Remote Patient Monitoring
March, 2023
Introduction
Oxford County Paramedic Services has launched a Remote Patient Monitoring program for community members living with a moderate to severe chronic disease. This 90-day program connects patients with the Community Paramedicine team to help them self-manage their conditions with regular monitoring and health coaching.
Collaboration
The Oxford Ontario Health Team is pleased to be collaborating with Oxford County Paramedic Services on this program. The OHT Operations Team has supported Paramedic Services by providing project management, communication guidance, and engagement support – with a focus on ensuring patient, physician, and health partners are involved every step of the way. Woodstock Hospital, Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital, Alexandra Hospital Ingersoll, Home and Community Care Support Services Southwest, Care Partners, primary care providers, and community members have played an important role in informing the design of this program so far and continue to offer improvements based on program feedback.
Over 150 health professionals in Oxford County were engaged to generate awareness and understanding of the program and the referral process.
The Purpose
The Remote Patient Monitoring program is intended for community members that frequently rely on emergency services and/or are living with moderate to severe chronic diseases, including but not limited to:
- Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
Patients are provided with an electronic device that records health data related to the disease they are living with. This includes blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation, weight, and blood sugar. The program will help patients take a more active role in managing their conditions by providing access to medical professionals who can deliver real-time coaching, feedback, and support 24/7. In doing so, the program aims to:
- Improve patient and caregiver quality of life
- Reduce reliance on the 911 system
- Decrease patient hospital readmission rates and emergency department visits
- Provide savings to the healthcare system
“I was always interested in nutrition and being active, but my activity level has decreased in recent years. Taking my vitals daily to see my progress encouraged me to try harder to do as much physical activity as I can when I can.”
-Program Participant
Progress
There were 85 patients enrolled in the Remote Monitoring Program at the end of February, with capacity to support up to 200 by the end of March 2023.
83%
Participant Satisfaction
91%
Recommend the program
Next Steps Oxford County Paramedic Services are currently accepting new patients to the program. Eligible patients can be referred by their primary care provider or a healthcare provider[1].
For more information about referrals and eligibility, please contact Oxford County Paramedic Services at 519-421-5352 or cp@oxfordcounty.ca. Referral forms are available on our website. We look forward to the positive outcomes this project will bring to our healthcare system and community. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to stay informed about project updates and other OHT initiatives. This project is supported by funding from the Government of Ontario.
[1] A patient can be referred by a hospital care team, diabetic educator, nurse, community support service, or other allied health professional.