How is remote patient monitoring different from telehealth?

Overview 

It is difficult to distinguish between remote patient monitoring and telehealth. Both terms often tend to be used interchangeably in the healthcare sector, even with medical experts. Yet, telehealth and remote patient monitoring differ in terms of administering healthcare services with the latest technologies. 

What Is Remote Patient Monitoring? 

In simple terms, remote patient monitoring refers to the use of certain technologies to ease the process of interaction between doctors and patients remotely. 

This is especially important for patients who need chronic care management or long-term care, including numerous ways in which providers can remotely capture and record patient data. Technologies can include glucose meters, blood pressure monitors, pacemakers, and oximeters, all of which measure vital signs and transmit this data to medical practice for analysis. It is important to note these results must be included in the EHR and assessed for any potential changes in the patient care plan. 

What is Telehealth? 

Telehealth increases the ability for providers and patients to continue communication, even if they are not present in the same physical location. This usually involves using video chat capabilities, but it can sometimes be completed by phone. It also includes communication through secure messaging or through a patient portal. 

Telehealth can be used for the following: 

1. Prenatal visits, lactation visits, childhood mental health issues. 
2. Asthma and allergy management. 
3. Minor health issues such as pink eye, or minor lacerations and abrasions. 
4. Weight management motivation. 
5. Review of results from lab tests, X-rays, or specialist consultations and surgery follow-up care. 

Telehealth is a much wider term that refers to the entire industry, technologies, and methodologies that facilitate this type of healthcare. 

Differences Between Telehealth and the RPM (Remote Patient Monitoring) 

Remote Patient Monitoring is a part of the telehealth continuum. 

•  RPM services are not meant to replace in-person visits. They focus on providing better care in between visits to catch complications early and prevent them from worsening. 
• RPM eases the difficulty for patients and caregivers to schedule and attend an in-person visit, especially for those with mobility issues. It saves time and money by not making regular commutes to a doctor’s office for routine care. 
• RPM makes it convenient for patients to wait for their online appointments from the comfort of their homes. The importance of remote monitoring and care for patient populations at risk and chronic care, as well as the increased ease of doing so from home.  
•  The provider can have regular access to current critical data through RPM, so adjustments can quickly be implemented. Patients need to ensure they will still receive a prominent level of medical care. It increases access to the medical care team. 
• External remote care services, such as Chronic Care Management from Amazing Charts, can add remote staff or contract out existing staff to reduce labor costs while maintaining patient continuity. The practice only incurs costs when codes are billed out. 

 Whereas telehealth solutions have the following capabilities: 

• In contrast to RPM, telehealth services are meant to substitute for an in-person visit and require live, interactive communication via video or audio call, book patient appointments online, initiate secure text conversations with patients instantly and easily as well as to provide virtual care. 
• Eligible telehealth service providers include physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical nurse specialists, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, registered dietitians, and nutrition professionals. 
• Remotely deliver in-home patient care. 
• Maintain logs of chats and videos for billing and audit. With Amazing Charts, Medical Billing Service is a fully integrated Revenue Cycle Management service that handles billing for you at a more affordable rate than most third-party billers.  
• Your practice may experience an increase in collections, a higher claim rate paid on the first submission, and a faster payment time with your payers and patients. 

Key Takeaway 

Adding remote patient monitoring and telehealth services in your independent practice has numerous benefits such as: 

1. Technological advances to use patient care to better use limited internal resources. 
2. More accurate monitoring of chronic care and long-term patients through continuous collection and evaluation of relevant data. 
3. The ability to access external remote care services to supplement and support internal capabilities.  
4. Improving the continuity of patient care. 
5. Full documentation of patient interactions in your Electronic Health Record. 
6. The ability to increase revenue by increasing preventive care services.