Remote Care Can Protect Our Most Vulnerable
A System Under Strain
In the past two years, our healthcare system has been put under immeasurable strain. Hospitals have lost billions of dollars due to costs associated with the pandemic — even when taking government aid given through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) act into account. And as these funds run out, hospitals across the country have struggled to meet staffing shortages while simultaneously handling the rise in hospitalizations due to the BA.5 COVID subvariant.
And of course, this strain will most significantly impact those who are most vulnerable. Between our rapidly aging population and immuno-compromised people with chronic conditions, we must ask ourselves how to adapt our system to their needs in a way that benefits both patients and physicians. How can we utilize recent innovations in health tech to protect patients who need the most care?
Keeping up With Our Aging Population
According to the latest Census, there are over 54 million Americans over the age of 65. By 2060, that number is expected to rise to 95 million. As a majority of older Americans prefer to remain in their communities for as long as possible rather than move into a long-term care facility, they rely on home care nurses and home health aides to deliver treatment. But there’s a major problem — turnover for these roles is at record highs, and demand is far outpacing supply.
A significant contributor to this turnover rate is plain exhaustion. Along with better pay, healthcare workers deserve access to technology that will reduce their workload when caring for patients, and effectively care for our aging population that is growing every day. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) not only allows seniors to receive care from the comfort of their own homes, but also gives peace of mind to family members who want to ensure their loved ones remain safe and healthy.
Caring For Immuno-compromised And Chronically Ill Patients
Another group significantly impacted by our strained healthcare system are the nearly 7 million Americans who are immuno-compromised. Many have had no choice but to avoid medical facilities as much as possible, as they make up a disproportionate amount of adult COVID-19 hospitalizations. This risk is further compounded due to the rise of the latest COVID subvariant.
In addition, we’ve only begun to fully comprehend the long-term impact of the pandemic. Researchers estimate that long COVID, or a post-viral syndrome with symptoms that occur at least a month after initial infection, has impacted up to 23 million Americans. Researchers recently found that those who are immuno-compromised are significantly more likely to suffer from long COVID.
Major health groups like the Mayo Clinic have recently launched remote care programs for immuno-compromised patients. By keeping patients out of the clinic when possible, RPM enables better outcomes for those who risk their health whenever they step into a medical facility.
How Remote Care Can Lessen the Load
At Norbert Health, we’re dedicated to improving the lives of both patients and physicians through cutting edge technology. Our sensors can contactlessly monitor heart rate, temperature, breathing rate, and SpO2 from up to 3 feet away–both in the clinic and at home. We believe everyone deserves care and peace of mind, regardless of health status.
