Concierge medicine is designed to be personalized and continuous. Part of this continuity is care provided at home. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) allows doctors to be part of their patients’ healthcare journey at home.
RPM uses at-home devices such as blood pressure cuffs, glucometers, and pulse oximeters to track health information over time. This precise data is reviewed by your medical team to help make timely, individualized decisions.
Care Between Visits
Many health changes develop silently without symptoms. For example, if a patient’s blood pressure (monitored at home) increases from 130s/70s to 150s/80s- they may or may not have symptoms. Remote Patient Monitoring helps identify such trends early, allowing your medical team to discuss care and adjust medications. This proactive approach has been shown in literature to improve disease control and reduce future complications¹.
Enhanced Outcomes for Chronic Conditions
Remote Patient Monitoring provides a clearer, more detailed picture of chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, than occasional in-office readings. In the office, some patients may have white-coat hypertension that can lead to falsely elevated blood pressure readings or may be fasting for labs that can present falsely lowered glucose readings. Studies on RPM have revealed enhanced blood pressure control and improved chronic disease management compared to standard of care²³.
Reduced Hospital Visits
Remote Patient Monitoring has been associated with fewer hospitalizations and shorter hospital stays for patients with chronic conditions⁴. Time and again we see patients leave a hospital after their insulin is adjusted to control diabetes. This adjustment is based on a very strict diabetic diet provided in the hospital. Sometimes, whilst at home, the blood sugar readings for patients can increase based on food that is consumed at home. RPM steps in to identify such trends and your medical team can adjust doses of diabetes medications to prevent a subsequent emergency room visit. This is how RPM can have a tangible impact on not just health but also quality of life.
Peace of Mind
Patients using RPM have peace of mind and feel confident that their health is being monitored in between visits. These patients also are more engaged and consistent in following treatment plans⁵. For example, a patient on medications for both hypertension and weight loss may potentially have a lower need for blood pressure medications as they lose weight. If they do not check their blood pressure consistently, their blood pressure can drop too low. RPM fills this gap and keeps both the patient and doctor aware of any potential changes in such a situation.
Technology can improve the Doctor–Patient Relationship
Sometimes technology may substitute human connection-making care feel impersonal. However, remote patient monitoring (RPM) complements personal care. By collecting data outside the office, your doctor can focus their efforts on reviewing data and have in-depth conversations on medical care that suits your lifestyle.
Your consistent partner in health
Remote Patient Monitoring provides a layer of medical care without disrupting your routine. It reflects a holistic approach to medicine by focusing on prevention, prioritizing continuity, and improving peace of mind.
References
- Totten AM, et al. Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring for Chronic Disease Management. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). 2020.
- Omboni S, McManus RJ, et al. Evidence and recommendations on the use of telemedicine for hypertension management. Hypertension. 2020.
- Shah AJ, et al. Remote patient monitoring and outcomes in outpatient chronic disease care. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. 2021.
- Kitsiou S, Paré G, Jaana M. Effects of home telemonitoring interventions on patients with chronic diseases: Updated systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2022.
- Kruse CS, et al. Patient engagement and satisfaction with remote patient monitoring: A systematic review. BMJ Open. 2023.
