Cellular remote patient monitoring (RPM) from Smart Meter is a crucial tool for ensuring continuous, high-quality care, particularly during the busy holiday season. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports, around 23% of patients with chronic conditions—roughly 30 million Americans—will visit the emergency room during the holidays. These visits can often be avoided with proactive healthcare strategies, and cellular RPM plays a vital role in this process.
The holiday season presents unique challenges for both healthcare systems and patients. These include:
- Reduced Access to In-Person Care: Many physicians and healthcare facilities operate on limited schedules during the holidays, with healthcare professionals taking time off.
- Increased Stress for Patients: The disruptions of traveling, changes in routine, and indulgent holiday meals can exacerbate chronic conditions, especially for those with diabetes, heart disease, or hypertension.
- Longer Wait Times in the Emergency Room: With fewer healthcare providers available, patients often turn to emergency rooms during the holidays, leading to longer wait times and more acute issues resulting from delayed care.
To address these challenges, cellular RPM provides a way to monitor patients’ health remotely and continuously, ensuring that chronic conditions are managed even when in-person visits aren’t possible. By detecting potential issues early, RPM reduces the need for emergency room visits. Furthermore, with the rise of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, RPM became an even more vital resource for healthcare systems facing staffing shortages or overburdened facilities.
Cellular RPM offers several key benefits for patients and providers, especially during the holiday season:
- Continuous Care Without Interruptions: Even when patients are traveling or unable to visit the doctor in person, RPM allows for remote monitoring of vital signs. For example, a patient with hypertension can have their blood pressure remotely tracked, enabling healthcare providers to detect concerning trends and adjust treatment accordingly without requiring an office visit.
- Reduced Risk of Emergencies: By monitoring patients’ health in real-time, healthcare providers can identify early signs of trouble and intervene before a condition worsens. This can help prevent costly and time-consuming emergency room visits.
- Improved Patient Adherence to Treatment Plans: Cellular RPM keeps patients engaged in their care plans by providing real-time feedback and accountability. This is especially important during the holidays when routines are disrupted.
Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of cellular RPM. For instance, a Howard University study found that 70% of high-risk diabetes patients using Smart Meter’s iGlucose® glucometer lowered their A1c by an average of 2.8% within 90 days. Similarly, a study by Frederick Home Health showed a 50% reduction in emergency department visits for patients using RPM technology.
Cellular RPM also provides greater flexibility for patients during the holidays. Unlike traditional RPM systems that may require WiFi access, Smart Meter’s cellular-enabled devices allow patients to stay connected with their healthcare providers regardless of location. This means that even while traveling, patients can have their health data transmitted in real-time, ensuring continuous monitoring and prompt intervention if needed. Some of Smart Meter’s devices even include a multi-carrier SIM that connects to the strongest available network, ensuring reliable data transmission anywhere in the country.
Smart Meter’s cellular RPM solutions require no syncing, pairing, or internet connection, making them easy for patients to use. The device sends health data immediately to healthcare providers, enabling timely interventions and reducing the likelihood of emergency visits.
By leveraging cellular RPM, healthcare providers can maintain a high standard of care even during the holiday season, reducing the burden on emergency departments and improving patient outcomes.
To learn more about Smart Meter’s cellular RPM solutions and how they can enhance care during the holidays, visit their website at SmartMeterRPM.com.
About Smart Meter, LLC
Smart Meter is a leading provider of remote patient monitoring (RPM) solutions, working with healthcare providers nationwide to improve patient care. Their cellular, FDA-registered devices are connected to a dedicated AT&T 4/5G network, ensuring reliable transmission of health data for real-time decision-making. For more information, visit SmartMeterRPM.com.
