5 Good Reasons Employers and Health Plans Should Embrace Remote Patient Management

Imagine this for your organization: One of your employees is spending their evening at home. They start to feel a little dizzy. They take their blood pressure with a handy digital blood pressure cuff, typically seen only in a doctor’s office or a pharmacy. After seeing their blood pressure reading right then and there, they start to feel better. That reading was uploaded to their medical record. They know that if there is any concern about their health, an Ochsner Digital Medicine clinician is looking out for them.  

This is the result of a practice that has gained ground in healthcare over the past decade, which exploded in growth over the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s called “remote patient monitoring” and, unlike traditional care, helps physicians keep tabs on patients’ health outside the four walls of the clinic. As a pioneer of this method, Ochsner Digital Medicine allows readings that are taken at home to go directly to the member’s electronic health record. Ochsner doctors monitor these readings to plan the next steps and intervene if they notice something amiss — all while reducing visits to the doctor’s office.  

Ochsner Digital Medicine takes the digital health method further. Our program is what we like to refer to as a remote patient management (RPM). Using easy digital tools, Digital Medicine frequently monitors the cardiometabolic conditions of high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and weight. Members also enjoy the personalized support of a team that helps with medication adjustments and lifestyle changes.

So members enjoy a holistic healthcare plan in a more accessible and convenient way, where they're the most important member of the team. The program is also cost-effective, as these ongoing conditions are where most avoidable costs in healthcare can be found.

RPM is not only beneficial to patients, but also to physicians.  By keeping a closer eye on members’ health between visits, doctors can help catch potential problems earlier, prevent hospital trips, and personalize treatment plans.

Here are five ways that RPM is enhancing talent, technology and teamwork to change healthcare for patients and doctors alike:

1. More data for healthcare decisions

With RPM, the expertise of physicians, clinical pharmacists and health coaches meet the expertise of process engineers and data scientists. Together, they work on gathering data from members between office visits. This collaborative effort leads to improved clinical insights for providers and a way to better inform their individual patients of better proactive care delivery. Further, the provider and the member can use this data to track blood sugar or blood pressure levels or symptoms over time. Digital Medicine strives to do this in a non-intrusive way.

2. Encourages member engagement

RPM provides easy-to-use tools that allow members to self-manage their condition(s)and become more engaged with their own day-to-day treatment.

We are finding that members tend to stay more engaged when they feel they have a role and responsibility in their care plan. The nature of the RPM method provides accountability and a better understanding of their own health condition.  Giving them the tools and guidance to participate more fully is likely to produce positive health outcomes.

Members enjoy the convenience of care from the comfort of their homes while still sensing that their care team is watching over them.

3. Reduces costs for members, physicians, employers and payers

RPM has demonstrated a significant reduction in emergency room visits, as well as hospital stays and admissions.  By bringing chronic care management into the home, inpatient services are reduced, resulting in lower care costs for all involved in a member’s healthcare journey.

For employers, adding an RPM program to their benefits package can lead to cost savings on employee healthcare and reduced work absences and increased productivity throughout their population.

We also make things easier for the member by eliminating the various costs of in-person visits, such as gas or bus fare, childcare, and — perhaps most importantly — the cost of their time.

4. improves access to care

Access to care, particularly in rural areas, is a much-discussed challenge in healthcare. Members must travel long distances if a primary care physician or specialist is not available in a rural area. In both rural and urban areas, some may not have reliable transportation. RPM supports members where they are and can connect them to specialists or pharmacists to help from afar.

Thus, RPM is not only convenient but also necessary for some.

5. Improves the doctor-patient relationship

It may seem counterintuitive, but RPM can strengthen the patient-doctor relationship due to the increased communication opportunities. The care team model is based on trust and collaboration; members report that they are encouraged by their care team’s ongoing support.  

This method can also reduce workload and increase flexibility for overwhelmed primary care doctors, giving them the opportunity to spend a little more time with the patient during in-person office visits.

A program that works

In summary, the RPM technology and teamwork that is the basis for Ochsner Digital Medicine is positively changing the way we care for high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and weight. This nationally recognized and clinically proven program gives eligible members everything they need to manage their condition, including:

• A blood pressure cuff and/or glucometer that automatically sends readings via their smartphone or tablet to their electronic health record.
• A licensed clinician who monitors readings and can adjust medications as needed.
• A panel of health coaches who help the enrolled member take manageable steps toward a healthier lifestyle.
• Ongoing monthly reports, support tools and resources that help them stay on track.

Has your organization explored the benefits of remote patient management? Learn more about Ochsner Digital Medicine today.

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