Reimbursements and EHR integrations are top priorities for remote patient monitoring (RPM), according to a report by KLAS. The study evaluated RPM products from 10 companies and found Optimize Health, Health Recovery Solutions, and TimeDoc Health to excel in ease of use and integration. While RPM has shown positive outcomes, healthcare organizations are concerned about reimbursements and deep EHR integration. RPM adoption is increasing as it helps address staffing shortages and improve patient care without adding additional staff.
According to a recent report by KLAS, reimbursements and electronic health records (EHR), integrations are key priorities for remote patient monitoring (RPM) systems. Healthcare organizations are also seeking continuous monitoring and improved inventory management from their RPM systems.
To assess the rapidly advancing RPM technologies, KLAS researchers conducted interviews over the past year with various organizations. The study evaluated RPM products from 10 companies, with over 165 individuals from organizations of all sizes responding.
Based on the evaluation, Optimize Health, Health Recovery Solutions, and TimeDoc Health received the highest ratings for ease of use, while HRS (Health Recovery Solutions) achieved top ratings for technology integrations.
HRS, the winner of 2023 Best in KLAS award, is predominantly used by large organizations with enterprise-wide programs covering multiple conditions and care settings. Optimize Health and TimeDoc Health, on the other hand, are primarily used by clinics.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, RPM played a significant role in remotely collecting data from chronic patients, as stated by Dr. Waqaas Al-Siddiq, the chairman, CEO, and founder of Biotricity, a medical diagnostic and healthcare technology company.
Regarding EHR integration, the report mentioned that while some users considered it a strength, several customers expressed the desire for deeper or more automatic integration of patient data into the EHR.
The majority of RPM users utilize the platforms for monitoring heart disease and hypertension, as well as for care management, patient-facing technical support, and device inventory management.
Feedback on integration and reporting varied among customers, with some stating that EHR integration was limited or not as deep as desired. Users of HRS expressed the need for continuous monitoring, better inventory management, an improved video visit tool, and an updated user experience for tablets.
Other notable RPM vendors evaluated in the report include Biofourmis, Current Health, CareSignal, MD Revolution, VitalTech, CareSimple, and Livongo. Each vendor had specific strengths and weaknesses identified by customers.
RPM adoption is on the rise as healthcare organizations aim to address staffing shortages and increased patient loads. It offers a digital health tool and secondary care team that can alleviate staffing challenges and improve patient outcomes without requiring additional staff.
According to KLAS researchers, healthcare organizations have various factors to consider due to the rapidly evolving options available for RPM. Reimbursement remains an ongoing question, with some organizations feeling that they cannot solely rely on reimbursement from Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes.