Remote monitoring technologies for health indicators are increasingly used in clinical practice, and more and more confidently occupy its niche in the market. Today, patients can consult a doctor online, which can be obtained via the Internet or through other communication channels. The possibilities of telemedicine are wide and are actively used not only for diagnosing diseases but also for other purposes, including physical condition monitoring. In this article, we will consider how a remote healthcare monitoring system can be useful for patients in many areas of the healthcare industry.
What is an RPM system?
RPM solutions are technologies that collect data about the physical and mental state of patients and transmit it to healthcare providers.
The main goal of such solutions is the constant monitoring of human health without the need for regular traditional meetings with a doctor. Typically, RPM solutions include:
- mobile applications for Android or IOS;
- web-based remote home monitoring systems;
- wearable electronics;
- integrated touch-sensitive devices.
Remote monitoring of patients involves constant medical care while eliminating the need to hold meetings with the attending physician. It is worth noting that RPM solutions are used both by doctors who monitor the condition of their patients, and directly by patients who want to track their body’s performance on their own. Like any other promising innovation, such solutions have a wide range of applications.
The most common use cases of RPM technologies
Patient monitoring technologies, as well as self-monitoring by the patient of their health, can find applications in any field of healthcare. However, below we will consider the most interesting options.
- Solutions for cardiac monitoring.
If earlier patients with cardiovascular diseases could control the frequency and correctness of their heartbeats only in medical institutions, risking missing the first signs of health problems, then innovative cardiac monitoring devices eliminate this problem. RPM solutions can monitor heart activity and notify both patients and medical professionals of possible problems. What’s more, these technologies allow doctors to use the collected data to analyze factors that can negatively affect heart function.
- Blood glucose monitoring device.
Diabetes is one of the most common diseases in the world, so glucose monitoring is critical for patients with this disease. Technologies that allow you to measure blood glucose levels greatly simplify this process since the attending physician can receive data on sudden change? at any time. When a patient uses a blood glucose solution, data is collected according to a set schedule to best respond to warning signs.
- Hand hygiene monitoring solutions.
Lack of attention to hand hygiene is one of the main ways the virus is transmitted. Special technologies are designed to remind users to wash their hands in a timely manner, which reduces the risk of infection with a particular virus. Such solutions usually provide users as well as healthcare professionals with data on hygiene compliance over a period of time. This type of technology was especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Technologies for monitoring mood and controlling depression.
Identifying the early symptoms of depression can sometimes be challenging. Solutions that help track a patient’s mood and thoughts every day allow clinicians to more effectively diagnose and prescribe treatment. RPM technology provides the ability to track mood swings by capturing changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and other important indicators. All collected data is transferred to specialists for analysis and identification of possible alarming symptoms.
- Technologies for asthma patients.
Patients with asthma are a vulnerable category, for them, RPM solutions include the function of alerting them to the timely use of inhalers and avoiding potential triggers that can provoke an attack. In addition, technologies for remote monitoring of asthma patients provide doctors with data on the frequency of attacks, as well as the presence of airborne triggers that can adversely affect the patient’s health.
- Pregnancy monitoring tools.
Pregnancy is a period when even minor health problems can negatively affect a mother and her baby. Remote monitoring technologies are used to monitor a woman’s health. As a rule, such solutions track parameters such as blood pressure, weight, and temperature. In case of alarming changes, the doctor can promptly provide medical assistance to the pregnant woman.
- Sensors to track the functioning of the digestive system.
Digestive problems are another popular problem that patients often visit hospitals. Fortunately, there are special portable sensors that collect data from the patient’s digestive system and transmit it to the attending physician. For example, such solutions can detect high stomach pH or pinpoint sources of internal bleeding.
- The connection between RPM systems and the IoT.
Technologies for remote monitoring of patient health are closely related to IoT. This concept involves the interaction of billions of digital solutions connected to the Internet that collect and exchange data.
Medical solutions using IoT differ from each other in the complexity of the functionality. For example, there are simple heart rate bracelets, as well as more sophisticated technologies for monitoring other body parameters. Another common option for remote monitoring of patients is to install applications on their smartphones.
IoT solutions are rapidly gaining popularity as the release of simpler and more efficient equipment expands the possibilities of medical care. The most valuable components of the Internet of Things are data, software, hardware, and security. Among the important components is also the function of connecting telemedicine monitoring tools.
Standalone patient monitoring software is of little value in the modern IoT market. The most valuable solutions are connected to hospital EMR systems, which store all-important patient health data and allow physicians to view it at any time.
Final thoughts
The benefits of using patient health monitoring solutions in healthcare are clear. If you’re interested in developing an RPM solution, or the steps and costs involved in building metrics tracking solutions, Binariks is a good choice. The company has experience in developing medical software, and Binariks specialists will be happy to advise you on all your questions regarding software development. You are welcome to check the projects made by the company to evaluate the expertise.