KLAS: Broad Remote Patient Monitoring Vendors Most Used, Considered

Broad remote patient monitoring (RPM) vendors, that is, companies that monitor a wide array of clinical conditions, were most commonly used or considered by healthcare organizations, with Health Recovery Solutions (HRS) and Vivify Health being two vendors that stood out, according to a recent KLAS report.

As RPM use continues to grow, KLAS researchers are determining how solutions can be used to produce effective interventions, which can lead to improved outcomes and lower costs. During this process, they sought insight into the workings of the RPM landscape.

The KLAS report examined several vendors, along with the various types of services they offer. It also noted the plans of each organization regarding potential expansion efforts.

The report found that HRS and Vivify Health were the most widely used and considered RPM vendors. HRS achieved an overall performance score of 91.9, while Vivify Health received a score of 86.7.

Regarding types of vendors, researchers found that broad RPM was the most widely used, with 33 organizations currently using it and 35 considering it. A distant second was focused RPM vendors that monitor a single use case or condition. Nine organizations presently use focused RPM vendors, and two are considering it.

There appears to be strong interest in RPM use in the future. About 65.5 percent of organizations have plans to pursue the CMS Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCaH) initiative. These organizations tend to be among the larger ones, as they often possess the necessary resources to support the regulations associated with the initiative, according to the report.

The researchers also noted potential areas for improvement in the RPM landscape. These included increased EMR integration and improved patient ease of use.

But overall, RPM is producing positive outcomes, the KLAS report states. Organizations using a live RPM program observe cost reductions and lower hospital admissions levels. 

Many recent studies have pointed out the potential use cases of RPM as well as the improvements that need to be made.

A study published in March found that an RPM program played a key role in the identification, treatment, and monitoring of COVID-19 patients. Researchers came to this conclusion following an extensive trial period during which they examined a large sample of patients, some of whom were high-risk. The RPM program helped keep hospitalizations low, even among the high-risk population. 

Another study published in July found that implementing an RPM program led to positive outcomes for COVID-19 patients, such as lower hospitalization levels, reduced use of intensive care, and shorter lengths of stay.

Despite these results, health equity must remain a priority as RPM efforts continue.

Racial minorities and rural residents may face difficulties accessing RPM, mainly due to lack of insurance, the digital divide, lower incomes, and limited transportation. Thus, organizations must be laser-focused on reducing disparities while implementing RPM, including by focusing on specific conditions and assessing social determinants of health.