Although remote patient monitoring has been touted as a tool to reduce readmissions and improve outcomes and patient satisfaction, a new study in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests its most significant benefit may be improvements in how patients rate their quality of life.
Researchers from University of California Los Angeles divided more than 1,400 patients with a median age of 73 into two groups. One group received remote monitoring interventions including a Bluetooth-enabled scale, blood pressure and text messaging device, among others, while the control group received standard care. After 180 days they reported patients in the intervention group did not experience fewer all-cause hospital readmissions. There were also no significant effects on 30-day mortality, 30-day readmissions or 180-day mortality.
However, patients in the remote monitoring group did report significantly improved quality of life after 180 days compared to patients receiving standard. Patients in the intervention group had their measures checked daily by a centralized nurse call center. Depending on results, they may have been called for a referral to their care providers or an emergency department. Additionally, intervention patients received health coaching weekly for the first month and then once a month for the remainder of the study. These factors may have influenced perceived quality of life for patients using remote monitoring devices.
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