The Advantages of Remote Patient Monitoring

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is an increasingly popular option for providers looking to elevate the standard of care through high-quality data—and data-driven decision making. And while the benefits of remote patient monitoring are proven and well-documented, it can still be difficult to make the case for incorporating remote monitoring into an organization’s practices

Being able to explain the advantages—and understand how to work around the potential disadvantages—of RPM can go a long way toward establishing it as one of your practices’ offerings. Keep reading for an overview of RPM’s key advantages, as well as a brief discussion of how to ensure a successful implementation.

Remote Patient Monitoring in Healthcare

Remote monitoring is a form of telehealth that enables providers to monitor their patients without requiring frequent, in-person appointments in traditional clinical settings. Here’s how it works:

• After discussing their condition and treatment options with their provider(s), patients are sent home with one or more remote patient monitoring devices. Many of these are highly familiar instruments (things like blood pressure monitors, blood glucose meters, and heart rate monitors) with one key advantage: they use a cellular connection to transmit results, in real-time, to providers. 
• As the patient takes readings over the course of weeks or months, their vitals are closely monitored by their providers—with the aid of remote patient monitoring software like TimeDoc Health. This software does more than just collect readings, though—they also integrate with electronic health record (EHR) and other systems and include the ability to set custom thresholds and alerts, so providers know when they need to meet with their patients.

The Advantages of Using Remote Patient Monitoring Devices

There are several advantages of remote patient monitoring for those with certain conditions (such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, high blood pressure, and more). Some of these advantages include:

• Elevating the standard of care through data-driven decision-making: When providers leverage remote monitoring for their patients, they can make better—and more individualized—recommendations and develop the right courses of treatment. Rather than relying on “one point in time” readings collected over time through regular, in-person appointments, RPM enables providers with tools for continuous monitoring—as well as the ability to set custom alerts or notifications when patient readings fall out of expected ranges.
• Saving time (and money) through increased operational efficiency: With remote monitoring, healthcare providers can leverage a cost-effective and versatile solution for managing their patients—reducing the number of appointments, emergency visits, and hospitalizations. In turn, RPM also unlocks operational efficiency and reduces costs for providers. Since RPM devices automatically transmit readings—and RPM software enables providers to set alerts for certain thresholds—appointments can be scheduled on an as-needed basis. As it relates to provider workflows and efficiency, RPM’s future is undeniably bright, including increased artificial intelligence (AI) applications.
• Enhancing the patient experience and building stronger patient-provider relationships: While RPM certainly helps healthcare providers to reduce costs without compromising quality care, it also provides patient-centered advantages. Research shows that 4 of 5 patients prefer remote monitoring when available, since it saves them time, reduces the need to attend traditional, in-person visits, and builds better patient-provider relationships.

Are There Disadvantages to Remote Patient Monitoring?

For healthcare providers making the case for remote monitoring, it’s important to understand—and weigh—both the advantages and disadvantages of a health monitoring system that leverages RPM. 

One of the primary disadvantages of remote patient monitoring programs is the fact that both patients and providers must be actively participating in order for it to be effective.

• From the Patient Perspective:
  Patients must consistently use the monitoring devices correctly and engage with their healthcare providers. This requirement can be challenging, especially for elderly patients or those who struggle to use technology. Additionally, this active participation necessitates a level of commitment and discipline to adhere to the monitoring schedule. This may be burdensome for some patients, potentially leading to inconsistent data transmission and gaps in monitoring.Moreover, since the success of RPM is contingent on patients having access to the necessary technology and a stable, reliable way to transmit that data, individuals in rural areas or from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may not have reliable access to these technologies, potentially limiting the effectiveness of RPM for these populations.
• From the Provider Perspective:
  Providers also play a critical role in the success of RPM programs and must be actively engaging with the technology and responding to patient data and alerts. This engagement means providers must take the time out of their busy schedules to familiarize themselves with the RPM software, understand how to interpret data from various devices, and then integrate this information into patient care plans effectively. This includes navigating patient dashboards, setting appropriate alert thresholds, and responding to alerts in a timely fashion.Moreover, the effectiveness of RPM hinges on providers not ignoring alerts generated by the monitoring systems. These alerts are designed to flag potential health issues or deviations from normal health parameters. Providers must establish protocols for responding to alerts, ensuring that each is assessed and addressed appropriately to maintain the integrity of the RPM program and deliver proactive patient care.

