What Are the Benefits of Remote Monitoring and Managing Diabetes?

Patients suffering from diabetes who have RPM implemented in their care may be provided with the appropriate monitoring devices and software. Patients with diabetes take their readings at home on a daily basis and then send the information to their doctor. Following the collection of the data, the physician will investigate the current status of the patient’s body as well as the pattern of disease progression. If the patient’s blood sugar level is high or suddenly spikes, the attending physician will get in touch with them as soon as possible for a follow-up appointment and additional therapy. This article will talk about the top 10 benefits of monitoring and taking care of diabetes from a distance.

What is remote monitoring for diabetes?

The provision of patients with the appropriate diabetes home monitoring equipment and software is an essential component of the RPM program implementation process. For people with type I diabetes, this category could include an insulin delivery system, a personal glucometer, and software that lets the pump and the monitor talk to each other to figure out how much insulin to give.

People who have type II diabetes often use digital blood glucose monitors, which allow them to record and remotely transmit their daily blood glucose levels to a website that complies with HIPAA regulations. After receiving the data, it is analyzed to look for unfavorable trends and patterns that could lead to complications.In the event that a problem is identified, the system sends a real-time notice to the relevant healthcare practitioner.

What advantages can remote monitoring and management of diabetes offer?

Increase the accuracy of real-time data collection. The RPM system provides information regarding the patient’s daily health. Prior to the advent of remote patient monitoring, clinicians would only learn if a diabetic patient was non-compliant or at risk for complications when the patient suffered a major condition that necessitated an unscheduled consultation or hospitalization. Frequently, patients wait until the problem has deteriorated to the point where they require serious medical intervention.

Prevent diabetic patients from using the incorrect medication. RPM’s continual data collection allows for exact patient diagnosis. Fewer data than usual may lead to misdiagnoses and prescription errors. Patients with diabetes who utilize connected glucose meters provide more data—often 30 sugar count results per month than those who only test their blood sugar at doctor visits. Data helps doctors diagnose and treat patients.

Provide rapid intervention opportunities. A patient monitoring system alerts the doctor if it finds a risk factor. When a doctor hears such alarms, acting quickly minimizes the diabetic patient’s risk of a serious condition. The practitioner can operate from anywhere, whether the situation requires a phone conversation or an in-person meeting.

Reduce hospital visits made by patients. Prior to a few years ago, readmissions after hospital stay cost the healthcare system $528 million per year in Medicaid and Medicare penalties. However, RPM solutions have, in certain situations, reduced readmissions by as much as 50 percent. Since every clinician’s deepest wish is for their patients to flourish, a technology that achieves this outcome is a dream come true.

Allow more patients in regions with limited medical facilities. Receive better treatment advice. Diabetes is a disease that affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and financial levels. Due to financial and transportation limitations, many patients are unable to attend frequent in-person doctor visits. Remote patient monitoring provides a means to increase access to care for rural patients and those with limited mobility. Additionally, it lowers the hassle and costs associated with travel, parking, child care, and time away from work for patients.

Boost earnings per share. Remote patient monitoring gives providers options to generate more revenue from reimbursements while minimizing the costs of overhead, personnel, and supplies utilized during in-person visits. Improved workflow efficiencies, increased staff productivity, and reduced administrative costs all contribute to an improvement in the practice’s net patient revenue, a reduction in billing errors, and profitability, resulting in a greater ROI.

Improve the competitive advantage. RPM systems enable providers to increase their competitive advantage by attracting potential patients and retaining more of their existing patients. The referrals and income of practices that provide diabetes patients with care that is convenient and centered on the needs of the customer rise. The capacity to engage with patients through technologically advanced diabetes home monitoring devices improves a provider’s market standing and credibility.

Reduce the medical personnel shortfall. A substantial shortage of healthcare staff is one of COVID-19’s legacies. Premier Inc. reported in October 2021 that since the beginning of the pandemic, medical staff turnover had grown from 18% to 30%. This issue, coupled with the rise of insured patients over the past few years, has made it more difficult for some patients to get care. RPM is a great strategy for addressing the present shortages in the healthcare industry.

Relieve provider burnout. A 2020 Physicians Foundation poll found 58% of physicians frequently suffer from burnout, up from 40% in 2018. Staff shortages, increased patient numbers, high daily visits, canceled appointments, and patient no-shows exacerbate this issue. U.S. professionals use EHRs 50% more than their counterparts abroad. Remote patient monitoring may reduce stress for healthcare staff by reducing their workload without affecting revenue.

Facilitates an enhanced physician-patient interaction. Patients become more involved, and the relationship between physician and patient strengthens when there are more opportunities for communication. Patients with diabetes are reassured by the knowledge that their health is being monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while providers have access to enhanced data to aid clinical decision-making.

What equipment is needed for remote monitoring of diabetes?

Remote healthcare monitoring makes it possible to find problems that need immediate medical attention and improves the outlook for people with long-term illnesses like diabetes.

The Linktop 6-in-1 remote health monitor is an instrument for remote patient monitoring that measures blood glucose levels. These RPM devices connect directly to an app on a patient’s smartphone, allowing you and your healthcare provider to quickly and easily check the results. The remote health monitor measures these six vital health indicators: oximetry, heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and blood glucose levels.