In 2003, the Veteran’s Administration (VA) implemented a telehealth program to enable communication and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) between healthcare visits. In 2022, the VA provided these digital health technologies to more than 2.3 million veterans in over 11 million episodes of care. This article explores VA remote patient monitoring and telehealth programs, exploring how they work and the benefits they offer to veterans.

What is VA Remote Patient Monitoring and Telehealth?

VA telehealth and VA remote patient monitoring refer to the use of digital health technologies to monitor and track the health status of veterans from the comfort of their homes. Telehealth, or telemedicine, allows a healthcare provider to care for patients remotely with online platforms. Options include live phone or video consultations, secure messaging, and email communication.

With remote patient monitoring, qualified healthcare professionals collect vital health data with RPM devices. Devices include an rpm blood pressure monitor, remote blood glucose monitor, digital thermometer, weight scale, rpm peak flow meter, rpm pulse oximeter, and more. 

VA Remote Patient Monitoring Usage Statistics 

Between 2010 and 2017, 400,000 veterans used telehealth services for chronic disease management. Over half remained in the program for over 8 months. From March 2020 to May 2021, 23,500 veterans used remote patient monitoring for COVID-19. In December 2020 and January 2021 alone, clinicians monitored more than 2,000 veterans daily. 

Despite the rapid increase in RPM, patient satisfaction remained consistently high at around 90% in various areas. Only 4% of Veterans on COVID-19 monitoring were admitted to VA facilities, indicating that the monitoring system helped Veterans recover at home. 

Enhancing Access to Care with VA Remote Patient Monitoring 

Today, the VA offers healthcare to over 3 million rural veterans. One of the main advantages of VA remote patient monitoring is the increased accessibility it provides to veterans. This is especially beneficial for those residing in rural or remote areas. Distance and transportation challenges often hinder timely access to healthcare services. That can lead to delayed diagnoses and treatments. By leveraging RPM, veterans receive continuous monitoring and expert care regardless of geographical location.

One VA remote patient monitoring study analyzed electronic medical record data from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The researchers compared healthcare utilization, treatment, and mortality rates between rural and urban patients with chronic heart failure. Rural patients used VHA facilities for primary care and telemedicine at similar or higher rates but had lower and decreasing inpatient and urgent care utilization rates over time. 

In chronic and non-chronic heart failure cases, treatment receipt and mortality rates were similar between rural and urban patients. These findings suggest that the VHA helped reduce access and health outcome disparities for rural patients with congestive heart failure.

Improved Chronic Disease Management for Veterans

Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, are prevalent among veterans. VA remote patient monitoring plays a crucial role in managing chronic conditions effectively. Regular monitoring and timely intervention can prevent complications and hospitalizations, ultimately improving veterans’ quality of life. By tracking health vital signs proactively, qualified healthcare professionals can identify early warning signs and intervene promptly. As a result, better health outcomes are achieved, and healthcare costs are reduced.

VA Remote Patient Monitoring in Surgical Care

In addition to chronic disease management, VA remote patient monitoring has shown promising surgical care results. One research study focused on twenty-eight high-risk senior patients residing an average distance of 324.5 miles from a bariatric surgical center. These patients underwent gastric bypass surgery. 82% of the patients utilized teleconferencing for the initial surgical consultation. 

The study revealed excellent patient satisfaction, with significant travel distance and time savings. In fact, veterans saved approximately 19,000 miles and 69 travel days with televisits. Furthermore, surgical outcomes were equivalent, and follow-up rates were 96.6% compared to non-Veterans Affairs patients. 

Enhanced Medication Adherence Among Veterans

Medication non-adherence is common among patients, often resulting in poor health outcomes. 80% or more adherence rates are generally needed for optimal therapeutic efficacy. Though, it is estimated that adherence to chronic medications is roughly 50%. 

VA remote patient monitoring helps address medicine challenges by providing reminders and notifications for medication intake. Healthcare providers can remotely monitor patients’ adherence to prescribed medications, allowing timely interventions and adjustments. Remote monitoring engagement technologies include smart pill dispensers and apps that monitor and confirm dosing. 

Promoting Quality of Life

Emphasizing patient self-care and interventions that enhance the quality of life can aid in reducing suffering from physical and psychological symptoms associated with incurable conditions. A recent study compared telehealth visits to traditional in-person care for diabetic adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in a rural setting. The study found telehealth was as effective as in-person visits in maintaining metabolic control for individuals with T1D. 

Additionally, participants in the telehealth group experienced improved glucose management, reduced time above the desired range. Moreover, they reported enhanced quality of life, as measured by the Diabetes Quality of Life questionnaire (EsDQoL). This study highlights the comprehensive benefits of telehealth in diabetes care.

Key Points: VA Remote Patient Monitoring 

VA remote patient monitoring enhances healthcare delivery for veterans, providing them with increased access to healthcare, improved chronic disease management and medication adherence, and support for mental health. As technology advances, the VA’s commitment to leveraging remote patient monitoring will undoubtedly pave the way for better healthcare outcomes and improved quality of life for our nation’s heroes.

By embracing the power of VA remote patient monitoring, healthcare systems can ensure that veterans receive the care and support they deserve, irrespective of location. Integrating digital healthcare technology holds immense potential, and it is through initiatives like RPM we can create a more inclusive and patient-centric healthcare system for our nation’s veterans.

Tenovi works exclusively with chronic care, telehealth, and RPM software and services companies that would like to offer remote patient monitoring solutions to healthcare providers. Visit tenovi.com to learn more about our no sync, no app RPM hardware and software services.