Due to the pandemic, there has been an increase in using technology to provide health and home care services. Telemedicine appointments with providers skyrocketed, health and wellness platforms expanded, but remote patient monitoring (RPM) for ongoing diabetes care has yet to take off.
In a time where tech-driven, remote healthcare is becoming the “new normal,” and patients and providers are becoming more aware of the convenience, ease and improvement of care these technologies can bring — why has it not taken off with diabetic care?
New survey data reveals opportunity to expand RPM in LTC diabetic care
While the pandemic did provide a jump in remote patient monitoring adoption, there is still an overall lack of awareness of the concept, the benefits it can provide and how it can improve outcomes.
In fact, a recent survey found that 45% of survey respondents (patients diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes) have never heard of RPM. The study also revealed that over half of respondents said while they have heard of remote patient monitoring, they are not enrolled in a program.
In addition to RPM not being widely known or put into practice, patients and providers are utilizing glucose monitors that are not digitally connected and do not have the ability to automatically share data with providers.
Out of the remainder of patients with diabetes who were familiar with RPM and used blood glucose monitors, 67.7% of respondents shared they are not using a device that is connected and sends results directly to providers. The integration of digital glucose devices is imperative for a successful long-term care RPM program.
Connected digital glucose monitors are the future of diabetic care in the LTC setting
In the past, and even today, long-term care staff have had to track resident glucose levels using pen and paper or other manual methods. These have proven to be inefficient, with a wide margin of error from the worry of lost pieces of paper to missing troubling trends of low or high glucose levels between patient-doctor visits.
With connected digital glucose monitors, long-term care staff no longer need to keep track of large amounts of paperwork. They’re able to send and receive patient glucose readings in real-time resulting in better health outcomes.
When choosing digital glucose monitors, there are two main options: cellular and Bluetooth. Both have the ability to automatically send the clinical readings to an EHR system. While Bluetooth requires synching, pairing and a Wi-fi signal for internet access, a cellular-connected device does not. In addition, Bluetooth glucose devices have a limited range and can often lose connection.
Cellular glucose devices are similar to mobile phones and connect through cellular networks. With either type of connected glucose monitoring device, readings and real-time data are sent through the cloud to designated health care providers, which can assist with better outcomes for patients who suffer from diabetes.
Providing health data trends to providers and increasing compliance with patients
The use of digital glucose monitors and RPM has assisted providers in managing their diabetic patients by increasing patient compliance and improving clinical data accuracy. Results of the survey showed 35% of respondents feel that an RPM program would help them better manage their diabetes between office visits.
When data is shared in real-time, long-term care staff and patients are able to immediately address patient glucose levels if they are too high or too low instead of waiting for patient-doctor visits. More than 75% indicated that they would test the same or more often if they knew their results were being sent directly to their healthcare provider. This combination of the increase in patient compliance and real-time data will result in better care for the patient.
Implementing an RPM program has challenges and rewards
When executing RPM programs for diabetic patients, providers should be aware of data security, accuracy and system integration. When introducing any new technology, patients and staff will need to embrace a short learning curve. Once this learning curve is overcome, RPM has the potential to improve overall clinical results. With the implementation of reliable devices, in this case, connected digital glucose monitors, both patients and providers can work together to improve the accuracy and compliance of care.
The future for diabetic care
RPM is going to grow in the next few years and will become increasingly more prevalent in long-term care, and the healthcare industry as a whole. As payers and long-term care providers continue to see an improvement in care, we will see an increase in the implementation of patient-friendly, connected health monitoring devices. It is not a matter of if but when long-term care facilities are going to introduce RPM programs and digitally-connected glucose devices to improve diabetic patient care.
Casey Pittock is the CEO of Smart Meter and a recognized value creator in connected healthcare. He has previously served as CEO of Udex Software, a cloud platform for the home health industry, and president and CEO of Tunstall Americas, the US division of Tunstall Healthcare Group, the world’s largest medical alarm provider.
The opinions expressed in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News guest submissions are the author’s and are not necessarily those of McKnight’s Long-Term Care News or its editors.
