Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) For Blood Pressure Management: How It Works?

With fluctuating blood pressure or hypertension affecting 1.2 billion adults globally, finding improved ways to manage this common chronic condition is important.  Though routine medication can help regulate the high blood pressure, patients usually struggle to maintain appropriate readings in between medical appointments.

Remote blood pressure monitoring plays a significant role in improving the hypertension symptoms and provides timely intervention, just in case. It allows healthcare providers in getting real-time insight into patients’ health data and focuses on minimizing hospitalizations with remote blood pressure care.

Risks Associated with Hypertension/ High Blood Pressure

In the United States, 47%, or almost 116 million individuals, have hypertension. It is an underlying risk factor for several chronic diseases, such as:

• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Kidney disease
• Stroke
• Vision loss
• Sexual dysfunction

One of the simplest strategies to prevent the onset of above listed chronic conditions is to measure blood pressure on a regular basis. With Remote patient monitoring (RPM) software and connected blood pressure monitor physicians can access patients’ readings anytime, anywhere and hence it becomes highly convenient not just for the patients but for the physicians too who now have 24/7 access to the vitals and can intervene if they observe abnormalities or warning signs. e.

Barriers to Hypertension/ Blood Pressure Monitoring

While hypertension can be controlled effectively, there are many barriers that hinder easy and efficient BP management in patients, including:

• Inadequate or inconsistent blood pressure measurement tools
• Having masked hypertension with normal blood pressure at office but high at home
• Clinical inertia that happens when steps aren’t taken to control blood pressure
• Lack of evidence-based treatment and self care in patients

RPM can help with each of the barriers described above. It can assist patients in developing a daily BP measuring habit and accurately recording their readings on the devices.

Coming to the providers, RPM provides data-driven insights into the patient’s blood pressure trends over time and allow healthcare providers in making informed decisions. RPM software for blood pressure management allows clinicians to receive real-time alerts and make timely interventions when a patient’s blood pressure reading is concerning.

Who Can Benefit from Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring?

Hypertension develops gradually and can be prevented by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly. Being in a busy routine, it can be challenging for patients to make such lifestyle adjustments. This is where remote blood pressure monitoring comes into play. It can assist in monitoring hypertension patients and high risk individuals, including:

• Individuals over 65
• Pregnant women
• Patients having a family history of high blood pressure

How Do Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring Work?

Remote blood pressure monitoring is a digital breakthrough in the healthcare sector that utilizes a remote patient monitoring (RPM) platform and FDA-approved remote patient monitoring devices to track vital signs.

Patients can take their BP readings at home and must use their device for at least 16 days, each month. The blood pressure monitor automatically transfers the readings to the digital health platform and the clinician can use the dashboard to view the data and make interventions, if needed.

Not only this, clinicians can receive timely alerts and a notification alert is generated when a patient’s readings surpasses the specified limitations.

4 Ways RPM Can Work For Blood Pressure Management

1. Regular BP monitoring: RPM helps patients in recording their blood pressure throughout or anytime of the day as recommended by the clinician.
2. Medication reminders: Patient receives medication reminders to ensure he/she follows their medication plan for better outcomes.
3. Symptom assessment: Patients share insight into their symptoms to helps a clinician analyze the underlying blood pressure trends.
4. Virtual visits: RPM allows a patient and clinician to communicate in real time if a blood pressure reading is out of range.

Benefits of Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring For Patients & Providers

Remote blood pressure monitoring is beneficial for both patients and healthcare practitioners and extends beyond in-clinic visits. Some common benefits of RPM for hypertension or high blood pressure include:

• Better healthcare between clinical visits

Patients can regularly assess their blood pressure from the comfort of their own homes using a remote blood pressure monitoring device. Frequent measurements provide clinicians with a clear picture of any fluctuations in the patient’s blood pressure levels and alter the treatment, if needed.

• Increases patient engagement & outcomes

Remote blood pressure monitoring makes people feel more involved in their health and encourages active participation. The majority of cellular RPM devices are simple to use and are shipped directly to the patient.

Remote blood pressure monitoring helps patients in collecting their blood pressure measurements and allows care providers in constantly assessing their patient’s health and alter treatment plans likewise.

• Reduces healthcare costs

High blood pressure costs the healthcare industry hundreds of billions every year. Early detection of hypertension symptoms, along with the right treatment and care can greatly help in saving money on emergency room visits, testing, procedures, and hospitalizations.

• Generates more revenue for healthcare providers

Remote blood pressure monitoring enables healthcare professionals to serve more patients by making healthcare more accessible. Patients no longer have to worry about the doctor appointments, wait time, and transportation costs. In a similar way, healthcare providers can access more patients and from anywhere they feel convenient. More patients mean more revenue. Clinicians are reimbursed for the time spent on remote healthcare activities, such as patient data review and billing using RPM CPT codes: 99457 and 99458.

HealthArc Makes Remote Patient Monitoring A Seamless Experience

HealthArc’s all-in-one remote patient monitoring software helps practices connect to their patients, optimize reimbursement and minimize documentation with increased clinical efficiency. With our HIPAA compliant platform, communicate with patients via audio-video calls, SMS, make care plans available to the patient, re-fill prescriptions, review diagnostics and make referrals.

HealthArc offers seamless integration with all leading EHRs through HL7 and FHIR capabilities to manage patients dealing with any type of chronic conditions. To know more about our RPM software, book a free demo now or feel free to talk to our team at +201 885 5571 for more details.