A technology trend that has surfaced since the COVID-19 pandemic is remote patient monitoring and telehealth

A technology trend that has surfaced since the COVID-19 pandemic is remote patient monitoring and telehealth. COVID-19 had many people afraid to leave their homes or even to go to the doctor’s office. Telehealth brought about many challenges as it was “born”. The biggest challenge being the inability to look, listen, and feel for the assessment (Ge et al., 2023). Telehealth is delivered either via a synchronous phone call or via a video visit, but obviously not in person. Providers had to get creative when it came to completing their assessment of the patient’s current issue. That is where remote patient monitoring (RPM) was born!

Challenges

The biggest hurdle of remote patient monitoring was patient compliance and then followed closely by knowledge deficit (Wagholikar & Wagholikar, 2023). Getting patients to understand the importance of using the devices supplied to aid in their healthcare and provider decision-making is a struggle. Patients don’t see the value in the extra monitoring (Shajari et al., 2023). Many patients require education on how to utilize the devices and some cannot operate them correctly despite the simplicity (Yang & Lee, 2022).

Risk/Benefit

The risk with RPM devices is that the patient can utilize the devices incorrectly, which can skew the data (Shajari et al., 2023). Proper education at the beginning along with video demonstration and return demonstration is important to mitigate this risk. The other risk is that another household member may utilize the device and then their readings end up in your patient’s chart (Shajari et al., 2023). It is important to add this to the education and alert the patient, if it does happen, to notify the provider’s office immediately so that the reading can be removed. Having someone else’s or skewed reading due to improper use can cause harm with treatment (Shajari et al., 2023).

The benefit with RPM devices is that the patient can be closely monitored from the comfort of their home. The patient is able to take daily readings at their leisure and the provider is able to see real time data on the patient. This real time data will often prompt phone calls and other communication about “off” readings which can help prevent hospitalizations (Wagholikar & Wagholikar, 2023). This data can improve patient care and outcomes by allowing the provider to be more proactive.

Promising Trends

Telehealth is really taking hold in the healthcare industry. There are so many avenues for patients to find a telehealth provider and get the care they need right from their home. This saves patients time, money, and potentially makes them more willing to seek care (Ge et al., 2023). Telehealth allows the provider to assess the patient, diagnose the issue, and prescribe appropriate treatment without having to go to a clinic (Wagholikar & Wagholikar, 2023). This will improve patient outcomes by decreasing wait times for

 

 

appointments, increasing patient willingness to seek care, and provide an overall better healthcare environment for all involved (Yang & Lee, 2022). Telehealth makes healthcare more efficient and relies heavily on data management as it is all electronic.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic destroyed many concepts in the world, but it also brought about a positive healthcare change and that is the emergence of telehealth. Remote patient monitoring makes telehealth possible through data sharing and technology. This trend is likely to improve healthcare overall as it continues to evolve.

 

 

References Ge, Y., Taha, A., Shah, S. A., Dashtipour, K., Zhu, S., Cooper, J., Abbasi, Q. H., & Imran, M. A. (2023). Contactless WiFi sensing and monitory for future healthcare: Emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities. IEEE Reviews in Biomedical Engineering, 16, 171– 191. https://doi.org/10.1109/RBME.2022.3156810Links to an external site. Shajari, S., Kuruvinashetti, K., Komeili, A., & Sundararaj, U. (2023). The emergence of AI- based wearable sensors for digital health technology: A review. Sensors, 23(23), 9498. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23239498Links to an external site. Wagholikar, S., & Wagholikar, O. (2023). Application of wearables in healthcare management: Recent trends and futuristic approach. 2022 OPJU International Technology Conference on Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development, 1– 6. https://doi.org/10.1109/OTCON56053.2023.10113968Links to an external site.

Yang, C. W., & Lee, A. S. (2022). Using smart wearable technology acceptance model for health monitoring technology. 2022 7th Internation Conference on Cloud Computing and Big Data Analytics, 326–330. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCCBDA55098.2022.9778932

 

A technology trend that has surfaced since the COVID-19 pandemic is remote patient monitoring and telehealth

Title: Remote Patient Monitoring and Telehealth: Challenges, Risks, Benefits, and Promising Trends

 

Introduction:

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of remote patient monitoring (RPM) and telehealth as essential components of healthcare delivery. These technologies have revolutionized patient care by allowing for remote assessment, monitoring, and management of various medical conditions. This paper examines the challenges, risks, benefits, and promising trends associated with RPM and telehealth in healthcare settings.

 

Challenges:

The implementation of RPM and telehealth faces several challenges, including patient compliance and knowledge deficit. Educating patients about the importance of using monitoring devices and ensuring proper device operation are significant hurdles. Some patients may struggle to understand the value of remote monitoring, leading to reluctance in using the devices effectively.

 

Risks:

Risks associated with RPM devices include incorrect utilization by patients, leading to skewed data. Proper patient education and video demonstrations are crucial to mitigate this risk. Additionally, there is a risk of other household members using the devices, resulting in inaccurate readings being attributed to the patient. Patient education should include instructions on notifying healthcare providers if such incidents occur to prevent potential harm from erroneous data.

 

Benefits:

Despite challenges and risks, RPM and telehealth offer significant benefits. Patients can be closely monitored from the comfort of their homes, allowing for real-time data collection and analysis. This real-time monitoring enables healthcare providers to identify abnormal readings promptly and intervene to prevent complications or hospitalizations. Telehealth also improves patient access to care, reduces wait times for appointments, and enhances overall healthcare efficiency.

 

Promising Trends:

Telehealth is experiencing rapid growth, with increased accessibility and acceptance among patients. The convenience of remote consultations and the ability to receive care without visiting a clinic are driving factors in its adoption. Telehealth enables healthcare providers to assess, diagnose, and treat patients remotely, leading to improved patient outcomes and satisfaction. Furthermore, advancements in wearable sensor technology and artificial intelligence hold promise for enhancing remote patient monitoring and digital health technologies.

 

Conclusion:

The emergence of RPM and telehealth has transformed healthcare delivery, particularly in response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. While challenges and risks exist, the benefits of remote monitoring and telehealth outweigh the drawbacks. As these technologies continue to evolve, they have the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery, improve patient outcomes, and enhance overall healthcare efficiency.

 

References:

Ge, Y., Taha, A., Shah, S. A., Dashtipour, K., Zhu, S., Cooper, J., Abbasi, Q. H., & Imran, M. A. (2023). Contactless WiFi sensing and monitoring for future healthcare: Emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities. IEEE Reviews in Biomedical Engineering, 16, 171–191.

 

Shajari, S., Kuruvinashetti, K., Komeili, A., & Sundararaj, U. (2023). The emergence of AI-based wearable sensors for digital health technology: A review. Sensors, 23(23), 9498.

 

Wagholikar, S., & Wagholikar, O. (2023). Application of wearables in healthcare management: Recent trends and futuristic approach. 2022 OPJU International Technology Conference on Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development, 1–6.

 

Yang, C. W., & Lee, A. S. (2022). Using smart wearable technology acceptance model for health monitoring technology. 2022 7th International Conference on Cloud Computing and Big Data Analytics, 326–330.

Title: Remote Patient Monitoring and Telehealth: Challenges, Risks, Benefits, and Promising Trends