Introduction

The United States Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) has been introduced to bring down hospital payments for higher than expected readmission rates within 30 days of surgery for Medicare patients. This Social service program is a Medicare value-based purchasing program aimed at reducing avoidable hospital readmissions. So what is Hospital Readmissions? A hospital readmission occurs when a patient who had been discharged from the hospital on completion of treatment and improved clinical status is admitted again within a specific time period from the first admission. 

Readmission or rehospitalization hurts patients and families because of the stressful situation it puts them in. Hospital stays are financially and emotionally costly to patients and families, especially when there are multiple stays. It is also a physically exhausting experience to be at a hospital and move from different facilities. Readmission may also reflect poor care coordination or inadequate support of post-discharge needs of a patient. This is particularly true especially if it is within the first few days. 

Readmission rates are the new quality metric for healthcare services that carries financial ramifications. The cost of rehospitalization is consequential by way of financial impact on the healthcare system and increased patient morbidity. Medicare estimated the annual cost of readmission to be $17 billion, and the same study highlighted that over half of patients discharged after surgery were rehospitalized.

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) gained global prominence in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its advent has transformed healthcare delivery for individuals with chronic conditions. This technology enables healthcare professionals to electronically assess patients’ health data via cloud-based RPM platforms. With RPM clinicians can devise precise treatment plans and make timely interventions, recognize the post-discharge needs of the patient and  significantly lower hospital admissions and readmissions. 

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Role of Remote Patient Monitoring in Reducing Hospital Readmissions

According to The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality a single readmission costs USD 15,200. In the United States, leading hospitals and healthcare facilities are increasingly adopting remote patient monitoring (RPM) solutions to enhance post-acute care, streamline after-hospital discharge processes, and improve chronic care management. These systems are working to help healthcare providers in identifying potential complications with timely intervention resulting in better patient outcomes. Even health insurance companies are embracing RPM programs to actively monitor high-risk patients. It also helps them maintain consistent engagement with those holding active coverage.

The growing popularity of RPM among healthcare professionals is evident in a recent study.  The survey reveals the biggest benefits of using remote patient monitoring to manage health: 49% improved patient outcomes, 44% improved compliance rates and 42% patients taking more ownership of their health . It further reveals that nearly 88% of healthcare organizations are investing in remote monitoring technologies. Additionally, 68% of physicians express strong intentions to integrate RPM into their practice in the near future.

RPM is consistently demonstrating its value by boosting patient engagement, enhancing health outcomes, reducing hospital readmissions, and significantly lowering healthcare costs.

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How does Remote Patient Monitoring Reduces Re-Hospitalizations? 

Hospital readmissions are associated with adverse outcomes and elevated financial costs to patients, families and hospitals. A remote patient monitoring program uses devices and software to continuously monitor and relay a patient’s vital statistics to the caregiver outside of the clinical setting. There are several RPM strategies by the application of which can reduce the number of rehospitalizations. These would be: 

1. Monitoring of High-Risk Patients with RPM

Patients with a higher risk of readmissions can be provided with a comprehensive virtual care plan. They are given a communication device paired with Bluetooth peripherals for keeping tabs on a patient's health data in real time. The risk alerts via RPM help clinicians to respond quickly in case of a medical contingency.

2. Transitional Care Management for Chronic Conditions

RPM facilitates a trouble-free transitional process for patients with chronic conditions. The personalized patient education module hand-holds the patients to learn about their health conditions and manage their treatment without physically distressing themselves with visits to the physician. 

3. Medication Adherence Post Hospitalization

A successful treatment means Patients' recovery.  But this is mostly dependent on medication adherence. Healthcare providers can improve patients' medication-taking behavior by setting up alerts and voice calls through RPM devices.

4. Enhanced Patient Engagement

When patients proactively monitor their treatment they are more inclined to adhere to their care regime. RPM devices come with user-friendly features that allow patients to record, track, and monitor their health data. This in turn leads to enhanced patient engagement, better health outcomes, and fewer readmissions. 

5. Timely Intervention by the Healthcare Provider

RPM gives real-time health data that provides insights on a patient's existing condition and vitals. In case, any of the body checks are breaching parameters, an alert is quickly sent to the healthcare provider.The physician can act immediately and avert a crisis. 

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RPM Technologies: An Overview

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) technology has evolved to provide continuous patient care and timely medical intervention. Its workflow involves the following steps that determine the employment of particular technology. These are: 

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Data Collection

Wearable devices and mobile health applications monitor vital health metrics. These devices can track a wide range of indicators, such as heart rate, blood pressure, glucose levels, and oxygen saturation, depending on the patient's condition. Health data is collected by these devices. 

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Data Transmission

The collected data is securely transmitted to a centralized system via wireless or mobile networks. Transmission occurs in real-time or at scheduled intervals, ensuring that healthcare providers have access to the most recent information.

