Recently, there has been massive growth in the incidence of chronic healthcare conditions. For instance, the WHO states that chronic disease cases rose by 57% in 2020 alone. To effectively deploy healthcare for chronic disease management, pharmaceutical care needs to play a greater role. One technological tool that can help is remote patient monitoring (RPM).
The specific applications of RPM in pharmaceutical care include:
- Having access to real-time patient data
- Facilitating well-informed pharmaceutical decision-making
- Helping measure the impact of pharmaceutical therapies
- Monitoring a patient’s commitment to a pharmaceutical care program
- Providing a holistic outlook on a patient’s health
Read on to learn more about how RPM can work in pharmaceutical service delivery and the benefits of deploying it.
An Overview of RPM in Pharmaceutical Care
RPM involves using digital technologies to track and collect real-time medical data from a patient and to transfer this data to healthcare experts. These practitioners then use this data to assess the patient’s health and make necessary medical decisions.
Traditionally, to capture medical data from a patient, the individual needs to travel to a clinic or medical facility to be examined. However, RPM enables doing this remotely. You can use RPM technology to monitor symptoms, check the progress of post-admission recovery, or in some cases, carry out an initial diagnosis.
The devices used for the monitoring include scales, oximeters, glucometers, and other common devices with Bluetooth capabilities. RPM often comes with telemedicine applications that enable communication between patients and healthcare practitioners. It has been typically used by practitioners such as doctors, radiologists, nurses, and others in the diagnostic space. However, pharmacists can equally leverage its transformative perks for enhanced service delivery.
The Specific Applications of RPM in Pharmaceutical Services
Pharmacists can adopt RPM in various areas of pharmaceutical care delivery. Here are a few of the most popular applications.
Having Access to Real-Time Patient Data
As with all other medical experts, pharmacists need access to quality medical data from the patient. In the past, getting such data proved to be quite strenuous and time consuming, requiring the pharmacy to gain permission from the patient or repeat measurements at the pharmacy. Furthermore, the data was often self-reported by the patient, except in cases where medical records of prior tests were shared.
However, with RPM technology, pharmacists can get the required information in real time. The patient doesn’t need to report anything because the technology provides all the data.
Facilitating Well-informed Pharmaceutical Decision-Making
Efficient data access directly benefits pharmacists because they can make more informed decisions. The decision-making rate also increases significantly because the data comes in real time.
Some patients may not notice adverse changes in their condition, especially when they are suffering from chronic illness. The technological monitors in place will present physiological changes to the pharmacist, who can then make well-informed decisions. Working in collaboration with the patient’s medical provider, more effective therapies can be prescribed.
Helping with Measuring the Impact of Pharmaceutical Products
After deciding on the drugs to offer a patient, pharmacists need to know the effects on the patient’s condition. RPM tools enable the pharmacist to get reports on the drug’s effects almost instantaneously.
Monitoring a Patient’s Commitment to a Pharmaceutical Care Program
Research reveals that medication nonadherence is real and that a decent percentage of patients don’t take their medication as prescribed. Unfortunately, since there is no regular physical interaction with the patients, it is difficult for pharmacists to know about these situations.
With RPM, they can track the patient’s health conditions and lifestyle, so the pharmacist can be aware of any nonadherence earlier. They can then take steps to help ensure that patients understand their medications.
Providing a Holistic Outlook on a Patient’s Health
A patient may have multiple conditions in which the treatment of one can conflict with another. Basically, if a specialist prescribes a certain medication to treat one illness, it may have adverse effects on another. Unfortunately, it is difficult to know this early in the treatment process.
Having access to all information about the patient’s health through integrated care systems can help prevent this situation.
The Benefits of Adopting RPM in Pharmaceutical Services for the Chronically Ill
The perks that pharmacists and pharmacies can get from deploying RPM include the following.
Reduction in Physical Strain Arising from Pharmaceutical Consultation
Experts have referred to work-related stress as the “hidden pandemic in pharmacy.” Several pharmacists work under strenuous conditions to attend to many patients coming for one-on-one consultations.
RPM helps bring an end to that because pharmacists can work from anywhere, providing their top-notch expertise to patients wherever they are.
Better Health Outcomes
With RPM, pharmacists have access to more detailed data, which can be provided at any time. As a result, they can suggest medication changes that will help their patients’ conditions and improve their health status.
Boost in Productivity
With reduced stress and better working conditions, pharmacists can boost their output in the form of higher value activities such as disease education, consultations and MTM.
Efficient use of resources and convenience
Formerly, having to meet and test patients physically consumed many resources in the form of time, space, and financial resources. Unfortunately, the pharmacist and the patients all bore the brunt of patients wanting an unscheduled consult, or not being able to schedule and keep their appointment.
With RPM encouraging a switch to remote consultations, patients can conveniently receive efficiently-delivered pharmacist consultations.
Increased Capacity to Play a Greater Role in Chronic Healthcare
Previously, many healthcare industry participants did not consider the role of pharmacy services in chronic healthcare delivery. However, with better tools and more efficient processes, there is enhanced capacity for pharmacies to provide value-added services in the provision of chronic medical care. For instance, pharmacists can expand their role as part of a qualified health provider’s clinical staff, monitor outcomes and suggest therapy changes based on a patient’s real-time medical data
Conclusion
The precarious nature of chronic disease healthcare trends means that all hands should be on deck to reduce its prevalence. One service sector that can contribute in a greatly expanded capacity is the pharmacy sector. RPM technologies can significantly enhance pharmacy’s opportunity to deploy highly valued services while creating a new revenue stream.
If you’re searching for the best RPM partner, look no further than Dignio. It provides integrated technology, with several devices that provide real-time medical data for health experts. Dignio is approved as a FDA class 1 software as medical device and offers ease of use for patients and clinicians alike.
Here at Dignio, we help community, LTC, and specialty pharmacists leverage remote patient care technology in order to practice at the top of their license, allowing pharmacies to deliver greater value to patients and caregivers, while generating more profitable revenue for the pharmacy location.
If you’d like to see how we can help pharmacies make an even bigger positive impact in communities and drive greater profit margins while doing so, feel free to reach out to our Connected Care Team today!