It’s important to be aware of the potential complications that cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy may face, such as neutropenic fever. One out of every 29 patients receiving chemotherapy treatment is hospitalized for neutropenia. Of these, patients, there is a mortality rate of between 6.8 percent and 9.5 percent.
Neutropenic fever can be difficult to detect, but wearable temperature sensors have emerged as a promising solution for remote patient monitoring (RPM). By detecting abnormal temperature readings, these devices can alert the patient and their oncologist to act, potentially preventing hospitalizations and deaths. We examine the benefits of remote patient monitoring in cancer patient care and how RPM technologies are saving lives.
Neutropenic Fever in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy
Neutropenic fever, also known as febrile neutropenia, is a medical condition that occurs when an individual with a low level of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) in their bloodstream develops a fever. Neutropenia is a common side effect of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments, as well as certain medical conditions. Neutrophils play a crucial role in the immune system’s defense against bacterial and fungal infections. When the neutrophil count drops significantly, the body’s ability to fight off infections is compromised, leading to an increased risk of infection.
It is estimated that around 50 percent of patients undergoing chemotherapy experience neutropenia. The risk of mortality is 15 percent higher in patients with neutropenic fever compared to patients who do not experience it.
Neutropenic fever is considered a medical emergency because individuals with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of severe and life-threatening infections. The fever itself is often the only visible symptom, and the individual may not exhibit the typical signs of infection, such as localized pain, redness, or swelling. Therefore, healthcare providers take neutropenic fever very seriously and initiate immediate treatment to prevent the development of serious infections.
In the past, patients undergoing chemo were responsible for manually monitoring their temperature through sporadic checks and then relaying this information to their healthcare providers. However, this method can result in inaccurate reporting and delayed intervention. Also, the accuracy of intermittent spot checks is limited since neutropenic fever may occur when patients are sleeping or when no other symptoms are evident. If the infection is not detected quickly, it can progress into sepsis, which can be life-threatening.
RPM Technologies Reduce the Neutropenia Risk
The introduction of wearable RPM technology has significantly altered the landscape, effectively lowering the risk for individuals undergoing cancer treatment. Now, patients have the option to wear a patch that captures their temperature and instantly transmits the data through virtual networks. This empowers caregivers to monitor the patient’s condition remotely and promptly in real-time.
RPM technologies allow healthcare practitioners to detect neutropenic fever quickly and accurately in cancer patients and take necessary measures to prevent the patient’s health from deteriorating further. Should fever be detected, the patient and their oncologist will immediately be alerted, allowing for prompt intervention. As timely intervention can significantly reduce the risk of complications arising from neutropenic fever, and ultimately the associated risk of mortality, RPM can save lives.
Things to Consider When Using RPM to Monitor for Neutropenic Fever
When considering using RPM technologies to monitor for neutropenic fever or any medical condition, healthcare providers should conduct a thorough assessment of the technology’s potential benefits, accuracy, and reliability. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the key considerations:
Patient Engagement and Acceptance: The patient’s willingness and ability to use the RPM technology is key to its success. Explaining the advantages of RPM in preventing neutropenic fever and its complications can increase their willingness to take part, especially if they initially feel hesitant or doubtful.
Training for Healthcare Professionals and Patients: Participating patients and all members of the healthcare team need to be adequately trained to ensure they have a thorough understanding of how the RPM technology works. When staff are properly trained, RPM technology has the potential to enhance the level of care all patients receive, resulting in improved safety and better health outcomes.
User-Friendly Interface: The RPM technology should be user-friendly for both healthcare providers and patients. An intuitive interface can encourage patient engagement and help providers interpret and act on collected data effectively. Patients need to understand how the system works, while healthcare professionals need to know how to interpret the transmitted data, identify early warning signals, and respond when an abnormal reading is detected.
Integration with EHR and Clinical Workflows: As the aim of RPM is to streamline the flow of data between medical professionals, the RPM system should seamlessly integrate with the healthcare provider’s electronic health record (EHR) system and clinical workflow processes. This allows healthcare professionals to access and share patient data with colleagues and specialists. However, it’s important that data security measures are implemented to protect patient information and comply with privacy regulations.
About Tapestry Health
Tapestry Health has a wide range of remote patient monitoring solutions including wearable devices and contactless radar and radio wave technologies that record and transmit vital signs. Tapestry Health’s Vitals Management Program is extremely useful for monitoring patients remotely in real time so that health issues can be detected early, allowing for timely intervention. Contact Tapestry Health to learn more about remote patient monitoring technologies and how they can benefit your patients, staff, and healthcare facility.