Remote monitoring brings medical care into the home
It seems like everything is going remote these days – learning, shopping, social gatherings. Even health care is delivered remotely in some cases.
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) gives you and your healthcare team a way to check up on your health every day – all from the comfort of your own home. It's like a bridge between your home and your doctor's office. You can use simple medical technology and devices to send important information about your health to your provider daily without leaving home.
The service is designed specifically for patients with chronic conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
"We use remote monitoring to teach patients about their diseases in a more meaningful way," said Ryan Yoder, RN, Telehealth Nurse at Goshen Health.
Yoder works closely with Goshen Home Care & Hospice to give patients the information they need to take care of themselves – and stay out of the emergency room or hospital. The service also helps doctors make decisions about treatment in a timely way.
Here's how RPM services work.
When you first enroll in the program, you receive a kit with a tablet computer that has a health monitoring program already installed on it. The mobile device connects wirelessly to a blood pressure cuff, finger probe and weight scale that are included in the kit.
You use the devices to measure your daily vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels in the blood. Your tablet automatically relays the information to your care team using cellular data.
The ongoing monitoring means your doctor can recognize changes in your health early – even before you notice signs of a problem.
"It gives patients peace of mind that a healthcare provider is looking in on them every day," Yoder said. "If your condition changes, we can coordinate your care so you can get back to feeling better."
You need a doctor's referral to receive RPM services. For more information about remote patient monitoring, talk with your healthcare provider or contact Goshen Home Care, (574) 364-2700.