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RPM Insights From Family Health Centers of San Diego

3 min read

Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) has long been a cornerstone in providing accessible healthcare to underserved communities. Recently, the organization has embraced innovative virtual care strategies to better manage chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes. In this interview, Jacqueline Poblete, a representative from FHCSD shares insights on their mission, the impact of remote patient monitoring (RPM), and the future of virtual healthcare.

Improving Chronic Disease Care Through Remote Monitoring: An Interview with Family Health Centers of San Diego

 

As healthcare systems evolve, organizations are increasingly turning to technology to improve patient care, which can be particularly impactful for underserved communities. Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) stands at the forefront of this transformation, using innovative virtual care solutions to enhance the management of chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes. In this interview, we spoke to Jacqueline Poblete, Digital Health Program Supervisor, to discuss the organization’s mission, its recent efforts to optimize virtual care through remote patient monitoring, and the positive impact this technology has had on both patients and healthcare providers. Through their commitment to accessible, high-quality healthcare, FHCSD is paving the way for a more inclusive and efficient future in healthcare delivery.

 

Q: Can you start by telling us a bit about Family Health Centers of San Diego?

 

A: Absolutely. Family Health Centers of San Diego is a large urban health center, and we’re proud to be one of the nation’s ten largest Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). Our mission is to provide caring, affordable, high-quality healthcare and supportive services to everyone especially to uninsured, low-income, and medically underserved people.

 

Q: How has FHCSD been involved in virtual care innovations?

 

A: In 2022, we received funding through a HCCN (Health Center Controlled Network) grant called Optimizing Virtual Care. The purpose of this initiative is to help FQHCs enhance the quality of care they deliver by leveraging virtual care technologies.

 

Q: What role has remote patient monitoring played in your care model?

 

A: Remote patient monitoring, or RPM, has made a significant impact especially in managing chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes. It allows for continuous monitoring, which improves clinical outcomes and helps patients stay engaged in their care. We’ve seen increased adherence with monitoring routines, and what’s great is that it doesn’t require patients to physically come into the office for every check-in.

 

Q: How have your patients responded to this technology?

 

A: Our patients have responded very positively. Many appreciate the ability to track their health from the comfort of their own home. There’s also peace of mind in knowing their data is being received and reviewed by their healthcare team. If a critical reading is detected, someone will reach out to them, which adds a layer of security and connection.

 

Q: What’s next for FHCSD in terms of virtual care?

 

A: We’re committed to continuing our investment in digital health solutions that help remove barriers to care. Remote patient monitoring is just one piece of the puzzle, we’re always exploring new tools and strategies to support the communities we serve.



 

 

 

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After detailing how to select the best remote patient monitoring for community health centers, we wanted to detail how Withings is uniquely qualified to help.

1. Cellular-enabled devices enhance patient usability and accessibility

Withings has introduced cellular-enabled devices that include the BPM Connect Pro blood pressure monitor and the Body Pro scale. These two devices remove technological barriers in the patient journey while making sure installation and use are frictionless at three levels:

  • An extremely simple onboarding experience. Thanks to cellular connectivity, BPM Connect Pro and Body Pro work right out of the box, and no smartphone, tablet, or Wi-Fi is required.
  • Easy-to-use devices, no app needed. The BPM Connect Pro has only one button to press. For the patient, results appear right on the device screen along with color-coded feedback based on American Heart Association recommendations. In the case of patients using scales, Body Pro only requires participants to step on the scale, and then data is seamlessly recorded with no buttons to press.
  • Long battery life. BPM Connect Pro lasts six months before having to recharge it, and Body Pro scale lasts up to 12 months.

Our simplified user experience drives retention and long-term use among chronic patients with different digital literacies and connectivity capacities allowing community health centers to kickstart and maintain remote patient monitoring programs rather than spending time on device education.

2. Withings RPM integrates directly into existing EHR systems

Through the Withings partnership with Redox, Withings offers the possibility to integrate a new remote patient monitoring solution with many of the industry’s leading EHR management platforms. For limited RPM duration or smaller patient cohorts, EHR integration costs can be significant. Alternatively, Withings has developed MED·PRO CARE, a comprehensive solution that will help you to manage your RPM program from patient enrollment to data visualization in a modern, user-friendly platform. MED·PRO CARE has an economical model based on subscription to help community health centers master their investments while benefiting from a turnkey solution that saves time on IT development and implementation.

3. Withings helps community health centers save money

Did you know that opting for a cellular smart device could be up to 60% less expensive than buying a Bluetooth device and tablet? Withings cellular devices are meant to break barriers to access, and one barrier is cost. Saved expenses could be used to enroll more chronic patients in your RPM program or fund other telehealth investments.

