Real-time analytics can help identify anomalies, such as unusual movement or signs of distress, while two-way audio enables clinicians to communicate directly with patients.
Healthcare systems around the world are under growing pressure. Hospitals are facing staff shortages, rising operational costs and increasing patient volumes, while expectations around quality of care continue to rise. Against this backdrop, remote patient monitoring (RPM) is emerging as a critical capability rather than a niche digital health initiative.
RPM refers to the use of connected technologies to capture patient health data remotely and make it available to healthcare practitioners as part of a patient’s electronic medical record. While it is often associated with telehealth and home-based care, RPM is increasingly being deployed inside hospitals as well, supporting models such as virtual nursing, tele-sitting and tele-ICU.
According to a recent
blog by Axis Communications, RPM is now recognized as one of the core technologies transforming healthcare, having been highlighted in the World Health Organization’s global strategy on digital health. The growing interest reflects both clinical and operational realities across the sector.
Addressing systemic pressures in healthcare
Despite advances in medical technology, many healthcare facilities remain under-resourced. Budget constraints, workforce shortages and staff burnout are common challenges, particularly in hospitals where demand is continuous and unpredictable.
Healthcare providers are therefore looking for solutions that can improve efficiency without compromising patient care. RPM fits into this category by allowing clinicians to monitor multiple patients simultaneously, reducing the need for constant in-person checks and enabling staff to focus their time where it is most needed.
Rather than replacing bedside care, RPM augments it. By combining telemetry data with video, audio and analytics, clinicians gain continuous visibility into patient conditions, even when they are not physically present in the room.
What remote patient monitoring looks like in practice
At its core, RPM involves the digital capture and exchange of patient health data between patients and clinicians. This data can include vital signs, movement patterns, environmental conditions and behavioral indicators, depending on the deployment.
RPM is commonly used in several scenarios:
- Telehealth, where clinicians deliver consultations and follow-ups remotely
- Telesitting, where patients are observed virtually to reduce fall risk or self-harm
- Tele-ICU, where intensive care patients are monitored remotely alongside bedside equipment
In hospital settings, RPM systems often integrate telemetry devices with video and audio technologies. Real-time analytics can help identify anomalies, such as unusual movement or signs of distress, while two-way audio enables clinicians to communicate directly with patients.
Crucially, effective RPM relies on systems built on open standards. Vendor-neutral platforms make it easier to integrate RPM into existing hospital infrastructure and avoid creating isolated technology silos.
Improving operational efficiency and workflows
Hospitals are complex operational environments. Staff and patients are constantly on the move, and inefficiencies can quickly cascade into delays or safety risks.
RPM can help streamline these workflows by allowing staff to monitor multiple patients remotely from a central location. This reduces unnecessary room visits, optimizes staff allocation and supports better decision-making around when in-person intervention is required.
One of the key operational benefits highlighted in the Axis blog is the reduction of alarm fatigue. By improving the accuracy of alerts and filtering out false positives, RPM helps clinicians focus on genuine patient needs rather than responding to constant, low-value notifications.
Over time, this can translate into smoother operations, improved staff morale and better use of limited resources.
Reducing costs for hospitals and patients
Staffing costs are among the largest expenses for healthcare providers. Traditional monitoring models often require personnel to be physically present with patients for extended periods, particularly in high-risk cases.
RPM enables hospitals to reduce this dependency without reducing oversight. Virtual monitoring allows fewer staff to supervise more patients safely, helping to control costs while maintaining standards of care.
For patients, RPM can also reduce the need for frequent hospital visits. Remote monitoring supports earlier discharge and ongoing observation from home, saving time, travel costs and inconvenience. This shift not only benefits patients but also frees up hospital capacity.
Expanding access to care
Access to healthcare remains uneven, particularly in rural or underserved areas. RPM helps bridge this gap by allowing clinicians to monitor patients across multiple locations from a single hub.
This model is especially valuable for healthcare systems that must cover large geographic areas with limited staff. By centralizing monitoring and leveraging digital tools, providers can deliver timely care regardless of patient location.
In practice, this means patients receive faster attention when issues arise, while healthcare teams can extend their reach without increasing headcount.
Supporting staff wellbeing and preventing burnout
Burnout among healthcare professionals is a growing concern. High patient-to-staff ratios, constant alerts and demanding workloads take a toll on clinicians over time.
RPM can ease this pressure by reducing repetitive in-person checks and providing clearer prioritisation of patient needs. Real-time insights and targeted alerts help staff intervene only when necessary, rather than operating in a constant state of reactive monitoring.
By streamlining workflows and reducing unnecessary tasks, RPM supports a more sustainable working environment while maintaining quality of care.
Enhancing patient safety and proactive response
From a clinical perspective, RPM strengthens patient safety by enabling continuous observation. In-room cameras with audio and analytics, combined with telemetry devices, allow clinicians to detect early signs of distress, such as abnormal movement, breathing difficulties or falls.
Environmental sensors can also play a role. For example, air quality sensors can monitor temperature and humidity or detect prohibited activities like smoking or vaping, triggering alerts when conditions fall outside safe thresholds.
Because alerts are delivered in real time, clinicians can respond quickly, potentially preventing incidents from escalating. This proactive approach shifts care from reactive intervention to early detection.
Data-driven decision-making
One of the longer-term advantages of RPM is the volume of data it generates. Continuous monitoring creates a rich dataset that can be analyzed to identify trends, personalize treatment plans and improve outcomes.
Visualizing long-term health patterns helps clinicians make informed decisions and supports proactive care strategies. Over time, this can reduce hospital readmissions and enable more efficient resource planning.
For healthcare providers, data-driven insights also support performance measurement and operational improvement initiatives.
Managing privacy, security and integration challenges
Despite its benefits, RPM introduces important challenges. Patient privacy is a primary concern. Any video or audio monitoring must comply with healthcare privacy laws, and safeguards must be in place to protect patient dignity.
The Axis blog notes that privacy can be enhanced through measures such as live-only video feeds, visible recording indicators and edge-based analytics that dynamically mask faces or bodies. In some cases, physical camera covers may be appropriate.
Cybersecurity is another critical consideration. As RPM relies on connected devices and digital records, strong encryption and secure system design are essential to protect patient data from cyber threats.
Integration also remains a challenge. RPM systems must work seamlessly with existing electronic medical records and hospital IT infrastructure. Without careful integration, data silos can undermine the value of remote monitoring.
A growing role in future healthcare delivery
Remote patient monitoring is no longer an experimental technology. As healthcare systems continue to adapt to resource constraints and rising demand, RPM is becoming an integral part of care delivery.
By combining video, audio, analytics and telemetry, RPM supports safer, more efficient and more responsive healthcare environments. For providers, it offers a way to do more with limited resources. For patients, it promises greater access, continuity and quality of care.
As digital health continues to evolve, RPM is likely to play an increasingly central role in how healthcare organizations balance operational efficiency with patient safety and satisfaction.