2019 Health Stats Why is there a need for Remote Patient Monitoring?

2019 Health Stats

Why is there a need for Remote Patient Monitoring?

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) is an exploding sector in digital health because it allows medical providers to better manage chronic conditions and ultimately improve patient health outcomes in meaningful ways, including helping to reduce hospital readmissions as well as better monitor chronic pain and wound treatment.

Hospital Readmissions Stats

  • According to the United Health Foundation, in the United States, “16 percent of older adults with Medicare insurance returned to the hospital within 30 days of discharge.” [1]
  • The average cost of readmission for those aged +65 was 5.3% higher than the cost of the initial hospital visit. Total annual costs for hospital readmissions are pegged at $41.3 billion. [2]
  • The NCBI states, “Accelerated patient turnover has often been considered to be related to increased rates of readmission and is particularly relevant to acute medical wards, that is, discharges within the first 24 to 48 hours”[3]

Pain and Wound Care Stats

  • The costs associated with treating chronic pain are approximately $635 billion , and about $25 billion is spent annually on the treatment of chronic wounds; these costs are increasing with the aging population.[4], and about $25 billion is spent annually on the treatment of chronic wounds; these costs are increasing with the aging population.[5]
  • Chronic pain treatment and wound recovery are more complex in older adults due in part to delayed inflammatory response, diabetes (which affects approximately 11.2 million older adults), reduced skin elasticity, and immobility.[6]

[1] United Health Foundation. American’s Health Rankings Senior Report. Published 2019. Available online: https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/senior/measure/hospital_readmissions_sr/state/ALL

[2] United Health Foundation. American’s Health Rankings Senior Report. Published 2019. Available online: https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/senior/measure/hospital_readmissions_sr/state/ALL

[3] National Center for Biotechnology Information. Factors influencing hospital readmission rates after acute medical treatment. October, 2019. Available online: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4953449/

[4] Science Daily. Chronic pain costs U.S. up to $635 billion, study shows. September 11, 2012. Available online: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120911091100.htm

[5] Sen., Chandan K. et. al., Human Skin Wounds: A Major and Snowballing Threat to Public Health and the Economy. November, 2010. Available online through NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2810192/

[6] Advanced Tissue. Why Do Elderly People Experience Delayed Wound Healing? July 10, 2015. Available online: https://advancedtissue.com/2015/07/why-do-elderly-people-experience-delayed-wound-healing/

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