4. Withings RPM has customer service built-in

Withings Customer Support team is a proud Golden Bridge Customer Support winner in the category of Customer Service and Support Team Department of the Year. In addition to excellent support, the Withings ecosystem of devices are incredibly easy for patients and providers to use, resulting in an exceptionally low contact rate. Finally, a dedicated customer success manager is assigned to each community health center to make sure Withings products and services address the center’s unique provider and patient needs.

Learn more about BPM Connect Pro and don’t hesitate to reach out to our team if you have questions, want samples, or need more info about potential RPM integration with your community health center.

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Digital health programs have the potential to deliver an in-depth understanding of patients’ well-being. Through these programs, patients use in-home devices to share biometric data with their health program, providing insights that drive better management of chronic diseases. However, running a digital health program is a complex endeavor. There are myriad factors involved, from distributing devices to onboarding and supporting patients to keeping patients engaged. Having the right connected device partner is key to success.

Realizing the Promise of Digital Health Programs

According to the American Medical Association, over $100 billion of venture funding has been invested in digital health companies since 2010. These solutions are significantly improving health outcomes while addressing issues of quality, access, and equity.

But while the promise of digital health shines bright, an organization’s ability to impact patients’ health requires both mastering the user experience and lightening the workload for care teams. This is where having the right connected device partner comes in.

What to Look for in a Connected Device Partner

With multiple options to choose from, it can be challenging to know which partner is right for your digital health program. The best partner not only designs patient-centric devices that patients love but also reduces the complexity of delivering care. Here are the top attributes to look for when considering a connected device partner.

1. Comprehensive services

A recent IBM Institute of Business Value report found that “capturing the [medical device] market will require more than innovative, easy-to-use devices; success will be determined by the strength of the entire solution. By that, we mean the comprehensive, cohesive experience provided to the consumer…” Keeping consumers happy and engaged requires creating a frictionless experience. Any hiccup in onboarding or setup, for example, results in patients abandoning the process. To deliver best-in-class experiences, look for a partner keenly interested in understanding what your program is looking to accomplish, with dedicated teams who can assist you and your patients every step of the way. This encompasses:

  • Handling shipping and logistical needs
  • Offering appealing unboxing experiences
  • Educating patients about device use
  • Streamlining technical integration
  • Offering day-to-day support
  • Initiating proactive check-ins to help meet your program goals

2. Raising standards in medical technology

The realm of connected devices is destined for rapid-fire change. Having a partner who’s on the cutting edge of the industry will future-proof your digital health program, ensuring you and your patients can capitalize on the latest med tech advances. The best partner knows how to anticipate market demands and has the R&D acumen to invent the next med tech game changer.

3. Exceptional patient experience

Delivering devices that people actually enjoy using leads to better healthcare. In a survey of 1,300 device users, IBM found that consumer adoption relies heavily on making the monitoring process easy. Patients crave simple, intuitive, yet feature-rich devices.

Choose a partner well-versed in creating products that drive high adoption rates. Inquire about the partner’s philosophy of supporting healthy behaviors and how this philosophy is embodied in their products. For a start, they should have a history of designing devices that are exceptionally easy to use and incorporate easily into patients’ daily routines.

From there, it’s ideal for devices to offer cellular capabilities since this will eliminate any setup hassles - and will enable patients to participate in the program, regardless of whether they have Internet access or even have a cell phone. Offering these features helps cultivate a strong digital health program.

But don’t just look at the bells and whistles of the product. Consider the results the devices have demonstrated. For example, potential partners should be able to demonstrate strong customer retention as well as low volumes of support tickets.

4. Simple APIs that reduce operational burden

A National Academy of Medicine report noted that "seamless connectivity and communication among healthcare-related devices are essential prerequisites for promoting optimal health.” Even the most capable devices can cause problems if they don’t easily integrate into your program and existing technology.

To avoid frustration and wasted time, verify that the devices assimilate effortlessly into your program’s workflow and that data management is easy and secure. Look for a partner that offers simple APIs that make integration easy. Seamless integration results in reliable, accurate health member data being transferred in real time or near-real time to enable prompt care decisions.

5. Health-centric and based on clinical experience

Building and improving digital health programs requires a long-term commitment. To that end, it’s prudent to choose a partner with a deep understanding of what motivates people to care for their health. Savvy partners collaborate closely with medical professionals as well as behavior scientists to continually enhance the patient and provider experience. At its heart, this innate understanding is what improves health outcomes.

