For the last decade, Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring have taken incremental steps forward despite their proven ability to yield better health outcomes. However, with the onset of Covid-19 in 2020, we witnessed nearly every medical center in the US transition to Telehealth or “virtual” clinic visits. While Telehealth proved to be a necessity during the pandemic, it has also become a very desirable option for patients which will continue into the future.

One major limitation to video visits is that while providers can see and hear the patient from the comfort of their homes, they lack the ability to obtain objective data.  Remote Patient Monitoring fills this void providing physicians with the clinical data they need to drive treatment and care plan decisions.

Remote Patient Monitoring is fully reimbursable and as of Jan 2020 (pre-Covid) it can also be outsourced. As a result, providers can partner with third-party companies who offer clinical monitoring services and serve as an extension of their care team. They can assist with the implementation of the RPM program and tasks associated with reimbursement such as

  • Patient Enrollment, Training and Set-Up
  • Data Review
  • Alert Monitoring
  • Patient Compliance
  • Billing Reports

This enables the clinic to manage more patients without a significant impact on current workflows. The provider or escalation point person would only be contacted in an emergent situation, or per their defined protocol.

Finding a trusted remote patient monitoring partner that combines remote, real-time biometric monitoring devices, video telehealth capabilities, and clinical services offerings not only helps you supplement Video Visits, but it also enables the evaluation of patients in between visits, reducing readmissions and improving outcomes.

There are many benefits of outsourcing remote patient monitoring clinical services.

  • Saves Time and Resources

By outsourcing RPM services, you’ll receive a new stream of revenue with very minimal impact to your current workflow.

  • Provides Continuity and Manages Risk

Periods of high employee turnover can add uncertainty and inconsistency to your practice. Outsourcing provides a level of continuity while reducing the risk that a substandard level of operation could bring, even over a short period of time.

  • Generates an additional revenue stream through reimbursements

Generate increased reimbursements and a recurring, reliable revenue stream. New CPT codes now reimburse device setup, utilization, and clinical monitoring. It is not uncommon for a provider to see a NET reimbursement of over $100,000 per year, after the cost of equipment and expenses related to clinical monitoring services.

  • Offers Staffing Flexibility

Another benefit of outsourcing RPM is that physicians don’t have to train their staff on how to document services or interact with patients. Remote patient monitoring requires work. Physicians can decide to add it to their current staffs’ workload, hire new staff, or outsource it. Increasing current staff workload may cause burnout and hiring new staff can be costly.

The time for virtual healthcare is here

Third-party vendors have trained RNs and other clinical staff that are already familiar with RPM procedures. Outsourcing ensures the smoothest transition into remote patient monitoring.

Ultimately, outsourcing RPM services can be more cost-effective than hiring new clinical staff or spending physician hours on tasks that can be performed by clinical staff. Plus, patients will feel better cared for knowing that a certified care provider is regularly analyzing their health data.

The time for virtual healthcare is here. Outsourcing clinical monitoring services will ensure your program is successful and you will achieve the highest ROI possible. This also allows you to provide the best possible care for your patients.

Note: RPM is not meant to substitute for clinic visits. Rather, it focuses on proactive care that identifies complications early, checks how a patient is responding to treatments, and allows for prompt adjustments if necessary.

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