The field of nephrology supports millions of patients living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other kidney disorders. These complex conditions typically require daily care and often involve comorbidities such as diabetes or hypertension. As a result, the ability to support patients regularly without requiring in-person visits is revolutionary.

All About RPM for Nephrology: Benefits, Devices & Best Practices

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) for nephrology can take things to the next level, enabling providers to anticipate health needs and take action with timely interventions that save lives, time, and money.

Understanding Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)

Remote patient monitoring, or RPM, is a digital health framework for monitoring patients at home using technological devices and platforms that collect health data in real-time.

In other words, RPM involves using technology to track health vitals from afar, allowing providers to monitor patients without the need for in-person visits.

RPM for Nephrology: The Basics

Chronic kidney disease and similar conditions affect a surprisingly large percentage of Americans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that CKD affects up to 14% of the US population.

With millions of patients to treat, nephrologists can benefit from having access to new opportunities for gaining insights into health needs. RPM helps paint a vivid picture of a patient’s daily health, including vitals of particular importance to nephrologists, such as:

  • Blood Pressure –Monitoring blood pressure closely enables effective management of hypertension, a key predictor of kidney disease progression.
  • A1C – Since many patients with kidney disease also have diabetes, tracking glucose levels may be an important part of managing their health.
  • Weight – For some patients, changes in weight may indicate problems such as fluid buildup or treatment nonadherence.

What are the benefits of RPM for nephrology?

Using remote patient monitoring in nephrology has become increasingly common. The field of nephrology can particularly benefit from everything RPM brings to the table.

Some potential benefits of RPM for nephrology include:

  • Better care options. Some treatment options, such as peritoneal dialysis, require a high degree of oversight to target patient health needs effectively and minimize risk. However, oversight is often limited by physical distance, especially for patients living in rural or remote areas. Clinical research has shown that using RPM can lead to positive results for peritoneal dialysis patients, demonstrating that digital health technology helps providers explore treatments that may otherwise be unattainable.
  • Coordinated long-term care. Many patients with CKD have extensive care teams. Coordinating information enables strong continuity of care, a crucial part of achieving the best outcomes for chronic conditions. RPM data can sync to patient records, allowing all stakeholders to view the same information.
  • Patient education and engagement. Using RPM naturally involves patients in their care journeys. RPM increases touchpoints between patients and providers, allowing both parties to communicate frequently and find opportunities for patients to take charge of their health. Plus, regular data collection helps patients see the real-time impacts of their treatment plans.
  • Better health outcomes. One of the biggest perks of remote patient monitoring is the visibility it creates. With more information about patients, healthcare professionals can make better decisions about their care plans.
  • Deliver more effective preventative care. Over time, RPM may help reduce emergency department visits by giving clinicians the information they need to prevent serious health issues.
  • Lower care costs. By mitigating emergency care, supporting better health management, and reducing the need for in-person visits, RPM can lower care costs for all stakeholders.

RPM Devices for Nephrology Patients

There are various remote patient monitoring devices that healthcare providers can use to monitor health data. Some examples of devices nephrology specialists may recommend include:

  • Blood pressure monitors, which help care teams manage hypertension and ensure that patient vitals stay within normal thresholds
  • Blood glucose monitors, which help determine how effectively the kidneys are working
  • Activity trackers, which enable patients to record their physical activity as required by treatment plans
  • Smart scales, which can help providers track treatment adherence for patients whose care plans involve weight management

Combined with a user-friendly RPM platform and clinical monitoring, these devices bring substantial benefits to patients and providers alike.

Launch an Impactful Nephrology RPM Program with CoachCare

RPM holds great potential for nephrology specialists and their patients, but it’s also important to ensure the RPM program you launch is reliable and accessible.

Choose an established RPM software and device vendor like CoachCare to hit the ground running with the technology you need to secure buy-in and start delivering better care to your patients.

Want to learn more about how using RPM for nephrology can support your patients? Contact us today to get started.