Can AI advance remote patient monitoring technology?
One of the most promising developments in AI in healthcare is the development of remote patient monitoring tools, such as symptom checkers, symptom assessments and digital self-triage.
These tools not only help redefine and improve patient experiences, but can also potentially streamline patient flow, reduce healthcare disparities, and improve health outcomes through more personalized and accurate care recommendations.
This is especially important at a time when healthcare availability is declining, highlighted by the closure of facilities such as Walmart Health centers and other major providers. AI-powered tools have the potential to bridge these gaps by offering virtual consultations and remote monitoring, making healthcare not only more accessible but also more adaptable to the needs of diverse populations.
Amanda L. Bury is Chief Commercial Officer at Infermedica, a digital healthcare company specializing in AI-powered symptom analysis and patient triage systems.
Healthcare IT news spoke with Bury to discuss how the remote patient monitoring landscape lends itself to the use of artificial intelligence. She gave examples of AI tools being developed and used today in the RPM field.
She also discussed how AI combined with RPM can drive more efficient care and reduce unnecessary burdens that hinder the patient experience – and how a shift to technology-enabled healthcare is essential to democratize access and ensure that all individuals, regardless of geography location, timely access to medical care. and effective care.
Q. How does the remote patient monitoring landscape lend itself to the use of artificial intelligence?
A. Implementing remote patient monitoring has been a challenge for years due to the complexity and logistical hurdles faced by both patients and healthcare providers. Artificial intelligence has the potential to remove these barriers and significantly improve the way patients interact with their health data.
One of the biggest hurdles with RPM is helping patients make sense of the massive amounts of data being generated. AI-powered tools can turn this data into personalized insights that are easier for patients to understand. Instead of being bombarded with information, patients can receive clear, actionable advice tailored to their specific health condition, making their care more tangible and accessible.
AI also has the power to revolutionize the early detection of health problems through RPM, especially in patients with chronic diseases or multiple comorbidities. Traditionally, these patients would have to attend multiple appointments, often requiring time and transportation to clinics where older technologies are manually assessed.
Now AI and modern RPM technologies make continuous monitoring possible from the comfort of home. AI can analyze real-time data to detect subtle changes or patterns that could indicate a problem before it escalates. This gives healthcare providers the opportunity to intervene early, improving outcomes and reducing hospital admissions.
Furthermore, AI’s ability to continuously process and analyze data enables more dynamic care pathways. Instead of waiting for scheduled visits to track progress, AI can provide immediate feedback to both patients and care teams. For example, if a patient’s glucose levels rise, AI can prompt timely interventions, such as medication adjustments.
This level of proactive and personalized care would be difficult to achieve without AI-driven RPM. Additionally, AI can simplify the user experience, make RPM devices more intuitive with voice commands and automated measurements, drive broader adoption, and ultimately make healthcare more efficient, accessible, and personalized.
Q. What are examples of AI tools currently being developed or used in the RPM space?
A. AI tools are transforming the field of RPM by providing solutions to some of healthcare’s most pressing challenges, such as provider shortages and limited access to healthcare providers. One tool that is gaining traction is the telehealth kiosk, which, while not entirely new, is being used in more meaningful ways.
These kiosks allow patients to be triaged for low acuity conditions outside of the traditional healthcare setting. Placed in convenient locations such as shopping centers, pharmacies and workplaces, they bring healthcare directly to patients, providing fast and accessible care. This not only improves access, but also reduces the burden on providers by addressing minor issues on the ground.
AI-powered diagnostic tools in pods and kiosks can perform services such as blood tests and vital signs monitoring. Overall, AI-powered tools like these make RPM more accessible and efficient.
They provide patients with immediate health guidance, reduce the need for emergency room visits and ease the burden on overworked healthcare providers. With continuous monitoring and real-time data analysis, these tools enable patients to manage their health more effectively while helping the healthcare system become more streamlined and responsive.
Q. You say AI combined with RPM can drive more efficient, patient-centered care and reduce unnecessary burdens that hinder the patient experience. How so?
A. This can be done by simplifying the care process and reducing unnecessary burdens for patients. In our research into early detectionwe focused on the five leading causes of death: heart attack, stroke, asthma, pneumonia and pulmonary embolism. These are circumstances where early detection can mean the difference between life and death.
AI can analyze massive amounts of data from RPM tools to identify subtle warning signs and help prevent these critical conditions before they escalate. For example, our symptom checker is a tool designed to help patients when they are not feeling well. It can identify patterns in symptoms that indicate a more serious underlying problem, providing valuable insights that might otherwise go unnoticed.
AI also helps improve the patient experience by integrating with everyday tools such as the Oura ring or smartwatches, which are now more widely adopted and can connect to a wide range of patient applications. These wearables monitor heart rate, sleep patterns and physical activity, all without the patient having to manually track or report their data.
Physicians can use this data to better understand a patient’s daily activities and overall health status, leading to more informed care decisions. This means patients do not have to constantly self-report or show up for check-ups in person, easing their burden while still providing doctors with crucial, real-time information.
By using AI to seamlessly integrate these tools into other systems, we create smooth care pathways that reduce the need for in-person visits and prevent expensive long-term care. AI can process and filter what matters most to doctors, allowing them to focus their attention on the patients who need it most.
This enables more effective triage and ensures the most urgent cases reach the top of their workload, improving overall efficiency and reducing the risk of serious conditions being overlooked. By using AI in this way, we can reduce disease rates, improve patient outcomes, and streamline the entire healthcare experience.
Q. More broadly, you suggest that a shift to technology-enabled health care is essential to democratize access and ensure that all individuals, regardless of geographic location, receive timely and effective care. How does this shift work today?
A. I have had the unique opportunity to observe how healthcare is consumed and delivered in more than thirty countries around the world, and it is clear that a shift to technology-enabled healthcare is essential to democratizing access to care. In many government-led programs, we see effective and efficient methods for assessing patients at scale.
This shift is driven by channel-specific delivery methods that leverage consistent capabilities, ensuring that no matter how a patient seeks care – whether through telehealth, in-person visits or remote monitoring – the care delivered is reliable and timely. Technology plays a critical role in ensuring that people, regardless of their geographic location, have access to quality healthcare.
One of the ways government-led programs achieve this is by focusing on health literacy and educating their citizens. The National Institutes of Health recommends that health materials be written at a 6th through 7th grade reading levelwhich is critical because health literacy rates are often lower than we expect. AI tools are becoming increasingly important in bridging that gap.
Patients, especially in rural or underserved areas, need support to understand their own health data and make informed decisions about their care. AI can translate complex medical information into digestible, personalized insights, connecting patients to the right level of care whether they are in an urban hospital or a rural clinic.
This shift is also about ensuring equal access to healthcare. By using AI and consistent triage methods, we see care pathways that can be adapted to the needs of different populations. AI helps remove barriers to care by integrating tools that connect patients with doctors in real time, even remotely.
This ensures that people, whether they live in a big city or in a rural area, can receive timely and effective care, guided by AI systems that help navigate their health journey. This technology-enabled approach makes healthcare more inclusive and equitable for all.
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