About Remote Monitoring

What is Remote Patient Monitoring?  Remote patient monitoring (RPM) refers to using technology to monitor patient data outside of traditional healthcare settings, including while the patient is at home. Examples of such data include weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, mood, pulse, temperature, oximetry and respiratory flow rates.

Why would I want to use RPM? 

When would I want to use RPM?  There are many use cases for using RPM. Here are just a few examples:

• The American Heart Association has issued Using Remote Patient Monitoring Technologies for Better Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes
• The Personal Connected Health Alliance has put together this article on Understanding Remote Patient Monitoring in COPD
• The Rural Health Information Hub has this spotlight on Telehealth Invigorating and Innovating Diabetes Care
• mHealth Intelligence has published an article on Telehealth Gives Patients a Real-Time Link to Mental Health Support
• The California Health Care Foundation has published this paper on Remote Patient Monitoring in the Safety Net: What Payers and Providers Need to Know

What kinds of devices can be used for RPM?

• The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulates medical devices sold in the United States to assure their safety and effectiveness.   A remote patient monitoring device is considered by the FDA as a wireless medical device.
  • FDA Guidance Related to Wireless Medical Devices
  • FDA Enforcement Policy for Non-Invasive Remote Monitoring Devices Used to Support Patient Monitoring

• In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), the FDA issued a new policies that allowed manufacturers of certain FDA-cleared non-invasive vial sign-measuring devices to expand their use so that health care providers can use them to monitor patients remotely.  On March 24,2023, the FDA provided guidance related to the unwinding of the PHE.  These may be found at:
  • Remote or Wearable Patient Monitoring Devices EUAs

What do I need to know to get started with an RPM Program?  Visit our Remote Patient Monitoring Toolkit!  This toolkit is dedicated to helping providers get started.  View the videos to understand roles and responsibilities and then make sure you download the actual RPM Toolkit (it's an 8 page PDF document with lots of great information).

Are there additional resources?

• Several of the Telehealth Resource Centers have also developed RPM Toolkits.  They may be found here:
  • California Telehealth Resource Center Remote Patient Monitoring Toolkit
  • Great Plains Telehealth Resource & Assistance Center Remote Patient Monitoring Toolkit