Remote patient monitoring (RPM) makes interoperability easy and allows for seamless continuity of care which is crucial in maintaining high quality care. Interoperability must evolve to meet the rapidly growing RPM industry and to provide the most accurate data for providers and patients alike. The efficiency and efficacy of remote care will rely more and more on the continuity of patient care and continuity of patient data. With integrated systems, RPM can both support patients and keep clinicians informed remotely.
What is interoperability?
Interoperability is when two or more systems are able to exchange health information and use the information upon receival. When attempting to connect patient data between multiple different types of health information systems, it can be difficult to achieve interoperability. Interoperability is crucial when it comes to continuity of care and creating a seamless experience for patients.
Watch: ELLKAY Expert Exchange: Enabling Remote Patient Monitoring through Interoperability
Why is interoperability, or continuity of care, important?
In a survey with over 100 healthcare professionals, the majority identified interoperability as one of the largest challenges when attempting to implement remote patient monitoring. One-third of those same respondents stated that their current healthcare organization uses “four or more disparate systems in a given day – suggesting that current workflows are not aligned to efficiently support patient care.” This survey displays a lack of integrated data in healthcare organizations. In order to create more efficient, accurate, and effective care, interoperability is essential. All systems in one organization should have electronic health records (EHR) integrated and working in sync with one another. This allows clinicians and their teams to monitor patients with all relevant data and intervene at the appropriate time.
How will interoperability evolve in the future?
Many healthcare leaders believe that what happens between in-person patient visits is just as important as what happens in the sporadic visits. The future of this data collected between visits lies in its interoperability. As systems evolve and increase their interoperability, the efficiency of RPM will evolve and increase as well. The standards of the interoperability of this data have already evolved, but further evolution depends on future technology supporting it. With the massive integration of telehealth and RPM during the public health crisis, there is a growing need for continuity of care that interoperability will have to catch up with. The future of RPM interoperability will allow patients greater access to their own biometrics and become more involved with their own treatment and recovery plans. With greater continuity of care, and continuity as a patient, remote care can facilitate even more patient to provider relationships and streamline the sharing of patient data between clinicians.
