Initiatives to Slow the Spread of COVID-19 and Increase Remote Patient Monitoring Adoption

 

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is a relatively new technology to allow tracking of patients from remote locations, including in a remote room or at home, that can reduce access to medical care and healthcare delivery costs. There are some very good reasons to consider the benefits of RPM. It can save time and money because a physician can perform more routine activities, such as taking patients' vital signs or administering medications, than would be possible if he had to physically visit the patients, while being away from the patient's location. Moreover, by offering health care services to patients in an unmonitored and out of doors setting, physicians are able to provide the highest level of care to their patients, while also maintaining high patient safety and security.

Emergence of Covid-19 is expected to boost demand for remote patient monitoring. In the U.S, regulatory bodies are expanding the use of non-invasive RPM devices to curb the spread of Covid-19. For instance, in March 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allowed expanded use of non-invasive remote patient monitoring devices to slow the spread of COVID-19. Some of the non-invasive remote-monitoring devices covered by the new guidance are electronic stethoscopes, non-invasive blood pressure devices, and respiratory rate/breathing frequency measurement devices.

As the remote patient monitoring technology continues to evolve and advance, it is important for health care provider to understand how it works and the benefits of remote patient tracking. A basic understanding of how this technology works is needed to decide if it is right for the medical setting. The first step is to ensure that the patient's electronic health record management system (EHRMS) has enabled data access from a local site or from any location remotely via a secure channel. Some EHRMS do not allow data to be remotely accessed; some providers use VPN and other security measures to protect the data. Additionally, ensure that the EHRMS has proper protection from unauthorized access so that patients' information is protected and confidential.

The second step involves implementing an application designed to enable remote patient monitoring. The software should have the ability to connect to the patient's EHRMS, allowing the physician to see vital signs, and then alert the physician in real time when the patient requires medical attention. In addition, the software should be capable of transmitting the data in an encrypted manner, making it impossible for unauthorized persons to retrieve or alter data without authorization. Third, the software should allow for data to be stored on a secure server in a secure environment, such as a secure area such as a cloud server, which will protect the patient's electronic health records from unauthorized access by another person or organization. In particular, the software should allow for data to be securely stored on remote servers and only accessible by authorized personnel of the patient's primary care provider.

The fourth step involves monitoring and controlling the patient's electronic health records remotely. This step involves accessing and retrieving these records to check for changes or discrepancies in health and ensuring they are correct and up to date.