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Introduced by CMS in 2022, remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) is revolutionizing the way that musculoskeletal care is delivered. For the first time ever, qualified healthcare providers, such as physical therapists, are able to bill for the time they spend monitoring patients beyond the walls of the clinic. This is incredibly exciting news for clinics looking to not only generate more revenue but increase access to high-quality physical therapy care. We’ve put together a list of tips below to help get you started with remote therapeutic monitoring.
1. Understand your patient population
Understanding your patient population is crucial when implementing remote therapeutic monitoring so you can tailor your approach, and guide your search for an RTM solution, based on the specific needs and circumstances of the patients you serve. Different patient populations may have varying levels of access to resources, cognitive abilities, and physical limitations. This is not to say that they would not benefit from remote therapeutic monitoring services, but rather it is particularly important to understand their needs ahead of time so that you can partner with the best vendors who come equipped with existing solutions or the flexibility to adapt as needed. Taking into account these factors and tailoring monitoring strategies to the needs of your patient population in the early stages sets your remote therapeutic monitoring program up for success – and doing so offers the time to troubleshoot problems initially. Whenever you’re implementing a new program, it’s important to make a good first impression to increase patient trust and buy-in. Demonstrating to your patients that you thoroughly consider their needs and listen to their feedback will help improve patient adherence, enhance patient outcomes, and ultimately provide more effective and efficient care.
2. Involve your staff and ask for their input
Once you’ve done an inventory of your patients' needs, it’s important to take a look at what your staff needs. Involving them in the implementation of a new remote therapeutic monitoring program from the early planning stages will allow you to not only get a better feel for what their needs are but also create a sense of teamwork and inclusion that will help with adoption later on. You could have the best solution on the market, but if your staff does not see the value or relevance to their daily workflows, implementation will take longer. Instead, have educational discussions surrounding RTM to ensure all parties understand the benefits of these new codes and collect information from your team about what they feel they would need to deliver this new method of care.
3. Identify specific needs you want your remote therapeutic monitoring solution to address
After you’ve assessed your patient and staff needs, identifying specific requirements for your ideal remote therapeutic monitoring solution will be much easier. For example, maybe you work primarily with a geriatric population so you need a solution that is user-friendly and designed with the unique needs of this population in mind. Perhaps your staff is very concerned with better patient communication between visits because they spend a lot of time answering or returning patient phone calls. In this case, finding a solution that has built-in chat features might be a top priority to help facilitate asynchronous communication. This prepares you for the next step, where you begin the process of vetting different remote therapeutic monitoring options.
4. Vet your remote therapeutic monitoring options
With another digital health solution popping up on the market each day, it can feel daunting to figure out where to start. Below are five questions that can be a great starting point during your search, whether it’s finding the answers to them on a website or during an exploratory demo call.
What RTM equipment will you need?
Some solutions require wearable devices that patients must remember to put on correctly and maintain, while other solutions like OneStep utilize mobile applications that can easily run on the patient's smartphone. The need for additional equipment raises the questions of how you will keep inventory, perform routine maintenance, and store the equipment. When choosing a mobile application, it’s important to ensure that the technology is considered a medical device and is approved for remote therapeutic monitoring.
How will the data integrate into your existing systems?
Part of billing for remote therapeutic monitoring involves collecting and reviewing patient data. Does the solution have an accessible, user-friendly platform for clinicians to view patient data? Do they generate useful reports such as RTM billing reports, progress reports, and aggregated population data? It’s also important to understand how this data is consumed and integrated into any systems you currently use.
Is the platform easy to use and appropriate for your patient population?
Always ask to demo the technology from both a clinician and a patient perspective so that you can experience firsthand the patient journey. Some solutions are rigid when it comes to modifications for certain patient populations, while others are more configurable to requested requirements. Understanding what the vendor’s capabilities are to modify an existing platform can help you decide if their existing solution will be sufficient or if you should select a different vendor that can accommodate your requests.
Does the platform offer more than remote therapeutic monitoring?
Between documentation, home exercise programs, telehealth platforms, and now remote therapeutic monitoring, managing different systems can feel cumbersome. When looking for your remote therapeutic monitoring solution, it might be a great time to try and condense some of your platforms if possible. Look for solutions that give you most of what you need in one convenient location such as a robust home exercise library, chat and video messaging, video conferencing to support virtual visits, and anything to make documentation easier for your clinicians. There are digital solutions out there now that support remote therapeutic monitoring, but also capture a wealth of clinical information like gait analysis, patient-reported outcome measures, and functional mobility assessments – all done from the patient's phone. So in addition to creating new revenue, they support stronger documentation and even the ability to offer new clinical programs like fall prevention. Your clinic can leverage remote therapeutic monitoring in a variety of different ways, and the platform you choose should be able to support your growth and evolution.
What does the implementation and training phase entail?
Have a clear understanding of what type of training the vendor offers your staff and their plan for implementation. This will help you prepare for the rollout so that it goes smoothly and identify areas you’d like to customize based on the needs of your clinic. Keep a list of important contacts and emails during the launch phase so that you can quickly get in contact with the appropriate person, whether it’s for an IT problem or a higher-level question for your account manager. You also might want to assign an internal team member to lead your remote therapeutic monitoring program during the launch period and thereafter for ongoing success and growth. Speaking of growth, you should ask the vendor how they’ve helped other companies scale their solutions and encourage growth over time.
5. Look for a solution that offers remote therapeutic monitoring experts for guidance
When choosing a remote therapeutic monitoring solution, you want to feel confident that any questions you have can be answered thoroughly and in a timely manner. Look for options that include access to a remote therapeutic monitoring expert for consultation and guidance as this can save you valuable time in the long run.
6. Create a marketing plan around remote therapeutic monitoring programs
Now that you have a remote therapeutic monitoring solution, it’s time to market it so the world can see how your clinic is a driver of innovation and clinical excellence! Spread the word about how you are making care more convenient, staying better connected with your patients, and providing high-quality patient care with incredible outcomes. This can include leveraging patient success stories, educating your patients about the importance of motion health, and offering free assessments to get people in the door. Bonus points to the vendor if they offer marketing collaboration and assistance as part of their solution (so don’t be afraid to ask about this!).
7. Evaluate remote workflows and seek feedback
Quality assurance and evaluation are critical for the long-term success of your remote therapeutic monitoring program. Being receptive to feedback from your staff and offering meaningful solutions will help keep them from feeling frustrated and less inclined to utilize the platform. It’s perfectly fine to adjust an existing workflow based on new input or changes at your clinic so that it’s updated and relevant for ongoing use. Keep an open line of communication with your RTM vendor so that they can step in to help when needed. This way your clinic can continue to thrive while helping patients reach their goals with innovative technology for many years to come.
Looking for an all-in-one digital health platform that supports remote therapeutic monitoring and empowers data-driven decisions with heightened mobility insight? OneStep enables healthcare that transcends in-person visits and moves care upstream for better patient outcomes. Founded in pioneering science, OneStep uses smartphone motion sensors to continuously analyze real-world functional mobility, delivering clinically-validated results within seconds without any wearables or hassle. Schedule a demo today to get answers to your RTM questions and learn more about how OneStep can help you generate new revenue streams and improve clinical outcomes.
