The healthcare industry is undergoing a significant transformation, shifting from a traditional fee-for-service model to a value-based care (VBC) approach. In value-based care, providers are rewarded based on patient outcomes rather than the volume of services they deliver. This model emphasizes patient health, preventive care, and cost-efficiency, making it a win-win for patients, providers, and payers alike. One of the key innovations driving the success of value-based care is cellular Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)™. By leveraging technology to track patient health outside of clinical settings, cellular RPM supports early intervention, reduces hospital readmissions, and improves chronic disease management—all crucial aspects of value-based care.
Cellular RPM benefits value-based care by enhancing patient engagement, improving clinical outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and empowering providers with real-time data to make informed decisions. Let’s take a closer look at each of these vital healthcare categories.
- Enhancing Patient Engagement and Self-Management
One of the core principles of value-based care is to keep patients at the center of their own healthcare journey. Remote Patient Monitoring plays a pivotal role in this by encouraging patient engagement and promoting self-management of health conditions. Cellular RPM devices such as blood pressure cuffs, glucose monitors, and connected scales allow patients to take an active role in managing their health, making them more accountable for lifestyle changes and medication adherence.
For example, a patient with hypertension can use a cellular-RPM device to measure their blood pressure daily. The result of each test is automatically transmitted to their healthcare provider, allowing timely interventions when necessary. Patients who know their provider is actively monitoring their health are more motivated to follow prescribed treatment plans, thus reducing the likelihood of severe complications and emergency room visits.
Key benefits:
- Increased patient compliance with treatment regimens.
- Early detection of potential health issues before they escalate.
- Improved patient satisfaction and experience, which are important metrics in value-based care models.
- Improving Clinical Outcomes with Early Intervention
In value-based care, the goal is to improve clinical outcomes by preventing complications and managing chronic conditions more effectively. Cellular RPM facilitates this by providing healthcare providers with a patient’s real-time vital signs that help providers monitor the patient’s overall health status. By being able to view regular health data from a patient, providers can detect early warning signs of deteriorating conditions and intervene before hospitalization is required.
Consider the case of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). By using cellular RPM to track lung function, physicians can spot a decline in respiratory performance and adjust treatment, accordingly, often avoiding emergency care or intensive interventions. This proactive approach aligns perfectly with the value-based care model, where the focus is on preventive care and better long-term health outcomes.
Proven results:
Several studies and real-world implementations have demonstrated the effectiveness of RPM in improving health outcomes and reducing readmissions.
- A Howard University study of patients with diabetes using the iGlucose®, resulted in 70% of high-risk participants lowering their A1c by an average of 2.8% within 90 days1.
- A 30-day study by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences2 of 59 pregnant women with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, who frequently tested with Smart Meter’s cellular-enabled iGlucose® glucometer showed an increased satisfaction with their diabetes management. Eighty-six percent of participants noted that the automatic transmission of blood glucose results to their physician helped them better maintain their condition.
- Baum Consulting Services3 implemented an RPM program using Smart Meter’s cellular iBloodPressure® and iGlucose and saw excellent results. One of the highlights of the program included a male patient in his 70s with hypertension, who, after two out-of-range blood pressure readings had adjustments made to his medication was able to avoid an emergency room visit. Another patient with diabetes had an A1c of 10.4 before starting the program but was able to reduce that to 6.6 in about a year and a half on the RPM program.
- RPM helped Frederick Health’s Chronic Care Management (CCM) program, a division of Frederick Health Home Care in Maryland, reduce hospital readmissions by 83% among telehealth patients, resulting in nearly $5.1 million in cost savings4. There was also a 50% reduction in emergency department visits.
Key benefits:
- Reduced hospitalizations and emergency visits.
- Fewer readmissions due to early detection and management.
- Enhanced quality of life for patients through timely interventions.
- Reducing Healthcare Costs and Resource Utilization
One of the driving forces behind the shift to value-based care is the need to control healthcare costs while improving quality. Cellular RPM offers a significant opportunity to reduce unnecessary expenditures. By remotely monitoring patients, healthcare providers can prevent costly interventions like hospital admissions, long-term stays, and readmissions. Early intervention and continuous care mean fewer complications, leading to substantial cost savings for both providers and payers.
