Ontario’s health care landscape is changing quickly, with technology allowing Patients to get quality health care when they do not need to go into the hospital. A recent major advancement is remote patient monitoring (RPM) – a way that health care providers monitor the health of Patients using electronic devices. With RPM, health care providers can view Patients’ health information remotely from anywhere in the world. As a result, Patients are experiencing better outcomes; fewer hospital admissions; and better management of chronic illnesses, post-surgical recovery, or age-related conditions.
More Families than ever before are choosing to provide their loved ones with home-based health care. Therefore, having access to necessary medical equipment and supportive services like hospital bed rental Stouffville and hospital bed rental Bolton is becoming critical to ensure a healthy, safe and comfortable recovery.
What is remote patient monitoring?
Remote patient monitoring is a method of providing health care to Patients who use digital devices to send their health information to a provider. Examples of data collected include:
- Blood Pressure
- Heart rate
- Blood glucose levels
- Oxygen saturation
- Body temperature
- Weight changes
- Sleep patterns
Using the information obtained from the monitoring device, healthcare providers can identify potential problems with a patient’s health earlier and make changes to treatment accordingly.
Why is remote patient monitoring gaining traction across ontario?
There are several factors contributing to the growth of RPM usage across ontario. These include:
- increased demand for home health care services
- an aging population requiring ongoing health surveillance
- greater prevalence of chronic illnesses
- improved access through digital health technology
- reduced pressures on hospitals and emergency departments
- enhanced patient preference for providing care at home
The advantages listed above have led many healthcare organizations to develop remote care strategies that promote both increased operational efficiency and enhanced patient satisfaction.
Advantages for Patients and their Families
Remote patient monitoring offers many advantages that can improve overall experience of healthcare. Patients benefit from:
- less frequent unnecessary hospital visits
- early detection of potential problems in their health status
- better medication management
- more independence
- more communication opportunities between providers and Patients
- peace of mind for family members caring for Patients being recovered at home.
Many Patients prefer to recover at home because they feel more comfortable and able to maintain a routine with ongoing medical support.
Why home medical equipment matters
Technology alone will not provide adequate support for successful home health care. Appropriate medical equipment provides a safer environment for Patients to recover in long-term care. Some examples of medical equipment include:
- hospital beds
- mobility aids
- wheel chairs
- lifts for transfer of Patients
- Walkers
- Pressure relief mattresses
- bathroom safety equipment
Having reliable medical equipment helps to create a safe environment where Patients can move freely without causing themselves injury. It also decreases the burden placed upon family caregivers, ultimately improving patient comfort and confidence while being cared for at home.
The role of renting hospital beds during recovery
Hospital beds play an important role in home-based health care by providing Patients with the ability to position themselves comfortably and safely. Benefits include:
- easier transfers into & out of bed
- lower risk of developing Pressure sores
- better breathing & circulation
- increased comfort while recovering
- improved accessibility for caregivers
- better fall prevention
For those Families who require temporary medical equipment, renting a hospital bed is often the best option available as it eliminates the cost associated with purchasing a new hospital bed. Those living outside of Stouffville commonly rent hospital beds from nearby hospital bed rental Bolton as well.
How remote monitoring and home-based care are used together
Combining remote patient monitoring and home medical equipment provides an effective total care solution. The combined approach provides:
- Continuous real-time monitoring by healthcare professionals
- a safe and comfortable place to recover at home
- timely identification of issues regarding health status
- reduces need for hospital readmission
- encourages active engagement by Patients
- improves quality of life
With the right equipment and continued monitoring, many Patients can recover much more confident in their own home environments.
Some challenges to be aware of
While remote patient monitoring offers many positive effects, there are some challenges to consider. Some common challenges include:
- Internet connectivity requirements
- Patient familiarity with technology
- Protecting patient data privacy and security
- Proper setup and maintenance of equipment
- Availability of technical support
