCareCoordinator Clinical dashboard for clinicians and a companion app for patients known as the eCareCompanion.

This software relies on data reported by patients and information from connected devices. For instance, patients can link their blood glucose meter to upload data and record their temperature.

Both the patient and clinician dashboards analyse the data, identifying trends. The care coordinator app enables clinicians to tailor patient care plans and collaborate with other healthcare professionals for coordinated care.

4. Senseonics

Senseonics is dedicated to blood glucose monitoring as well. Its system includes a detachable transmitter and a sensor implanted beneath the skin by a healthcare professional.

The sensor is linked to a mobile app that evaluates patient data and issues alerts and information via the patient's smartphone or smartwatch when their blood glucose levels are elevated.

5. Medtronic

Medtronic presents a comprehensive range of remote patient monitoring software. It delivers patient-centric apps for both iOS and Android devices, linking to devices that track vital signs and other health metrics such as weight scales, glucometers, and blood pressure monitors.

Healthcare professionals can scrutinise the data using the Medtronic Care Management Services platform.

Alerts are triggered for clinicians if the patient's data suggests they've reached a pre-established threshold, enabling them to assess trends and adjust the patient's care plan accordingly.

Wrapping Up

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) is revolutionising healthcare by providing a proactive and efficient approach to patient care.

Using digital tools and devices, RPM enables the seamless collection and transmission of vital patient data, allowing healthcare professionals to make informed decisions in real time.

Take the first step towards transforming healthcare delivery by partnering with VirtualSpirit to build a remote monitoring app that puts patients' well-being at the forefront.