The survey focused on 25 organizations that utilized an RPM solution provided by one of seven different vendors. In addition to improved satisfaction and reduced hospital admissions and readmissions, the study found that respondents credit RPM with additional benefits.

• 17% – Quantified Cost Reductions
• 13% – RPM Improves Medication Compliance
• 13% – Improved Patient Health
• 8% – Attribute Lower A1c levels to RPM

The KLAS study is just one of a growing number of reports that show the validity of RPM as a tool to improve satisfaction and outcomes while reducing costs for patients and providers.

HealthKOS provides an end-to-end solution for remote patient monitoring that can be tailored to the needs and capabilities of any healthcare organization, including turn-key solutions that allow providers to partner with HealthKOS to launch an RPM program with minimal effort.

For more information or to schedule a demo of our Remote Patient Monitoring Solution, contact us at 1-855-227-3567 or info@healthkos.com

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Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) is gaining recognition as a proven method to reduce Hospital Readmissions. So much so that CMS has released CPT codes specifically meant for reimbursement of these services. If you haven’t had a chance to review the new codes – check out my previous blog post that explains the different codes and what services can billed under them.

Important Difference Between Telehealth and RPM

Unlike telehealth, which simply provides another access point for episodic treatment or utilization of healthcare services, Remote Patient Monitoring is a platform that provides continuous engagement between patients and providers. Think of telehealth as another single point of interaction in a patient’s record or chart whereas Remote Patient Monitoring provides a continuous stream of data and interaction that exponentially increases everything from communication to the collection of diagnostic information. Coupled with the correct algorithms to monitor health metrics and care coordinators to engage patients, Remote Patient Monitoring is a game changer in comparison to a simple remote office visit facilitated by telehealth services.

So, How Does Remote Patient Monitoring Help Reduce Admissions

Simply put, Remote Patient Monitoring allows providers to collect and access diagnostic and compliance information linked to a patient’s specific needs for care management, giving them the power to make decisions that are timelier and better informed. What’s more, the new CPT codes mentioned above, allow providers to utilize vendor partnerships and clinical staff to perform much of the work analyzing, engaging and educating patients which may be enough of an intervention to slow disease progression or prevent an admission or readmission.

Potential Impact of Remote Patient Monitoring on the Diabetic Patient Population

Looking at just diabetic patients, the peer reviewed journal American Nurse Today noted that “patients with diabetes account for approximately 480,958 hospital in-patient stays per year with a 30-day readmission rate of 97,784, accounting for a 20.3% hospital readmission rate.”

Now consider, many of those admissions and readmissions are caused by out-of-control glucose levels, inactivity, compliance with medications and adherence to diet restrictions. A diabetic patient on an annual or semiannual follow-up with their primary care provider will only offer that practitioner one or two snap-shots of their health and an often-inaccurate account of their compliance with the prescribed treatment plan. This doesn’t provide the PCP with much of an opportunity to engage, educate, correct or intervene in a timely manner, often leading the non-compliant or progressing diabetic to seek care in another setting such as an urgent care or emergency room. Depending on the severity of the episodic condition or disease progression this can lead to an admission and/or readmission.

Put that same set of diabetic patients in a remote patient monitoring program with the correct set of diagnostic and compliance measures collected and couple it with an algorithm that alerts providers to negative changes in health metrics, and you create a new level of engagement that allows you to correct the patient’s compliance and treatment plan. This gives you the opportunity to help the patient avoid an ER visit, admission or progression of their disease. And for diabetic patients, that may mean avoiding further risk or complications associated with vision loss, neuropathy, infections, kidney disease and heart disease.

An End-to-End Solution to Help Reduce Admissions

HealthKOS is an end-to-end solution that was developed by doctors to improve patient engagement, compliance and outcomes. HealthKOS™ provides direct savings to the physician and healthcare organizations both in time and money as well as improving patient outcomes.

What makes HealthKOS™ different is that it utilizes automated algorithms, real-time data, and quality metrics to involve patients in their own care, as well as keeping healthcare providers and family constantly informed. HealthKOS™ allows the healthcare team to monitor patient progress outside the practice office, leading to timely interventions, preventing disease progression and unnecessary hospitalizations.

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CMS recently released new CPT Codes meant for use in the reimbursement of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) services. In doing so, the agency proclaimed, “We now recognize that advances in communication technology have changed patients’ and practitioners’ expectations regarding the quantity and quality of information that can be conveyed via communication technology. From the ubiquity of synchronous, audio/video applications to the increased use of patient-facing health portals, a broader range of services can be furnished by health care professionals via communication technology as compared to 20 years ago.”

