As we put together our list of top remote patient monitoring (RPM) companies, I realized that the RPM solutions and the market itself were still in the early stages. Unlike the live video telehealth which matured really quickly during COVID-19 and was already maturing prior to COVID, the RPM market is still in its early stages. Companies were approaching it from so many different angles and a lot of the technology and workflows were literally being built in real time. It’s kind of like building an airplane while it’s taking off. Sure, you have the wings that you know work and you can see the potential, but there’s still a lot of things that need to be figured out.
This becomes a major challenge for healthcare organizations. They all know they need to be doing remote patient monitoring. I think it’s clear to all of us that remote patient monitoring is a big part of the future of healthcare. However, when they do their search for remote patient monitoring solutions, they realize that no one solution can satisfy all their needs. They find point solutions that are really excellent at one area, but can’t do enterprise remote patient monitoring. They find amazing devices that don’t have a platform and they find a platform that doesn’t have great communication.
As I look at the remote patient monitoring (RPM) segment, this is how I’d define what’s required for a great RPM solution.
Data and Devices – At the core of every RPM program is the data that drives the program. In some cases, that’s connecting with the EHR or other health IT systems to get the data that’s needed to drive the program. In other cases, you need a device or wearable that the patient can use at home to monitor their vitals. Of course, we see many organizations that are marrying both of these data sets.
Analytics – Once you have the data you need, the RPM system needs to run the analytics on top of that data to turn that data into information. Data in and of itself isn’t very useful. However, information is actionable. Turning data into action is what analytics and its sisters machine learning and AI do at every good RPM company.
Communication – Once you know the actions you want to take, an RPM company needs to be able to communicate that with the patient and the care providers. We see a plethora of solutions in this regard from text to video to private messages in an application to email to phone calls (automated and human). Each communication channel has their pros and cons that must be considered. The most advanced applications in this regard will customize the communication channel to the individual. Plus, what’s said in the communication really matters. What you’re messaging is as important as how you’re messaging.
Sounds pretty basic when it’s laid out in those 3 components. No doubt there’s a lot more nuance to each item that I’m barely covering above. However, even with just these three, it’s hard to find an RPM solution that has implemented all three well. For example, you’ll find an amazing device that collects incredible data, but the analytics isn’t there. You may find some amazing analytics that works on top of any device and any EHR, but then it doesn’t have the communication tools and messaging that will actually create the behavior change or impact you want to accomplish.
Another challenge with RPM solutions today is most healthcare organizations’ desire for an enterprise solution. You may find an RPM solution that spans all three of the above areas in an excellent way, but it only works for diabetes. Does that mean you’re going to have to implement dozens or even 100s of RPM solutions to be able to address the wide variety of health issues in your organization? Most large healthcare organizations I talk to just won’t do this. They know where it heads and they’re holding out for a more comprehensive RPM solution.
I love all the excitement around RPM. I’m excited for this change in how we think about healthcare. Monitoring a patient outside of the hospital is a big step forward. However, it’s a challenge for healthcare organizations right now because the enterprise RPM solution isn’t there quite yet. I think we’ll get there, but for now we’re piecing the RPM solutions together bit by bit as we use them.
We are exiting the phase you describe. GPOs et. al. are vetting platforms answering your questions for the IDNs and others.
Vizient recently certified VitalCare, from Vitaltech, as their sole Virtual Care PAAS.
A new level of performance is required and companies like Vizient and Vitaltech are redefining the roles.
Thanks for sharing very interesting blog regarding remote patient monitoring. This is a new level of performance is required .