However, as it turns out, many of the “disadvantages” of remote patient monitoring are largely mitigated with the right strategic approach, high-quality RPM devices, and an effective software platform. The potential drawbacks of RPM include:

• Accuracy: Especially in RPM’s earliest days, there were concerns about the reliability of RPM devices’ accuracy.
  • Counterpoint: While modern advancements have mitigated these concerns to an extent, it’s still important to seek out RPM providers who offer high-quality, reliable devices. TimeDoc Health provides reputable monitoring solutions for measuring blood pressure, blood glucose, and more.
• Cost: Despite the fact that RPM has proven to be a highly cost-effective option for providers, some providers are turned off by the cost of remote monitoring software—while some patients may feel similarly about the cost of RPM devices. 
  • Counterpoint: From an economical standpoint, RPM is cost-effective for patients and providers alike. Many insurance companies, as well as Medicare and Medicaid, have policies that will cover the cost of RPM devices, in part or in full.
• Patient Buy-In: Not all patients are aware that remote monitoring is a common practice, and may be anxious about the idea of not having regular, in-person interactions with their providers. 
  • Counterpoint: A little patient education goes a long way. By emphasizing how RPM will actually enhance and personalize their care—rather than doing the opposite—providers can increase buy-in, also helping to ensure that patients will stick with it once RPM is underway.

These disadvantages are not insurmountable. The key to success is educating patients and providers on the advantages of remote patient monitoring and encouraging active participation from both sides. Finding the right RPM partner with easy-to-use devices and technology and a team who can provide support to the healthcare provider is vital. With nearly a decade of experience implementing RPM programs, our team is deeply committed to helping you succeed. 

A Remote Patient Monitoring Example

Remote patient monitoring programs are experienced by both patients and healthcare providers. Let’s take a look at “Alex,” a 70-year-old Puerto Rican man with hypertension and coronary artery disease, and his healthcare team, to illustrate the transformative impact of RPM.

• From Alex’s Perspective:
  Before RPM, Alex faced several barriers to managing his health effectively, including language barriers, low literacy, and limited access to healthcare technology. Despite in-person visits and the inclusion of a Spanish interpreter, Alex’s blood pressure remained uncontrolled—a common challenge for patients with chronic conditions. When the healthcare provider partnered with TimeDoc Health, the RPM program marked a turning point. Equipped with a cellular-enabled blood pressure monitor (and a Spanish-speaking TimeDoc care coordinator), Alex began transmitting daily health data directly to his care team. This constant flow of information allowed his providers to adjust his medication in real-time, leading to dramatically improved blood pressure control. For Alex, RPM wasn’t just a new tech tool—it was a lifeline, offering not just a better health outcome but a deeper sense of engagement and empowerment in managing his conditions.
• From the Healthcare Provider’s Perspective:
  Alex’s healthcare team encountered their own set of challenges, chief among them the pressure of delivering comprehensive care within the constraints of limited time and resources. Implementing RPM required the team to navigate new technologies, integrating them into their existing workflows without exacerbating clinician burnout. With the help of TimeDoc’s care team, they discovered the power of RPM to: 

• • • Boost Alex’s engagement and satisfaction with his care plan. Removing the barrier of language was important, as well as giving him the opportunity to participate in his own health management. 
    • Improve Alex’s outcomes. He started following his medication schedule more diligently since he could now see the clear correlation between taking his medication consistently and his home blood pressure readings. Frequent telephone calls from his Spanish-speaking care manager reinforced the importance of taking his medication and blood pressure readings consistently.
    • Reduce the administrative burden on the healthcare team. With easy-to-access clinical data in the TimeDoc platform, the provider could find critical patient data quickly and make data-based decisions in real-time. With the support of TimeDoc’s care manager team, the provider didn’t have to dedicate time to the administrative tasks like calling Alex frequently to remind him to take his medication and blood pressure readings, ensuring that there weren’t major gaps in monitoring. 

Alex and his healthcare team is just one of the many examples of remote patient monitoring programs and how this comprehensive approach benefits all stakeholders in a patient’s healthcare journey. For patients, RPM offers a means to actively participate in their health management, fostering better outcomes and greater satisfaction. For providers, it provides a suite of efficient technology tools that enhance patient care and operational efficiency. 

Read more about “Alex’s” story and how RPM played an important role→

Discover the Advantages of Remote Patient Monitoring with TimeDoc Health

At TimeDoc Health, we’re excited about RPM’s present—as well as its future. We provide modern, cost-effective solutions that elevate the standard of care, enable data-driven decision making, and help providers and patients to achieve positive outcomes. Learn more about our offerings or reach out today to get started.