NC Health System to Expand Remote Patient Monitoring Services

Non-profit integrated healthcare system Novant Health is partnering with Health Recovery Solutions to expand access to remote patient monitoring services.

Through the partnership, the organizations plan to launch a pilot RPM program directed toward bariatric patients, with eventual plans of expanding to other patient populations. The overall goal is to limit hospital readmissions and improve outcomes.

Novant Health includes more than 800 locations, including 15 hospitals, spanning North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Health Recovery Solutions (HRS) provides telehealth and remote patient monitoring (RPM) solutions to assist providers in delivering virtual care.

"At Novant Health Bariatric Solutions, our focus is to improve outcomes and prevent complications by tailoring treatment to each patient's unique needs, whether it be caring for patients after bariatric surgery or offering chronic disease management, such as long-term weight loss and weight loss maintenance," said David Voellinger, MD, Medical Director at Novant Health Bariatric Center, in the press release.

The RPM program will allow patients to participate in virtual follow-up care from home. They will receive a 4G Samsung tablet and Bluetooth biometric monitoring devices to keep track of vital signs, symptoms, and medication. The devices can also provide educational content regarding treatment.

"Novant Health is committed to using industry-leading technology that enhances the patient experience, improves outcomes, and advances our ability to meet each person where they are," said Angela Yochem, executive vice president and chief transformation and digital officer for Novant Health, in the press release.

Clinicians at Novant Health will be able to monitor patients' biometric information daily and respond to risk alerts based on their vital signs. They will be in close contact with patients through various channels such as text messaging, phone, and virtual visits available via the tablet.

During the pandemic, various partnerships were formed to implement telehealth and RPM services in clinical settings to enhance care.

In April, Teladoc Health partnered with Northwell Health to improve connected virtual care. Through the relationship between Teladoc and Microsoft, Northwell Health providers will be able to access EHR clinical data via Teladoc Health Solo within the Microsoft Teams environment 

Also, in April, UBMD Pediatrics began working with Cecelia Health to enhance type 1 diabetes care for children. The collaboration employs RPM and virtual-first strategies, mainly remote clinical support and device training.

Another partnership that began in April was between the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and Andor Health. MUSC implemented an Andor Health system known as the ThinkAndor AI Virtual Assistant as part of the collaboration with the aim of enhancing virtual care and health outcomes.