5 Ways Remote Patient Monitoring Provides Help for Caregivers

Help for caregivers is a big topic in healthcare today, and that’s no surprise when you look at the numbers:

  • Nearly 1 in every 5 Americans acts as a caregiver for a loved one
  • 24% of Americans are caring for more than one loved one, and
  • 53 million people in the U.S. are actively engaged in caregiving.

When it comes to offering help for caregivers, remote patient monitoring (RPM) is one key way providers are helping create better outcomes for patients and loved ones.

Remote patient monitoring & help for caregivers. If you are a caregiver, “remote patient monitoring” may sound intimidating — especially if you don’t have a background in health, science or technology. But in reality, RPM is one of the easiest ways caregivers can support loved ones.

RPM gives you and your loved one at-home technology to record health data, which can then be reviewed by a provider in a different location. Once an RPM system is in place, providers can remotely track and assess patient health, make recommendations or diagnoses, and prescribe treatment — all safely and distantly.

Here are 5 specific ways RPM helps caregivers

Pro #1: Help for caregivers where mobility is a challenge

While RPM can be helpful for any patient, it’s especially useful for those who can’t move around easily. If the person you’re caring for has fallen in the past, is elderly or relies on a wheelchair or walker for mobility, remote patient monitoring can cut down on unnecessary movements. That, in turn, can decrease the likelihood of accidents and complications arising from falls or injury.

Pro #2: Help for caregivers concerned about disease

If you’re caring for someone who’s chronically ill, you want to limit their exposure to contagious diseases. Remote patient monitoring allows providers to check everything from vital signs and weight to blood pressure and blood oxygen levels — all without asking patients to come into contact with anyone outside their home.

Pro #3: Help for caregivers when cost is a concern

Remote patient monitoring offers help for caregivers in many ways when it comes to cost. When implemented correctly, RPM:

  • Can reduce or eliminate travel expenses, especially for patients who live far from traditional sites of care
  • Can decrease the cost of care by reducing hospital and doctor visits, and
  • Is completely covered by Medicare for seniors with at least one chronic health condition

Pro #4: Help for caregivers seeking to improve patient care

When you’re looking for ways to improve the care of your loved one, RPM gives you several advantages.

  • Remote patient monitoring gives healthcare providers up-to-the-minute health data, which improves their ability to coordinate care, monitor changes and make evidence-based decisions
  • That reduces the number of hospitalizations, readmissions, and lengths of stay in hospitals
  • Most importantly, RPM improves patient care overall, which leads to an improved quality of life

Pro #5: Help for caregivers who want to know their loved one is being heard

Ultimately, your goal as a caregiver is the same as that of a provider: to give your loved one the best care possible. One way remote patient monitoring does that is by helping you take control. As a caregiver, when you can communicate with providers and submit data about the health of your loved one, you know everyone is staying connected and informed. That keeps everyone engaged in the care process, which leads to better outcomes — for you and your loved one.

Ready to get started?

If you think remote patient monitoring could be helpful for you or your loved one—click here to get started

Related Posts