New and noteworthy clinical research supporting RPM

Clinical research has supported the concepts of telemedicine and remote monitoring since the 1970s. The ability to monitor patients remotely has evolved tremendously since then, but clinical studies continue to show the efficacy of RPM in improving outcomes.

Below are a few of the new and noteworthy clinical studies and research articles that support RPM with a summary of the key findings.

1. Remote Patient Monitoring: A Promising Digital Health Frontier

   Summary: RPM benefits include easier access to patient data, improved patient outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and reduced clinician burnout by enabling high-quality care through remote monitoring. That said, the researchers caution that the full impact of RPM is limited unless engagement and adherence are maximized. They research implementation solutions across diverse patient solutions and have shown that RPM with personalized coaching can lead to high adherence rates.

2. An Adaptive Behavioral Intervention for Weight Loss Management: A Randomized Clinical Trial
   
   Summary: A 2024 JAMA study of 400 overweight/obese people found that those using remote monitoring with a wireless weight scale with a wearable (FitBit) combined with personalized coaching lost an average of 4.4 lbs more over 6 months than those using a scale and wearable on their own. In addition, over 49% of the group with coaching achieved their weight loss goal at 3 months while only 29% of the group without coaching did. 

3. Long-Term Effect of Home Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Plus Medication Self-Titration for Patients With Hypertension: A Secondary Analysis of the ADAMPA Randomized Clinical Trial

   Summary: A 2024 JAMA study of 312 patients demonstrated that blood pressure monitoring in combination with an antihypertensive medication reduced blood pressure long-term compared to usual care.  There was a statistically significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (adjusted mean difference, −3.4 mm Hg) and diastolic blood pressure (adjusted mean difference, −2.5 mm Hg) at 24 months, with no additional healthcare resources or adverse events.   

4. Impact of automated data flow and reminders on adherence and resource utilization for remotely monitoring physical activity in individuals with stroke or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
   
   Summary: This new, yet to be peer-reviewed study, analyzed 73 individuals with stroke or COPD, who completed 28 days of physical activity with remote monitoring or manual data capture. Patient adherence was similar between the two groups, but the remote monitoring group saved 123.8 minutes or $50.24 per participant per month.

5. Remote patient monitoring in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

   Summary:  This review showed the potential benefits of RPM for COPD patients and found RPM can support care by providing early detection of exacerbation, which results in earlier access to therapy and clinical services, and therefore, improved patient outcomes with reduced healthcare utilization. 

6. A Model to Design Financially Sustainable Algorithm-Enabled Remote Patient Monitoring for Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Care
   
   Summary: This study developed a financial model for pediatric RPM for type 1 diabetes to understand the reimbursement needed to adopt algorithm-enabled RPM for population health management. They determined the threshold reimbursement value to maintain revenue-neutrality was $10 per telehealth interaction.

Continua supports RPM providers

If you want to grow your RPM program, Continua Systems can help by providing the largest selection of multi-network cellular devices and a comprehensive device management platform. Contact us to learn more.