New Remote Patient Monitoring Program Aims to Assist Chronic Care Patients

Aiming to improve access to care and health outcomes, Watertown Regional Medical Center (WRMC) in Wisconsin has created a remote patient monitoring (RPM) program to treat patients with chronic conditions such as hypertension and heart failure.

Hypertension and heart failure, common conditions in the US, are associated with death, disability, and high costs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 116 million adults in the US have hypertension, and 6.2 million have heart failure, according to a press release.

Through a partnership with Cadence, WRMC has created an RPM program that involves using various cellular-enabled devices, such as blood pressure monitors and weight scales. These devices enable patients to track health metrics and report that information to their care teams while at home.

“This remote patient monitoring program gives us the ability to help patients monitor and better manage their conditions outside the walls of our hospital, enabling early interventions when necessary and helping to prevent emergency situations,” said Fahad Iqbal, MD, a cardiologist at Watertown Regional Medical Center, in a press release. “Through daily monitoring of key vitals, we can identify potential health issues before they become more serious and improve patient outcomes through appropriate management of medications and therapies.”

Though the program will initially only treat hypertension and heart failure patients, WRMC intends to expand the program's capabilities to treat more chronic conditions, including diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

“Our team is constantly working to identify ways to improve the health of our community and drive positive patient outcomes,” said Michael Grajewski, MD, family medicine provider at Watertown Regional Medical Center, in the press release. “This technology acts as an extension of our practice, helping us to deliver comprehensive care for people managing hypertension and heart disease and in the near future, other chronic conditions.”

The use of RPM to manage conditions is becoming increasingly common. 

In September, Silent Night Therapy shared details regarding a new RPM solution designed to treat sleep apnea. The differences between this solution and standard RPM devices for sleep apnea mainly relate to its small size and the fact that it is entirely disposable. The system includes a single sensor attached to the finger that can pick up information related to blood oxygen, heart rate, and body movement.

Further, another partnership announced in August also involved Cadence. The company teamed up with ScionHealth to offer RPM to those with chronic conditions. Targeting conditions such as hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, and COPD, the collaboration involves the use of Cadence technology to assist those receiving care at community hospitals.