Remote health monitoring promotes wellbeing and better care.
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is an effective technology-based solution to proactively support one’s health and wellbeing outside of conventional clinical environments. RPM allows an individual to take his or her blood pressure, weight, oxygen, glucose and other vitals readings with little or no help from a caregiver or nurse, and transmit this data to the provider who can proactively and appropriately respond to alerts before an emergency arises.
Front Porch partnered with Health Harmony, a Care Innovations solution that assists in monitoring hypertension and other chronic diseases through a Bluetooth enabled blood pressure cuff, weight scale, and other devices. These peripherals connect to an iPad mini loaded with the Health Harmony app, which communicates a patient’s data to caregivers and provides the patient with real time feedback and information on their health. It also includes health and wellbeing surveys and educational content to promote disease management.
Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing (FPCIW) conducted a study using Health Harmony for resident monitoring and as part of an innovative program at Kingsley Manor and Claremont Manor called “Safe at Home.” The program follows residents post-discharge from the care center to home with the goal of making sure that the resident transitions well and follows aftercare protocols, reducing the risk of additional inpatient care.
The main objectives with the Health Harmony and Safe at Home pilot are to …
- Assess the impact of remote patient monitoring for independent residents who are not yet ready for higher levels of care, and for residents who have been recently discharged from the care center back into the community
- Evaluate the business viability of incorporating RPM monitoring in the residential community as an enhanced or additional service
- Measure the adoption rate of RPM service and satisfaction level of residents and staff
- Evaluate the RPM solutions and identify features that are beneficial and features that need improvement for users.
- Develop implementation protocols to replicate the program in other communities if the pilot produces positive results
As a result of our pilot at Kingsley Manor and Claremont Manor, resident focus group meetings revealed greater participant awareness of personal health, changes and reduction in medication, and greater communication between clinical care teams and residents. Participants reported greater health awareness and comfort knowing that a clinical team member consistently monitors health outcomes, and care staff expressed a greater understanding of and responsiveness to resident needs.