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Data Integration

Once transmitted, the data is integrated into a centralized platform. Advanced analytics tools then process and organize this data, making it accessible to healthcare providers for monitoring, identifying trends, and detecting anomalies.

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Data Analysis

The integrated data is analyzed to uncover patterns, predict potential health issues, and generate actionable insights. Advanced analytics tools play a pivotal role in interpreting this data. They facilitate healthcare professionals to make informed decisions.

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Clinical Intervention

If the analysis indicates a potential health concern, healthcare providers can act promptly. Interventions may include adjusting medications, scheduling consultations, or advising an immediate hospital visit.

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Patient Feedback

Patients receive tailored feedback and recommendations based on their health data. This continuous loop keeps them informed about their health status and encourages proactive participation in their care.

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This systematic RPM workflow is powered by the following technologies:

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Wearable Devices and Sensors

Smartwatches, fitness trackers, and specialized medical devices continuously or periodically collect vital health metrics. These devices are instrumental in real-time monitoring and data transmission.

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Mobile Health Applications

User-friendly mobile apps allow patients to log symptoms, medication usage, and other health-related information. These apps facilitate direct communication with healthcare providers and help them streamline health management.

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Telemedicine Platforms

Video consultations, messaging, and telephonic interactions on telemedicine platforms enable real-time communication between patients and providers. This ensures immediate attention to health concerns.

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Data Integration and Analytics Systems

Centralized platforms integrate data from various devices and analyze it using advanced tools. This integration provides healthcare providers with actionable insights. It also supports proactive decision-making and improving patient outcomes.

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Factors Contributing to the Success of RPM in Reducing Hospital Readmissions

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) has emerged as an innovative intervention in modern healthcare. It offers us a peek into the future of patient care. And its success can be attributed to several factors:

• Advancements in Technology: Wearable devices based on IoT, and AI-powered analytics have transformed RPM into a seamless, data-driven process. Real-time data collection enables proactive decision-making, reducing emergency interventions.
• Shift to Value-Based Care: The healthcare sector's focus on outcomes over volume has made RPM essential. RPM has been able initiate and sustain value-based care principles. It has greatly improved chronic disease management and has consequently reduced hospital readmissions. 
• Consumer Demand for Convenience: Patients today expect healthcare solutions to match the convenience of other digital services. RPM meets this demand by offering remote access to care, and eliminating geographical and logistical barriers.
• Regulatory Support and Reimbursement Models: Policies like Medicare reimbursements for RPM services have incentivized adoption. Regulatory bodies also support the model’s viability for improving healthcare delivery.
• Data-Driven Personalization: RPM fosters personalized care plans, by utilizing insights from patient-generated health data (PGHD). It promotes tailored interventions that enhance patient engagement and outcomes.
• Integration with EHRs: Seamless interoperability with electronic health records ensures that providers can access comprehensive patient histories. This leads to better-coordinated care.

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RPM in Value-based Care for Reducing Rehospitalization

One of the intended benefits of value-based care is reduced rehospitalization. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) plays a crucial role in reducing hospital readmissions. This is done by allowing providers to track patients’ health remotely and take proactive action when data signals a potential issue. 

RPM is therefore an indispensable part of the value-based care model since the latter aims to improve quality of care while reducing healthcare costs. In this model, providers are paid based on patient health outcomes, rather than the volume of services they deliver.

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) reduces rehospitalization in value-based care by: 

• Early detection: RPM allows healthcare providers to identify and address early warning signs of deterioration. This prevents unnecessary hospital readmissions. 

• Proactive care: RPM shifts care from reactive to proactive. It focuses on prevention and early intervention. 

• Real-time access: RPM gives providers real-time access to patient data. It allows for more informed decision-making and personalized care plans. 

• Automated alerts: RPM uses automated alerts to help care teams prioritize high-risk patients. 

• Wearable devices: Wearable devices, like smart watches, allow patients to record their vitals, which are simultaneously transmitted to healthcare providers.

Conclusion

Remote Patient Monitoring is currently a critical tool for reducing hospital readmissions. It offers a proactive approach to patient care and streamlines care team operations. With RPM routine monitoring tasks are automated leaving them free to concentrate on patients requiring urgent attention. RPM empowers care teams to address health concerns proactively, prioritize high-risk individuals, and minimize hospital readmissions by facilitating continuous data collection and generating automated alerts. This futuristic approach enhances patient outcomes and also drives cost savings ultimately making RPM an indispensable tool in modern healthcare delivery.

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Mahalo Health is a cutting-edge digital health platform dedicated to simplifying and accelerating the development and scaling of regulated digital health products. The company specializes in creating tools and services for biopharma and MedTech industries, focusing on enhancing patient care through innovative technology. Mahalo's offerings include a unified data platform, digital therapeutics, predictive health engines, and tools for behavior change and medication management. They empower healthcare providers with solutions like AI-driven diagnostics, personalized treatment plans, and remote monitoring capabilities, all while adhering to stringent compliance standards such as HIPAA and GDPR. Click here for a demo.