Inclusive Access and Control

Remote patient monitoring direct-to-cloud solutions expand access to Wi-Fi and/or reliable cellular communications.

Connect Any Device Anywhere

Remote patient monitoring does not have to be complicated, but with the current lack of standards it certainly is. Patients and providers are limited by factors like the devices they have access to, the ability of those devices to connect to the EHR, and/or the lack of infrastructure near a patient that can support remote connections.

The previous blog in this series, Translating Data into Knowledge, emphasized that an essential element of integrating Patient-Generated Health Data (PGHD) into clinical workflows is the translation of that data into organized information that facilitates the interpretation of that data.

Inclusive Innovation

After a decade of slow adoption, telehealth technology has advanced quickly over the last several years, particularly since COVID-19. With the current healthcare staffing crisis, we need to support changing care models and providing care for our patients through technology. I call for a new era of inclusive innovation. With remote patient monitoring in the home, we can enhance surveillance of chronic conditions and drastically improve quality of care and access issues. Through the introduction of interoperability standards for these remote devices we can care for all patients, regardless of infrastructure. Imagine the day where we can remain in our home instead of a hospital bed and receive the same level of care, or even improved level of care. Data feeds through devices, giving clinical staff a detailed view of a patient’s health status, allowing them to intervene quickly when needed.

IoT Ready

In order to ensure inclusive access and control by all patients and care teams, remote patient monitoring must provide access for all homes, regardless of existing infrastructure. Medical device manufacturers and software vendors must make PGHD available via cellular Internet-of-Things where wi-fi may not be available. This allows users to communicate their personal health data quickly, easily and automatically to a healthcare provider of their choice, from almost any location on the planet. The solution must leverage existing technologies that the cellular industry has deployed that are specifically designed to support low power devices over a wide area.

HIMSS Accelerate Health is working with a community of healthcare providers and system integrators to develop and deploy the underlying tools and infrastructure that supports the effective application of PGHD to a broad range of workflows, which will allow for successful transitions to RPM models of care. You are invited to participate in this effort by joining the HIMSS Innovation Organization, Personal Connected Health Alliance.

Previous Blogs in This Series:

1. The Innovation Journey 
2. Workflows by the Clinician, for the Clinician 
3. SMBP to Manage Hypertension 
4. Surge Care for the 21^st Century 
5. Translating Data into Knowledge