Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is revolutionizing cardiovascular disease management, allowing providers to extend care beyond clinic walls and improve patient outcomes.
Christina Dunbar Matos, DO, an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist, shares insights on how RPM is transforming cardiology practice.
"Remote monitoring allows us to treat folks that previously we weren't able to," Dr. Dunbar Matos says. "We see people that come into the hospital for emergency reasons, and then they're lost to follow up for a number of reasons. This has allowed us to follow up with them."
How it works
The basics of RPM involve patients using home devices to measure vital signs like blood pressure, heart rate and weight. These data points are shared with the care team, often through telehealth visits or smartphone apps. For heart failure patients, this enables more frequent medication adjustments without the burden of frequent in-person visits.
Advanced RPM programs, like the StoryHealth program recently implemented by Dr. Dunbar Matos' team, take this concept further. Patients are notified via smartphone alerts to take specific actions.
“It sends reminders for patients to report blood pressure and weights and also to take medications,” Dr. Dunbar Matos says. “It prompts them to report how they feel, especially if they are having issues, and provides education on physical activity and diet.”
Early detection and intervention
Early detection of complications is another key advantage. "With remote patient monitoring, we're monitoring blood pressure, heart rate and weight. And when they start to show signs that are concerning, we can intervene before things get worse," Dr. Dunbar Matos says.
For certain patients, advanced devices such as the CardioMEMS® offer detailed data. This wireless implant measures artery pressures and transmits data remotely.
“If their value starts to rise, we can adjust diuretic and/or blood pressure meds in order to avoid hospitalizations and to keep the patient feeling well,” Dr. Dunbar Matos says. “There's a ton of data showing it cuts down on hospitalizations and improves quality of life.”
Dr. Dunbar Matos also highlights the significance of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) and pacemakers. These devices gather data, such as abnormal heart rhythms or fluid levels, and transmit it to the care team.
Expanding access and improving care
RPM has been particularly beneficial in expanding access to specialized care. Dr. Dunbar Matos and her team operate outreach clinics in various locations across the state. "It’s opened up a whole different population for us to provide optimal care and treat the underlying cardio issue," she says.
This approach allows for closer partnerships with local care teams. "We use remote monitoring as a form of shared care, and we share the information with providers where the patient lives," Dr. Dunbar Matos says. This collaboration ensures that patients can be monitored and treated effectively, even if they live far from specialized cardiac care centers.
The impact on patient care can be dramatic. Dr. Dunbar Matos shares a success story of a patient with frequent heart failure hospitalizations who, after implementing RPM, went from monthly hospital visits to "going months without having to come to the hospital. It changed her quality of life."
As RPM technology continues to evolve, it promises to play an increasingly important role in cardiovascular care, improving patient outcomes and expanding access to specialized care across vast geographic areas.
Meet the specialist
Christina Dunbar Matos, DO, is an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist. Her interests include advanced heart failure and cardiac disease in women. She is passionate about animal rescue and animal rights and dreams of opening a rescue farm for animals of all types.