Partnering With Withings Health Solutions

Withings created the first smart scale in 2009 and has been a pioneer in connected health ever since, with millions of users across more than 30 countries. Withings Health Solutions offers a comprehensive remote patient monitoring solution and a portfolio of beautifully designed and easy-to-use devices including blood pressure monitors, connected scales, an advanced sleep system, a smart temporal thermometer, and hybrid smartwatches.

Why choose Withings Health Solutions? Our dedicated CSM Team made up of device experts and solution engineers, ensures that our partners have the support they need when they need it. Used by clinicians and researchers, including Harvard Medical School, Mayo Clinic, and Stanford Medicine, our devices were designed with input from medical professionals and behavioral scientists. They deliver precisely accurate measurements and an exceptionally high user retention rate. We are committed to our partners’ success, with an NPS score of 73%.

[post_title] => Building and Maintaining a Successful Digital Health Program: Why the Right Partnership Matters [post_excerpt] => With multiple options to choose from, it can be challenging to know which partner is right for your digital health program. The best partner not only designs patient-centric devices that patients love but also reduces the complexity of delivering care. Here are the top attributes to look for when considering a connected device partner. [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => building-maintaining-a-successful-digital-health-program [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-06-03 19:54:23 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-06-03 19:54:23 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://withingshealthsolutions.com/?p=843 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 18 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 2 [current_post] => -1 [before_loop] => 1 [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 367 [post_author] => 2 [post_date] => 2021-07-13 08:58:00 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-07-13 08:58:00 [post_content] =>

After detailing how to select the best remote patient monitoring for community health centers, we wanted to detail how Withings is uniquely qualified to help.

1. Cellular-enabled devices enhance patient usability and accessibility

Withings has introduced cellular-enabled devices that include the BPM Connect Pro blood pressure monitor and the Body Pro scale. These two devices remove technological barriers in the patient journey while making sure installation and use are frictionless at three levels:

  • An extremely simple onboarding experience. Thanks to cellular connectivity, BPM Connect Pro and Body Pro work right out of the box, and no smartphone, tablet, or Wi-Fi is required.
  • Easy-to-use devices, no app needed. The BPM Connect Pro has only one button to press. For the patient, results appear right on the device screen along with color-coded feedback based on American Heart Association recommendations. In the case of patients using scales, Body Pro only requires participants to step on the scale, and then data is seamlessly recorded with no buttons to press.
  • Long battery life. BPM Connect Pro lasts six months before having to recharge it, and Body Pro scale lasts up to 12 months.

Our simplified user experience drives retention and long-term use among chronic patients with different digital literacies and connectivity capacities allowing community health centers to kickstart and maintain remote patient monitoring programs rather than spending time on device education.

2. Withings RPM integrates directly into existing EHR systems

Through the Withings partnership with Redox, Withings offers the possibility to integrate a new remote patient monitoring solution with many of the industry’s leading EHR management platforms. For limited RPM duration or smaller patient cohorts, EHR integration costs can be significant. Alternatively, Withings has developed MED·PRO CARE, a comprehensive solution that will help you to manage your RPM program from patient enrollment to data visualization in a modern, user-friendly platform. MED·PRO CARE has an economical model based on subscription to help community health centers master their investments while benefiting from a turnkey solution that saves time on IT development and implementation.

3. Withings helps community health centers save money

Did you know that opting for a cellular smart device could be up to 60% less expensive than buying a Bluetooth device and tablet? Withings cellular devices are meant to break barriers to access, and one barrier is cost. Saved expenses could be used to enroll more chronic patients in your RPM program or fund other telehealth investments.

4. Withings RPM has customer service built-in

Withings Customer Support team is a proud Golden Bridge Customer Support winner in the category of Customer Service and Support Team Department of the Year. In addition to excellent support, the Withings ecosystem of devices are incredibly easy for patients and providers to use, resulting in an exceptionally low contact rate. Finally, a dedicated customer success manager is assigned to each community health center to make sure Withings products and services address the center’s unique provider and patient needs.

Learn more about BPM Connect Pro and don’t hesitate to reach out to our team if you have questions, want samples, or need more info about potential RPM integration with your community health center.

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4 Ways Withings Can Help Community Health Centers Succeed with RPM

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Building and Maintaining a Successful Digital Health Program: Why the Right Partnership Matters

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Withings On-The-Go

Our patient-centric care solution utilizes portable Withings cellular devices that are not tied to a single patient. Instead, care teams can use one device to collect and transmit data for an unlimited number of individuals. The integrated cellular connectivity automatically directs the data into the correct patient’s medical record, simplifying data collection and improving care delivery regardless of the setting.