A successful implementation of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) program in your clinic can enhance your patients’ health outcomes while also creating a new revenue stream for your practice, ensuring financial security in these unpredictable times. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the best practices for implementing a successful RPM program in your very own clinics:
Step 1: Set Clear Goals
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many healthcare providers used RPM as an alternative way to provide continuous care, especially to the most vulnerable patients, such as those with chronic illnesses. A successful implementation of RPM starts with setting clear goals. It is important to know the reasons for using RPM; to identify patients who are qualified to join the program; and to list the goals you want to achieve for your clinic and patients. Establishing clear goals will keep you motivated, help you avoid procrastination, and keep you laser-focused on achieving your targets.
Step 2: Choose the Best RPM Partner
Aside from having a hard-working team, it is also important to have the best RPM partner. The ability to achieve and meet your end-goals is heavily dependent on selecting the best RPM provider. So, consider an RPM that will help you achieve your goals. The best RPM partner should utilize easy-to-use medical devices, user-friendly mobile applications, and a secure communication network and database. Also, the program must be adaptive to meet the needs of today and the demands of tomorrow. The RPM partner should also help you and your patients reduce medical costs. And most importantly, it must increase patient satisfaction. If you and your patients find the program too difficult or complicated, the less likely it will be used.
Step 3: Educate and Train your Staff
You and all your staff should be well educated on how connected health programs will change your responsibilities and workflows. Everyone should be on board with the program. This will help you migrate to the RPM program faster and better. Continuous training and learning results in better outcomes. When the workforce understands what they are doing, tasks are performed efficiently. Additionally, the usual problems that slow down the workflow may be identified and addressed by a well-trained staff, which in turn will help you reduce costs and increase productivity.
Step 4: Identify and Invite Eligible Patients
Effective treatment for one patient is not a guarantee of treating another, even with the same illness. In fact, every patient has unique needs. As a result, what works for one person may not work for another. In RPM, not all patients are eligible to utilize the technology. It is important to identify patients who are willing and able to cope with the program. Usually, RPM programs are recommended for patients with chronic illnesses and mental health conditions. However, as technology advances, RPM is catering to a longer list of illnesses.
Step 5: Educate and Train your Patients
Once patients are onboarded, they must undergo training and education. This training is very important as RPM encourages patients to take charge and manage their own healthcare. They are encouraged to be more independent and self-sufficient. For example, instead of you taking their blood pressure (BP) level, they should learn how to use a BP monitor and measure their own BP. They must be willing and able to learn new things and cope with advancing technology. However, there are RPM providers, such as DrKumo, that provide very easy-to-use medical devices and user-friendly mobile apps to alleviate the pain of having to learn too many complicated things. Like DrKumo, these RPM providers allow the patient to just wear or mount the medical device and tap once on their mobile app to collect their vital signs.
Step 6: Deploy RPM While Engaging Patients
Experience is the best teacher. In RPM programs, the best way to assess if your patients are engaging and adapting well to the program is to deploy it. Let your patients experience RPM. Also, the best way to learn how your team will cope with the changes in the workflow brought by RPM is to implement the program. You can assess both your team and your patients by deploying the RPM program. That way, you can identify the areas you need to improve and the ones you should maintain.
Step 7: Coding, Billing, and Reimbursement
Coding, billing, and reimbursement are likewise important because this is how you get paid. You should know the list of services that are covered by your patients’ medical insurance and those that are not. This will help you generate more income while providing health services remotely. It is also important to choose an RPM partner who can assist you with coding, billing and reimbursement. RPM company leaders provide a dashboard generating detailed information about your income.
To know more about implementing a successful Remote Patient Monitoring program, contact DrKumo.
