Technology Requirements for Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)

As remote patient monitoring has evolved from a nice-to-have to a must-have for practices that want to deliver continuous care and improve outcomes, so have the number of RPM solutions. So how do you determine which platform has the features that you really need? This blog dives into the most important technology requirements to consider when evaluating RPM platforms.

Set-up and Security

Easy patient setup – A good RPM solution should allow a patient to be easily added and set up in the platform in just a few steps. As your RPM program scales, you will want to make sure your solution makes it easy to add patients and grow your RPM program without overburdening your team.
Security, and Compliance – Many patients lack confidence their health information remains private. Making your patients feel comfortable using their devices is critical to driving engagement. RPM companies that are committed to the highest levels of safety and security will go beyond HIPAA requirements and seek HITRUST Certification–the industry standard for security and privacy.

Clear Workflows and Communication Tools

Clinical Insights – Your RPM platform should make it simple for your clinical team to prioritize patient needs. You should be able to set custom thresholds for each reading type such as diastolic and systolic blood pressure. The platform should automatically send alerts when a patient has an out of threshold reading so you always know who needs immediate help. In addition, many solutions use visual notifications to help you analyze trends and intervene as soon as possible.
Patient Engagement Tools – RPM is only successful when the monitoring team can engage with patients to build trusted relationships. This requires easy-to-use communication tools such as text messaging, click-to-call phone calls, and live video right in the RPM platform. In addition, a good solution will allow for two-way messaging, so that any time a patient responds to a text or calls you back, that you can take action right away.
Time Tracking and Reimbursement Support – A strong RPM solution will automatically track patient engagement minutes, including synchronous versus asynchronous time. Look for solutions that make it easy to see which patients are on track for meeting billing requirements, such as 16 days of readings and 20-minutes of care team member time. If your care team needs flexibility for tracking time spent outside the system, such as calling from a personal cell phone, your platform should allow you to add those minutes.
Seamless Patient Handoffs - You will likely have multiple clinicians monitoring patients, so it’s important that your RPM platform makes it easy to send and share patient notes, historical messaging, and care plans. This enables clinicians to seamlessly step in and provide care without missing important notes or action items.
Record Keeping – Medicare and insurance audits can happen. Your RPM platform should have the capability to track detailed utilization and easily provide the documentation that could be required to address any regulatory and compliance concerns.

Flexible Technology

Cellular Devices – The best RPM platform only matters if patients are actually taking readings. For most practices, that means choosing simple, cellular devices. The easier a device is to use, the more often it will get used. While Bluetooth devices may offer additional features, they can be more challenging to use. Bluetooth devices require an internet connection, knowledge on how to pair and sync devices, and app updates to ensure readings are always synced to the RPM software.
Technical Support – A great solution will offer multiple technical support options to meet your needs. This could include self-service support articles or guides to help resolve minor issues, as well as the ability to talk to a real person when you need more help. Your solution should be open to product feedback and continuously improving the platform to meet your needs.

Considering Launching an RPM Program or Switching Vendors?

Learn more with our complete Buyers Guide and Purchasing Checklist. If you are ready to start the evaluation process and would like to consider Optimize Health as a potential RPM solution, we are ready to answer all of the Checklist questions. Please set up a free consultation.