AT&T said it is partnering with Smart Meter to improve health outcomes for patients with chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Smart Meter supplies healthcare providers with cellular remote patient monitoring (RPM) devices and services, including the SmartRPM solution, iGlucose, iBloodPressure 2.0, iScale and more. These devices run on AT&T’s nationwide IoT network, known for its reliability and coverage.
Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death in the U.S., and they’re on the rise. Hypertension can lead to 2 of the biggest killers in this country – heart disease and stroke – while diabetes ranks 7th for deaths. But studies show remote patient monitoring can help change this. For example, 84% of diabetes and 88%1 of hypertension patients at highest risk for severe disease complications experienced significant improvements in their health when using the Smart Meter iGlucose and iBloodPressure as part of RPM programs.
Smart Meter’s cellular-enabled devices are said to simplify RPM. Unlike cellular-enabled RPM devices, Bluetooth-enabled monitoring devices require the user to pair the device with a smartphone or tablet, download the data, and then send it to the doctor. It’s a more complicated solution that oftentimes involves troubleshooting. This can be intimidating and frustrating for users and can lead to them not continuing with the RPM program. Cellular RPM devices help lessen the technological divide and are more accessible to patients of all ages, regardless of digital literacy and access to connectivity.
“Our collaboration with Smart Meter is another example of how our IoT connectivity is advancing connected healthcare. IoT-enabled devices ultimately provide a quicker and more convenient patient service with better outcomes for both the patient and the healthcare provider,” said Joe Drygas, VP of AT&T Healthcare Industry Solutions.
