Mayo Clinic recently published a new study of its remote patient monitoring (RPM) program for ambulatory care of COVID-19 patients (n = 7,074), aimed at reducing acute care utilization and hospital admissions.
The program included two care-delivery models based on patient risk, enabling RPM-registered nurses to respond to technology-generated alerts and deliver standardized care for clinical assessments and patient management.
Low-Intensity Care Model (n = 2,314)
- Patient had no risk factors for severe illness and low symptom burden
- Mayo provided thermometer and pulse oximeter
- Patient reported symptoms twice daily
- 1:50 nurse to patient ratio
High-Intensity Care Model (n = 4,760)
- Patient had 1+ risk factors for severe illness and moderate-to-high symptom burden
- Mayo provided LTE-enabled tablet, thermometer, pulse oximeter, blood pressure monitor
- Patient reported symptoms twice daily
- 1:30 nurse to patient ratio
Results
Among all patients, ED visit and hospitalization rates within 30 days of enrollment were 11.4% (low-intensity) and 9.4% (high intensity), with a 30 day mortality rate of 0.4%. The RPM engagement rate was above-average at 78.9%, supporting recent changes to the CMS physician fee schedule to expand reimbursement for RPM services to patients with acute conditions.
The Takeaway
The study suggests that RPM for management of COVID-19 is associated with “excellent clinical outcomes,” especially among patients at risk for severe illness.
Given that Mayo Clinic’s RPM program was part of a retrospective cohort study, it remains unknown how the results compare with “usual care,” but a matched case-control study is planned to evaluate the program.
