More Monitoring, Better Care. Is It That Simple?
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) appears to be a compelling and straightforward offering: more data, greater visibility, improved outcomes. Sending a patient home with a connected device that can aid in tracking vital signs and chronic conditions in real time. Clinicians are no longer limited to what happens during office visits. The value is intuitive: If we can see more, we can do more. But is it really that simple?
In its essence, increased monitoring through RPM should allow for earlier detection, faster intervention, and fewer preventable hospitalizations. For patients, it provides greater peace of mind that any changes in their symptoms or condition, whether improvements or challenges, are being tracked. The goal of a remote care plan is to enhance patient-provider connection.
However, monitoring alone isn’t enough.
To translate data into impact, it must be integrated into a well-designed clinical workflow. A flagged blood pressure reading, for example, only matters if someone is alerted, triages it appropriately, and follows up with context and care. Without clear protocols and systems to support them, RPM can become just another stream of unprocessed data.
Patient experience also plays a key role. Devices need to be intuitive. Onboarding must be simple. Patients need support, not only at the start but throughout the process. When technology is complicated or follow-ups are inconsistent, patient engagement drops, and the value of monitoring is lost.
On the clinical side, teams require tools that enhance efficiency, without adding to their workload. That means automation, seamless integration with existing systems, and clear response protocols. RPM should support clinicians, not overwhelm them.
So, is more monitoring better?
Yes, however, only when it is part of a system built to act on the data. The most effective RPM programs combine technology, clinical strategy, and human connection to deliver care that’s continuous, responsive, and truly patient-centered. For providers, the value in monitoring can only be harnessed through a system that takes full advantage of the monitoring in place. Once that system is established, it will enable a proactive, data-driven care strategy: a critical advantage in value-based care.
Better care isn’t just about seeing more. It’s about taking action with the right tools, the right team, and the right plan in place.
