The Importance of Patient Engagement Post-PHE for Remote Patient Monitoring

Active Patient Participation:

Remote patient monitoring relies on active patient participation to collect accurate health data and ensure effective care management. Engaging patients in their health journey fosters a sense of empowerment and responsibility, encouraging them to manage their conditions actively. Enabling patients to monitor their vital signs, symptoms, and other health parameters at home helps create a partnership between patients and healthcare providers, leading to better decision-making and treatment outcomes. 

Patient Adherence 

Patient engagement is vital for promoting adherence to treatment plans. As a reminder, with the PHE ending, to maintain compliance, the healthcare provider must establish an initiating visit to refer the patient for RPM services if you have not seen the patient in the last 12 months. CPT Code 99454 is subject to the usual reimbursement rules requiring sixteen (16) successful days of synchronous physiological data transmission out of every thirty calendar days. You can expect, on average, that anywhere from 20% to 40% of your current patients fall short of this requirement, which is why having a robust patient engagement program is preeminent to keeping your RPM program running successfully.  

By keeping patients involved and informed about their care, healthcare providers can increase compliance with medication schedules, dietary guidelines, and lifestyle modifications. Engaged patients are more likely to understand the importance of following their treatment plans, leading to better disease management and reduced hospital readmissions.  

Increasing Patient Engagement: 

Patient engagement in post-PHE RPM fosters improved communication and feedback loops between healthcare providers and patients. Regular interaction, whether through virtual consultations, secure messaging platforms, or patient portals, allows for exchanging information, concerns, and questions. This enables healthcare providers to make timely treatment plan adjustments, promptly address patient queries, and provide personalized guidance, resulting in higher patient satisfaction and better health outcomes.  

Accuhealth as a fully managed RPM vendor has a robust patient engagement program designed to enhance the overall healthcare experience for patients. One of the key features of this program is the SMS text reminders, ensuring that patients never miss important appointments or medication schedules. In addition, Accuhealth has introduced an innovative bingo game where patients have the opportunity to win exciting prizes while actively participating in their healthcare journey. Moreover, Accuhealth goes above and beyond by covering all consumables, eliminating out-of-pocket costs for the patient and provider.

Accuhealth also mails out a monthly patient vital report as part of its commitment to patient empowerment, allowing individuals to track their health progress and share the information with their doctors during their next visit. Accuhealth utilizes Krames health sheets tailored to specific conditions or diseases to enhance patient education further, ensuring that patients are well-informed about their health issues and can make more informed decisions. With such comprehensive patient engagement initiatives, Accuhealth strives to improve patient outcomes and promote active participation in one's healthcare journey.

Prevention and Early Intervention:

Engaged patients are more likely to take proactive steps toward prevention and early intervention. Patients can better understand the warning signs of deteriorating health conditions through educational resources, remote monitoring technologies, and personalized feedback. With timely intervention, healthcare providers can prevent emergencies, minimize complications, and ensure timely access to appropriate care, improving overall patient well-being.

Continuity of Care and Long-Term Wellness:

In a post-PHE world, patient engagement in RPM ensures continuity of care and long-term wellness. By maintaining a robust patient-provider relationship beyond the immediate crisis, healthcare providers can remotely monitor patients' health conditions, identify trends, and detect potential issues early on. Through ongoing engagement, patients can actively participate in their wellness journey, achieving better health outcomes and preventing disease progression.

As the Public Health Emergency for remote patient monitoring draws to a close, patient engagement's importance cannot be overstated. Engaged patients are more likely to participate in their care actively, adhere to treatment plans, and communicate effectively with their healthcare providers. By embracing patient engagement in a post-PHE world, we can ensure the continued success of remote patient monitoring, resulting in improved healthcare outcomes, increased patient satisfaction, and a healthier future for all.

Remember, patient engagement is not a one-time endeavor but a continuous commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships between patients and healthcare providers. Let us prioritize patient engagement as we move forward into the era of remote patient monitoring, shaping a future where technology and human interaction work together to deliver optimal care.

To learn more about Accuhealth and RPM, we recommend taking a step back at the beginning.

1. How to Set Up Your Remote Patient Monitoring System
2. The Complete Guide to Remote Patient Monitoring

If you are curious about CMS changes that may affect your practice, check this out.