Remote Patient Monitoring: What You Need to Know

As you know telehealth has taken the world by storm especially after the COVID-19 crisis hit. It has been revolutionary for patients who have little to no access to in-person visits. Other than that it has made life easier for people by lowering the health care costs and time a person uses to visit the doctor or an ER.

However, patients with chronic or long-term health issues have benefitted the most from telemedicine. This has been made possible by remote patient monitoring.

How does Remote Patient Monitoring Work

Remote patient monitoring, also known as remote patient management, works in a way that it collects all forms of health data from a patient using digital technologies. This makes it easy for the patients to transmit that data to their health care providers. It allows doctors to assess the data and make appropriate recommendations to their patients even if they are situated far away.

Remote patient monitoring can collect a wide range of data which includes vital signs, weight, blood sugar, oxygen levels in the blood, electrocardiograms, and even heart rate. Sending all this data to a health care professional helps them work on a treatment plan from anywhere.

This is most beneficial in regards that it lowers the number of readmissions and hospitalizations. This helps the patient in saving time and cost while also making it possible for medical professionals to create vacancies for other patients who might need personal care.

The things you will need for remote patient monitoring are software, the hardware to collect data, and a stable internet connection. It is as simple as collecting data from a Fitbit or an apple watch.

Types of Remote Patient Monitoring

The type of remote patient monitoring device you need depends on your medical condition. Here is a list of all types of remote patient monitoring devices that can help patients and health care professionals to make their life easier.

Blood Pressure Monitor

Blood pressure monitors now come for home use as well. Most of them are digital and easy to use. It makes it easy for patients to check their blood pressure and heart-rate with a simple push of a button. This device can help diagnose kidney dysfunction, diabetes, and high blood pressure in the early stages.

Anticoagulation testing device

Patients with deep vein thrombosis, artificial heart valves, pulmonary embolism, and other similar conditions can track their health data with an Anticoagulation testing device with just a drop of their blood. They can easily send their data to medical health professionals so they can assess the most effective solution for a patient’s problem.

Heart rate monitors

Heart rate monitors can keep a check on the heart rate of a patient with heart problems 24/7. They come in easy-use wearable forms.

Electrocardiography or ECG devices

These devices come in either handheld, wearable, or patch forms that record the electrical impulses of a patient’s heart. They can transfer the data to their health care professionals in real-time so they can warn them of any kind of risks such as cardiac chamber abnormalities or drug toxicity levels. This helps the physician to warn the patient in time before any casualty occurs.

Continuous glucose monitor

This device is most helpful for diabetes patients because they have to keep a constant check on their blood glucose levels. This device also needs a single drop of blood to assess all the results.