One of the most important factors affecting a patient’s health progress is the availability of high-quality healthcare services. This is especially important for patients living with one or more chronic health conditions. When healthcare services are difficult to access regularly due to a patient’s location, health complications, or any other circumstances, the likelihood of their condition improving decreases, ultimately resulting in the need for hospitalization or other emergency medical services.
On the contrary, if patients can access care where and when they require it, they can identify and begin treating symptoms before they progress to the point of an emergency. One way healthcare providers are ensuring patients have access to regular, quality healthcare services, and improving health outcomes, is with remote patient management.
Key Improvements in Patient Outcomes With Remote Patient Management
Remote patient management involves the use of technology to monitor, assess, and treat patients remotely. While several telemedicine applications offer one or a few of these features, such as platforms designated solely for monitoring patient symptoms or conducting virtual check-ups, total remote patient management platforms can combine multiple features to provide optimal care delivery.
When healthcare organizations utilize remote patient management systems, patients can care for their illnesses flexibly and comfortably. Patients can input their symptoms in real-time and have their care team provide feedback and care plans swiftly through these systems. For those living with chronic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, heart failure, and others, this can make all the difference in improving their long-term health and wellbeing.
Here, we will go over some of the top ways remote patient management is helping improve outcomes for patients.
Reduces Hospitalizations
Reducing hospitalizations is always a top priority for primary healthcare providers. While hospitalizations are inevitable in some cases, for example, when a patient suffers a heart attack or stroke, there are several ways to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations when treating patients who have chronic conditions. When patients can stay out of the hospital, they are able to continue progressing on their health journey much more comfortably.
One of the leading ways to reduce patient hospitalizations is through regular disease management. With remote patient management, healthcare providers can provide patients with the tools they need to manage their illnesses successfully. This can include educational resources, management or treatment guides, and easy access to communication with a patient’s care team. With these tools, patients can see increased motivation and success with the overall management of their illness.
Allows Patients To Start Working Toward Improving Symptoms Sooner
One of the many benefits remote patient management offers is the ability to detect changing symptoms early on. Telemedicine platforms that provide remote patient management can be used with monitoring equipment and deliver real-time symptom updates. Additionally, this data can be sent directly to a patient’s care team, where it can be manually assessed if atypical symptoms are present. In many cases, this data can be automatically interpreted by the system and instantly deliver care plan changes to patients.
When worsening symptoms are caught early on, patients have a much higher chance of improving their health outcomes. In a study published by ATS Journals, patients living with COPD were examined to understand the impact of early symptom detection on patient outcomes. The study concluded that participants who detected worsening symptoms early on and began treatment immediately saw improved health outcomes, while those who did not experienced an increased risk of emergency hospitalization. By utilizing remote patient management, healthcare providers can ensure their patients have the best opportunity to detect and begin improving symptoms before they become unmanageable.
Improves Patients’ Quality of Life
One challenge faced by individuals living with an illness is a perceived loss of control over their life. This is made especially difficult when patients are bound to frequent in-person healthcare visits or hospitalizations. A study published by BMJ Journals found that patients spending time in the hospital experienced a sense of lost control over their time, which led to feelings of loneliness and depression. Fortunately, with tools that allow patients to be in control of their health, their overall quality of life can improve drastically.
By utilizing remote management, patients can reduce the amount of time they spend on their healthcare needs and can have more flexibility with their daily schedules. Rather than having to travel to and from in-person appointments frequently, patients can conduct simple assessments using their remote patient management platform from the comfort of their own homes. With this flexibility and the increased health benefits that come with regular disease management, improving patients’ overall quality of life is made possible.
Continuing To Improve Patient Outcomes
With continuous advancements in healthcare and technology, the possibilities to improve patient care are limitless. By incorporating a remote patient management system within their practice, healthcare providers can make the most of the latest advancements and enhance the way they deliver care. Thanks to its ability to help patients identify changing symptoms early on, reduce hospitalizations, and enhance their overall quality of life, remote patient management is a reliable way to improve patient outcomes consistently.
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