The healthcare industry witnessed a comprehensive tech transformation amid the pandemic. The lockdown forced people to stay indoors, and hospitals were crowded and ridden with infections. Routine check-ups were impossible, but remote patient monitoring emerged as a savior for seriously ill patients.
The technology remains a staple component of the industry after the pandemic is gone. According to Insider Intelligence, nearly 29.1 million Americans used remote patient monitoring tools and services in 2020. Surprisingly, the trend remains strong even in the new normal, with estimates indicating that 60.9 million patients will rely on these tools and services in 2024
Integrating this technology into your healthcare practice is essential to stay relevant and competitive. However, small clinics need to think beyond just providing a remote patient monitoring platform to their patients. You should take steps to maximize its benefits to streamline your processes and enhance patient care.
Here are the proven best practices small clinics can follow to make the most of remote patient monitoring technology.
Involve Your Patients in the Initiative
Remote patient monitoring aims to enhance the quality of care and patient experiences, regardless of the location and health condition. Involving patients in the initiative can improve its outcomes.
Clear communication and seamless collaboration with individuals can help you gain valuable insights into their expectations and requirements. You can use them to provide better treatments and resources.
Patient involvement breeds comfort and trust even when you treat them virtually. It breaks the barrier of distance and time and enables a collaborative system where individuals can be a part of their healthcare decisions.
Choose a User-Friendly Solution
When adopting remote patient monitoring software for your practice, ensure that the solution is user-friendly. Not all individuals are tech-savvy, specifically the elderly patients. They may not be comfortable with a complex mobile app and medical device. At times, they may even make mistakes that could affect overall health and safety outcomes.
Statistics show that the American population is aging rapidly, with the number of people aged 65 and over projected to reach 83.7 million by 2050. That means you should opt for the simplest solution aging patients with minimal technical skills can use. Also, consider their physical constraints, such as poor eyesight and lack of hand-eye coordination, when choosing it.
For example, an aging person may not be able to use their in-home blood pressure monitor properly. A wearable device connected with remote monitoring is a simpler option to ensure accurate diagnosis and timely care as necessary.
CoachCare notes that a simple solution is a plus for the clinical staff as it enables them to work efficiently. It is easy to adopt without investing a lot of time and effort in employee training.
Encourage Treatment Adherence
Implementing a user-friendly remote monitoring solution enables you to broaden your reach and provide quality care. But you may still struggle with treatment adherence, which is among the biggest challenges for healthcare providers. Studies show that poor adherence can compromise treatment efficacy and adversely affect clinical outcomes.
Many people fail to adhere to their medication schedules and dosages. So you should integrate the adherence factor into your remote monitoring initiative. The solution can have a feature showing indications when a patient fails to take medications as prescribed. You can send reminders and counsel patients to avoid non-adherence in the future.
Some people experience barriers preventing them from sticking to medication routines. For example, people suffering from mental health issues may forget about medicines. You can monitor patient data and follow up on warning signs. Additionally, you can create a treatment plan that addresses these barriers.
Prioritize Security and Compliance
Data privacy is a key concern for the healthcare industry. Did you know that nearly two million individuals were affected by the data breach in the Shields Health Care Group in 2022? The numbers show the gravity of the concern.
Security breaches can lead to identity theft and financial loss for patients. They can cause penalties, erode trust, and result in reputational damage to providers. Ensuring patient safety should be a priority when you collaborate with a technology partner to implement remote healthcare monitoring for your practice.
Consider the following while selecting a provider:
- Ensure compliance with HIPAA requirements
- Check how they monitor cross-platform data sharing
- Understand the measures they follow to prevent cyber threats and breaches
The Bottom Line
Remote patient care can be a lifesaver for people who cannot reach a healthcare facility in an emergency. It also empowers healthcare providers to deliver effective and timely treatment and avoid heavy foot traffic in your facility.
Fortunately, remote healthcare monitoring solutions are easily available and accessible in the US. Even small clinics can adopt them without spending a fortune. Besides implementing an ideal solution, you should follow these best practices to get the best benefits from it.