And though they specifically mention audio/video applications, these new codes differ greatly from the previous iterations that were meant to reimburse tele-health Services that connect providers to patients using these A/V plat

The new Remote Patient Monitoring codes are specifically designed to address reimbursement for establishing RPM services, remotely collecting and transmitting health related data from patients to clinicians, reviewing the data collected and interacting remotely with the patient. More information on the specific codes can be found here, in one of my earlier blog posts.

Differences Between Tele-Health and Remote Patient Monitoring

Some of the most notable differences between what qualifies as tele-health and what qualifies as Remote Patient Monitoring are within the requirements for the visual side of contact, rural geographies and originating sites.

Unlike Tele-health, RPM does not specifically require audio/visual interaction between patients and providers and there is no requirement for patients to access or receive services in a rural area. There are also no requirements for originating sites in order to bill for RPM services. However, for RPM services to be reimbursable, patients must have a qualifying face-to-face visit with the provider within one-year prior to the beginning of services. RPM simplifies the contact aspect, noting only that providers are required to deliver 20 minutes of professional time each month which includes interactive communication with the patient or caregiver.

Partnering With Health Tech Companies to Provide Remote Patient Monitoring

The new regulations also make it easier for healthcare providers to partner with health technology companies to provide Remote Patient Monitoring services. This is because most RPM services can be provided by “clinical staff” under “general supervision” to help fulfill the 20-minute-per-month requirement for providing RPM services. With that provision in place, providers are not required to be in the same place as the staff charged with providing RPM services.

Given this autonomy, choosing the right Remote Patient Monitoring partner gives providers peace-of-mind that the staff they choose to manage RPM will have all of the training and tools necessary to provide high quality services and outstanding patient satisfaction. It also means they’ll be positioned correctly to capture the increased reimbursement possible when all of the requirements are met.

An End-to-End Solution to Improve Patient Engagement

HealthKOS is an end-to-end solution that was developed by doctors to improve patient engagement, compliance and outcomes. HealthKOS™ provides direct savings to the physician and healthcare organizations both in time and money as well as improving patient outcomes.

What makes HealthKOS™ different is that it utilizes automated algorithms, real-time data, and quality metrics to involve patients in their own care, as well as keeping healthcare providers and family constantly informed. HealthKOS™ allows the healthcare team to monitor patient progress outside the practice office, leading to timely interventions, preventing disease progression and unnecessary hospitalizations.

The post Remote Patient Monitoring vs Tele-health Services appeared first on HealthKOS.

While advances in healthcare technology have become more extensive, there is still an underlying problem with patient engagement – or lack thereof. Providers are continuously running into problems – they are allocating a comprehensive plan of care to their patients, but the patients aren’t actively engaged with their plan.

Let’s face it – Compliance can overall drive down the cost of healthcare. So the question is how do providers increase patient engagement? It is up to healthcare professionals to empower patients to take part in shared decision-making and keeping their health in align with their goals.

Fortunately, patient engagement can be achieved through a number of ways.

Educate the patient and family

It is important to educate patients on their disease states. When a patient is educated on their illness and the treatment they are receiving, they will be more apt to take their medications. For example, a patient may be told that they have hypertension even though they are feeling fine with no symptoms. However, if they understood how taking an ACE inhibitor could drastically reduce their chance of stroke or death, they would be more willing to commit to their treatment plan. So how can we make this information easier for a patient to understand?

Tailor communication

Approximately half of Americans have low health literacy, specifically those with less than a high school degree. It is therefore recommended to keep patient education material at a sixth-grade level or lower. Tailoring verbal and written communication allows patients to grasp information more easily. They will then be in a position to fully execute their treatment plan and follow up with appointments.

Facilitating ongoing communication between patients and physicians via apps and online portal can improve engagement rates by 60% or higher.

Follow up with the patient

Studies have shown that following up after a hospital discharge reduces readmission rates by up to 25%. Some ways providers can reach out to their patients are through phone calls or mailed surveys. However, through the use of emerging patient portal systems such as HealthKOS, the patient and provider can now more easily keep track of prospective treatment plans. Therefore, using technology to follow up has become a more effortless way to voice any concerns that may arise.

Set goals

Patients will be more accountable if they are able to see tangible results associated with their health. Providers can collaborate and set goals of therapy for a patient to aim for. This might mean preventing the need for insulin by getting their diabetes under control. By setting goals, patients will gain a sense of accomplishment and empowerment.

A handful of ways that healthcare organizations can increase patient engagement in their community while decreasing hospitalizations. By incorporating ways to engage patients, we can bridge the gap between patient understanding and provider collaboration.

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