Remote monitoring systems – delivering digital care
Remote monitoring systems are a form of healthcare delivery that uses technology to monitor patient’s health without the need for face-to-face meetings. It is designed to facilitate the exchange of patient data with medical personnel. Most healthcare technologies focus on digital patient engagement. Usually through, virtual care applications, and patient portals. Future monitoring is expected to be even more flexible and reflect the needs of value-based healthcare.
How will it look like?
Patient care will probably change significantly over the next 15-20 years. New types of products, services, and applications will emerge. The increasing need to improve the quality of care and avoid unwanted complications will increase the use of monitoring solutions in every area of the hospital. Continuous monitoring of patients will allow doctors to react more quickly in the event of sudden or gradual deterioration in their condition. The number of parameters to be measured will increase, but the rapid development will allow the process to be completely trouble-free for healthcare professionals. With increased capabilities, monitoring technology will allow for a smoother transfer of stable patients from hospitals to homes. Data insight will allow the same therapeutic team to guide patients through the entire care pathway, increasing continuity of treatment.
Read more: Health apps – do they improve patient care?
Benefits in the future
Through modern and innovative technologies, efficiency will be significantly increased. Systems with more accurate alarms will reduce time lost and telemetry will allow for remote patient monitoring. Data systems and data analysis will enable access to specific and relevant information in the right place at the right time. In addition, modern technology will allow a more efficient transfer of knowledge between members of the team, but also the possibility to consult other experts. Of course, it is also important to remember that collecting so much data (often longitudinal) can provide a great opportunity to identify different trends, patterns, or correlations both at a population level and at a system level within a patient. This can later bring tangible benefits for treatment regimens and clinical decision support.
Final thoughts
Now and in the future, remote patient monitoring introduces the possibility of treatment and care, in which doctors and patients can intervene earlier and prevent unnecessary exacerbation or hospitalization. Data collected and analyzed using machine learning and artificial intelligence can help identify people who are more at the risk in terms of physical and psychosocial conditions.
