Six Things Healthcare Organizations Should Know Before Implementing Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)
As remote patient monitoring continues to gain acceptance as a modality of care, we wanted to share some of the lessons we have learned over the years when helping healthcare organizations evaluate and implement digital health solutions.
Today’s blog shares the six most impactful lessons that will best set up your RPM program for success.
Device integration must meet the needs of the program
While many devices can be integrated across RPM platforms, it is important to consider the needs of your program. Not all device vendors offer the same compatibility.
In the case of diabetes management, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices such as the Abbott FreeStyle Libre and Dexcom can be limiting in what data they are willing to share with digital health organizations beyond their own portal solution. As a result, it can be more difficult to implement RPM programs with CGM devices.
Mozzaz in partnership with Quest Health Solutions, a leader in providing CGM devices, is unique in that we are fully integrated with the leading CGM devices mentioned above. We consolidate data from multiple sources and bring it together in a single dashboard view with custom alerts and notifications.
With Quest and Mozzaz as the underlying technology, our platform allows for CGM devices to be fully integrated into RPM and virtual care programs. This represents a major opportunity to better serve diabetic and pre-diabetic populations with industry leading devices.
When considering an RPM partner, be sure to understand the needs of your program from a device standpoint and evaluate the potential vendor to their ability to connect and consolidate data from those devices.
Patient enrollment for eligible patients may be harder than you think
RPM programs when fit for the correct population cohort can be very successful, producing great participation and ROI; however, determining which populations are the best fit for your program can take time when done manually. When considering providers for your RPM solution it is worth considering if they at all support automated cohort analysis, or automated patient enrollment.
At Mozzaz, we create step-by-step patient journeys right from patient enrollment, including patient education and corresponding consents. We also meet the patient where they are by using SMS or email engagement methods to accompany or supplement in-app notifications.
In addition to the above, Mozzaz offers predictive analysis through our partnership with DeloreanAI, a clinically validated provider of medical AI. Our solution together utilizes machine learning and predictive analysis on your patient populations to accurately predict disease progression and potential enrollment based on historical health data. This solution allows for a deeper level of preventative care, identifying worsening trends in patients and likelihood of disease progression over time.
ROI takes time
Unfortunately, there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to RPM profitability. What one health system has success with may be different for another depending on the patient population, level of patient engagement, state-level reimbursement criteria, and overall program scope. A successful RPM vendor should fit their solution to your unique workflow and goals, not vise-versa! Over the long-term all RPM programs achieve improved profitability as they begin to scale. For most, it can take six months to a full year for a program to break-even.
As a result of what has been said, it is important for health systems to collaborate with their RPM partner to determine their unique ROI goals and work towards them collectively. These types of discussions often are best had early on so that the program can be designed with these goals in mind.
High patient engagement requires strong support and ease of use
Remote care within the home is reliant on end-to-end device integration, simple troubleshooting, and proactive support from the care team. For patients to engage with their RPM programs, they must understand the value and reasoning behind the program and how to use their device. That is often much easier than it sounds!
Device usability starts with understanding how best to connect with your patient. This includes determining the level of both broadband and cellular connection a patient has within their home. Based on this finding, it may be better suited to have cellular connected devices as opposed to Bluetooth (or vice versa). As well, in cases where broadband connection is poor, it is impactful to utilize SMS-based messaging for secure communication, smart-alerts and care planning. By carefully considering which options are best suited to your patient cohorts you can use the appropriate tools to connect with them.
In addition to the above, healthcare providers need to ensure that they carefully consider the internal workflow implications should they choose to perform patient services themselves. These can often occupy resources from the practice or health system and must be considered before implementing any form of RPM program.
Alternatively, one can look for a technology partner like Mozzaz who offers concierge patient engagement services to help lighten the burden. In either case, due diligence is required to ensure that your RPM program is best set up for success. Partnering with a technology vendor who understands how to best reach your patients while supporting your organization are pillars to high program engagement.
RPM is more than just the technology
While technology is an essential component of any RPM initiative, patient services and device management are also pillars to a successful program. These services for patients will often include identifying those individuals who are eligible for RPM, patient onboarding and training, as well as promoting patient engagement with the program.
There is a lot that can be missed by only looking at the technology. Logistics must be considered when shipping and repairing devices for patients, ensuring that their care plan isn’t missed during these times. There is additional complexity regarding technical support and troubleshooting for patients. This includes managing issues with both the device and patient-facing portal. While many of our customers choose to handle these in-house, there is no shortage of clients outsourcing these tasks to Mozzaz allowing for a reduced administrative burden and program complexity.
Healthcare providers should seek out RPM solutions that support and offer these service and device related needs before making any definitive decision.
The patient, staff and provider experience are paramount in selecting an RPM partner.
Implementing and managing an RPM program successfully requires a seamless experience for all parties: the patient, the staff, and the physician. Any solution that your healthcare system utilizes must be evaluated on that. By having alignment to the program between the mentioned parties, your program is set to run efficiently and productively.
If you are interested in seeing what a Mozzaz digital health solution would look like for your organization, contact us today! We are confident that we can best create a program that meets your unique remote patient monitoring and virtual care needs.
