Nearly everyone in the world of healthcare has had at least some exposure to remote patient monitoring (RPM), especially given the recent rise of telehealth. But while it’s clear that interest in and use of RPM are rising, what’s less obvious is how to overcome the challenges that come with RPM adoption. Below, we ponder some of your practice’s most common obstacles and present tangible solutions to help.

Barriers to RPM adoption

Barrier 1: Staff Shortages

The Problem: Implementing and maintaining RPM practices can take time, which some practices (especially small ones) might struggle to find. 

RPM adoption isn’t just about bringing RPM devices and resources to your practice. It’s also about setting up a system that facilitates prompt communication and real-time health updates.

How to Overcome It

Recognize that the initial investment that goes into implementing RPM is temporary. Once things are up and running, RPM can save your staff a lot of time. Dedicate extra resources to RPM from the get-go.

Barrier 2: Organizational Challenges

The Problem: Truly beneficial integrated care delivery requires stakeholders and care providers at all levels to agree. 

In other words, successful RPM adoption comes from coordination and collaboration, which can be tricky to facilitate. For instance, deciding who’s responsible for making decisions based on patient data or who’s in charge of fielding patient questions may be challenging.

How to Overcome It

Create a comprehensive implementation plan before you get the ball rolling. Ensure that everyone is on the same page about expectations and roles. It’s also common to allow professionals other than doctors – like nurses – to handle some of the legwork behind RPM. Staff can train patients, answer questions, and sometimes even undertake medical coordination decisions.

Barrier 3: A Lack of Personalized Medical Attention

The Problem: RPM devices and services may (intentionally) motivate patients to attend fewer in-person appointments.

However, this also means that giving patients individualized attention and support becomes less straightforward.

How to Overcome It

Rethink how you provide individualized support. RPM gives patients access to medical services when they need them most, which is a key moment for providers to offer timely, personalized care.

Plus, some RPM services can clue providers into whether treatment guidelines are being adhered to. These sorts of real-time insights make it easier to give attention that meets patient needs, even if you don’t often see them in person.

Barrier 4: High Tech Costs

The Problem: Investing in RPM can be expensive. This is especially true if your patient’s needs are varied or demand high-tech devices.

RPM platforms, training, and long-term support can also come with a price tag.

How to Overcome It

Get to know different RPM reimbursement codes or CPT codes. They can help you turn RPM into a lucrative stream of income for your practice. You can be compensated for many of the costs that go into RM implementation.

Barrier 5: Elderly Patients

The Problem: Older adults tend to use technology infrequently, but they also generally have the most frequent and high-maintenance health needs. 

Confusion over how to use RPM devices leads to inaccurate data collection and frustration for all involved.

How to Overcome It

It’s a good idea to introduce senior patients to RPM while knowing that they may need more support or monitoring than others. It also helps to choose user-friendly RPM software and devices that can support patients along the way.

Regardless of their age, patients benefit from comprehensive RPM instruction. The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) suggests these tips for successfully implementing RPM:

  • Walking patients through operating the device in a telehealth or in-person appointment
  • Creating written instructions for patients to refer back to
  • Telling your patients what types of readings you will get from their device and how that information gets to you
  • Encouraging patients to write down their questions and either call your office or use the RPM support tools available to them

Make RPM Adoption a Success with the Right Team

Clearly, there’s a lot more that goes into RPM than meets the eye. However, you can ensure that your RPM adoption process is smooth and effective when you choose the right RPM services.

At CoachCare, we make choosing the best RPM devices and solutions simple. Our easy-to-use RPM platform allows patients to access health data and communicate with providers in real time. Plus, our team works hard so that yours doesn’t have to; we’re here to respond to patient concerns, help with monitoring, and take action when needed.

We’ll guide you through RPM billing, training, and more, all with the professionalism and efficiency we know your practice deserves. Reach out to our team today to get started.