Like the rest of us, healthcare providers find it difficult to stay abreast of advances in technology. At the same time, medical staff grapple with disconnected systems and workflows that divert them from patient care. Healthcare-as-a-Service is an innovative new approach that addresses these challenges. It gives healthcare providers access to the latest technologies that provide an enhanced experience for both patients and staff in a sustainable, scalable way.
The “as-a-service” model is not new, and it has been gradually rolled out across many industries, from software to transportation and water/wastewater treatment. Instead of outlaying huge amounts of capital for expensive equipment, companies are now turning to subscription-based service packages. They require no upfront investment while still offering access to state-of-the-art technology.
By opting for healthcare-as-a-service, healthcare providers have access to up-to-date medical equipment, software, and other health-related infrastructure without having to procure expensive products that could negatively affect their cash flow. They also don’t have to worry about managing or maintaining this equipment.
This model is particularly useful for patient monitoring, which after electronic medical records (EMRs), is typically the second highest information technology investment priority for healthcare administrators. However, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgency for enhanced adaptability and scalability to effectively address dynamic fluctuations in patient requirements.
The pandemic also highlighted the various gaps—between data, systems, and operational procedures—that hinder the provision of optimal patient care. In recent years, the focus on patient monitoring has shifted from an emphasis on “equipment management’ to a more comprehensive approach of ‘system optimization.” This approach supports the standardization and integration of workflows across different departments and facilities.
Patient monitoring-as-a-service partnerships have transformed the healthcare industry. They are proving a powerful tool for providing optimal patient care without heavily investing in expensive technological equipment. There are various reasons why healthcare leaders are opting for monitoring-as a-service-partnerships, including:
1. Maintenance-Free Equipment
When partnering with a remote patient monitoring (RPM) service provider, healthcare facilities no longer have to purchase RPM systems, and are no longer responsible for their maintenance and upkeep, upgrades, and security. This responsibility, together with user training, is outsourced to a service provider who specializes in this niche.
This allows facilities to remain compliant with ever-advancing RPM technologies, which would otherwise be difficult and expensive. Monitoring as a service alleviates this burden, while providing healthcare facilities with access to state-of-the-art patient monitoring. Solutions typically include support services such as system maintenance, software updates, and security patches, according to the facility’s needs.
2. Predictable Costs
Partnering with a monitoring-as-a-service provider offers a significant financial benefit, especially in the current economic climate when budget constraints pose a particular challenge. Monitoring as a service gives healthcare facilities to access modern RPM technologies without investing any capital.
This frees up financial resources to keep up with the rapid advances in technology that often outpace the budget available for upgrades. Rather than paying a lump sum upfront, together with ongoing maintenance costs, they pay a predictable monthly service fee for the service as an operating expense based on patient volume.
3. Adaptable to Fluctuating Patient Demand
One of the key lessons that healthcare facilities learned during the COVID-19 pandemic was the importance of creating the flexibility to align with unforeseeable shifts in patient demand. A monitoring-as-a-service partnership allows healthcare providers to expand or contract their patient monitoring capacities without prohibitive initial capital investments.
Having this flexibility can enable a healthcare facility to respond more efficiently to a traumatic event that causes an influx of patients without the burden of carrying the cost when patient demand is low. This added flexibility also allows healthcare facilities to scale RPM solutions across their facility or network as and where they are needed.
4. Improves Data and Workflow Integration
One of the primary obstacles faced by doctors and nurses in acute care settings today is trying to get their head around the overwhelming influx of data sourced from various unconnected systems. This challenge is compounded by the necessity for manual data transfer. Frequently, patient monitors remain detached from a hospital’s electronic medical record (EMR) system, causing patient information to remain confined within isolated compartments. The absence of uniform workflows can also contribute to inconsistencies in the quality of care provided.
By partnering with a monitoring-as-a-service provider, healthcare administrators can develop a more cohesive and interconnected technological system with the collaboration and support of an IT partner with a wealth of experience in RPM technologies. A more connected system facilitates seamless data sharing between electronic medical record (EMR) and other IT systems, while standardized systems and workflows help staff focus on patients rather than technology, ensuring a high level of care is consistently provided to all patients.
5. Data-Gathering and Constant Performance Enhancement
In addition to facilitating the integration of clinical data during patient care, a monitoring-as-a-service collaboration can provide the data-centered insights necessary for ongoing enhancements at both departmental and organizational levels. For instance, it can reveal variations in equipment utilization rates or adherence to protocols across different units. This data can guide decisions regarding areas that might require additional staff training or other interventions.
While healthcare-as-a-service is still in its infancy, monitoring-as-a-service is one branch of healthcare-as-a-service that is rapidly gaining traction due to the benefits it offers.
Tapestry Health is a trusted monitoring-as-a-service provider offering a variety of innovative remote patient monitoring solutions ranging from wearable devices to contactless radar and radio wave technologies that record and transmit patient vital signs such as heart rate and temperature. Contact Tapestry Health to learn more about our remote patient monitoring technologies and how our monitoring-as-a-service partnerships can benefit your patients, staff, and healthcare facility.