The Population Health Team is excited to “roll out” the new Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) program, made possible by support from the Memorial Hospital Foundation. For patients with certain chronic diseases, RPM enables Population Health team members to monitor daily patient vital signs and weights recorded in patients’ homes.
“RPM will help us identify changes in patients’ vital signs promptly, before their condition exacerbates and they need to seek emergency care,” said Population Health Project Manager Terry Satchell, RN. “Patients likely to qualify for RPM are those with chronic conditions such as heart failure, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and chronic pulmonary diseases.”
Patients who meet the criteria for RPM are provided with a Bluetooth blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter, bathroom scales and a tablet for the remote monitoring. The patient or his or her caregiver takes a set of vitals first thing each morning and the data recorded is automatically uploaded via Bluetooth to a tablet or smart phone, and simultaneously transmitted to the remote monitoring center.
The nurses at the monitoring center work with the Population Health team to review the daily vital signs and weight to determine if changes (in heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate or weight) warrant intervention. They also contact the patient’s primary care or specialty provider and notify the patient of any actions recommended by the provider, such as medication change, diet change or scheduling an office visit.
The Population Health Team is now seeking patients with chronic conditions who are willing to provide vital signs and weights for 90-120 days (however, the patient may opt out of the program at any time).
For additional information about Remote Patient Monitoring or to refer a patient, contact Terry Satchell, Population Health Project Manager, 410-822-1000 ext. 5729 or terry.satchell@umm.edu .