In the United States, over 30.5 million people suffer from chronic illnesses. How can you know that your medications work when you can’t physically see your doctor? That your doctors are on top of significant changes from a health perspective? Well, remote health monitoring is the key — and home diagnostics are one piece of that process. Here is what you need to know.
Remote Health Monitoring Overview
Remote health monitoring is a term used to describe some of today’s hottest technologies. Remote patient monitoring includes all health-monitoring devices that can collect data from patients without requiring their physical presence in front of any device or inside a hospital or doctor’s office.
Practical Examples of Remote Health Monitoring Technology
Mobile monitoring and remote patient monitoring systems have been used in hospitals for years, but they’re not just useful in a clinical setting. Remote monitoring can also help provide access to care at home. Technology like smartphones, tablets, digital scales, and blood pressure monitors allows patients to use mobile apps to track their health and keep appointments.
How Is Remote Health Monitoring Being Used?
Remote health monitoring telehealth is a form of telehealth that lets patients remotely monitor their health. As long as they’re connected to a network, patients can use their mobile devices to receive personalized reports about specific aspects of their well-being. These could include heart rate and blood pressure readings, glucose levels, daily steps, or even air quality measurements.
Who Is Using Remote Health Monitoring?
Remote health monitoring technology is still in its early days, but it’s an idea that almost everyone can get behind. Rather than relying on traditional bricks-and-mortar health centers, remote monitoring allows patients to monitor their vitals from their own homes or any other location with an internet connection. Remote patient monitoring telehealth also opens up more avenues for healthcare professionals to connect with patients.
Are There Barriers to Implementing These Devices and Services?
The most significant barrier is that insurance has not traditionally covered telehealth systems. According to recent research, however, more than 70 percent of insurers in 2015 had telehealth programs, and a majority of those are moving toward more coverage for remote patient monitoring telehealth.
What Does the Future Hold for Remote Health Monitoring?
The future of telehealth appears to be very bright indeed. According to Pew Research Center research, 49 percent of adults use wireless technology to communicate with family and friends, such as smartphones, computers, and tablets. That number is expected to reach 77% by 2017. Remote health monitoring will become more commonplace in our day-to-day lives as consumers demand better ways of staying connected while enjoying more time away from home.
Conclusion
Remote patient monitoring telehealth means patients and doctors can stay in constant contact and work towards ensuring a healthy future. Coach care is proud to be a leader in telehealth technology, working with hundreds of hospitals, clinics, home care services, and healthcare agencies. If you’d like more information on their products and services, please contact them today.