A recent cost-utility analysis estimated that daily assessment and 3-week follow-up of at-home pulse oximetry monitoring was projected to be potentially associated with a mortality rate of 6 per 1000 patients with COVID-19, compared with 26 per 1000 without at-home monitoring. Based on a hypothetical cohort of 3100 patients, the study projected that remote monitoring could potentially be associated with 87% fewer hospitalizations, 77% fewer deaths, and reduced per-patient costs of $11 472 over standard care.5
Key benefits:
- Lower costs for both patients and healthcare providers.
- Efficient use of healthcare resources, improving capacity management.
- Potential for shared savings in value-based care contracts, rewarding providers for high-quality, cost-efficient care.
- Empowering Providers with Data-Driven Decision Making
In value-based care, having accurate and timely data is essential for achieving the best patient outcomes. Cellular RPM provides providers with continuous, real-time data that can inform data-driven decision-making. This data helps healthcare professionals better understand patient trends, predict health risks, and tailor personalized treatment plans.
For example, in managing diabetes, a cellular RPM system can continuously track blood glucose levels. By analyzing this data, a physician can identify patterns and recommend adjustments to diet, medication, or lifestyle to prevent complications. The constant flow of information also allows for more meaningful interactions during follow-up visits, as providers can discuss real-time data rather than relying on sporadic in-person assessments.
Key benefits:
- Data-driven insights into patient health and risk factors.
- Personalized, informed care plans tailored to individual needs.
- More accurate monitoring of patient progress toward value-based care goals.
- Increasing Access to Care and Reducing Health Disparities
Remote Patient Monitoring can also help bridge the gap in healthcare accessibility, especially for patients in rural or underserved areas. Traditional models often require patients to travel to a physical location for assessments and check-ups, which can be challenging for individuals with limited mobility, lack of transportation, or who are long distances from medical facilities. Cellular RPM eliminates these barriers by allowing patients to receive care from the comfort of their homes.
This increased access to healthcare services helps reduce disparities and ensures that high-risk patients receive consistent monitoring. In value-based care, where patient outcomes and satisfaction are paramount, cellular RPM plays a crucial role in making healthcare more equitable and accessible to all.
Healthcare equity is not just about equal healthcare services but recognizing and accounting for the diverse needs of different populations. Individuals from certain racial and ethnic groups, people who come from low-income backgrounds, and individuals who live in rural areas often face barriers to accessing health care in the U.S.
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) plays a crucial role in combating healthcare inequities by addressing various barriers to access and providing more inclusive healthcare solutions. Often, rural or remote areas lack easy access to healthcare facilities. RPM offers a solution by allowing patients in these areas to receive timely care and monitoring without traveling long distances. This technology connects them with specialists and primary care providers, ensuring they receive the attention they need regardless of location.
Key benefits:
- Improved access to care for underserved populations.
- Reduced healthcare disparities in rural and low-income communities.
- Better outcomes and experiences for a broader range of patients.
Conclusion
Cellular RPM is revolutionizing the way healthcare is delivered in a value-based care model. By enhancing patient engagement, improving clinical outcomes, reducing costs, empowering data-driven decision-making, and increasing access to care, cellular RPM supports the core tenets of value-based care. As healthcare continues to evolve toward a more patient-centered, outcome-focused approach, cellular RPM will play an increasingly vital role in helping providers deliver high-quality, cost-effective care.
Value-based care is the future of healthcare, and Cellular RPM is the tool that will help drive its success. To learn more, please fill out our Contact Form.
References
1 -The Benefits of Remote Monitoring of Real Time Blood Glucose Data Using iGlucose System in Managing Patients with Diabetes, Howard University Diabetes Center.
2 - Use of Cellular-Enabled Glucometer for Diabetes Management in High-Risk Pregnancy - Jones RD, Peng C, Odom L, Moody H, Eswaran H (2023) Use of cellular-enabled glucometer for diabetes management in high-risk pregnancy, Telemedicine Reports 4:1, 307–316, DOI: 10.1089/tmr.2023.0033.
4 - https://www.healthrecoverysolutions.com/hubfs/Frederick%20Health%20Case%20Study.pdf
5 - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2789635
