Investment in network-attached devices needs critical evaluation of caregiver productivity impacts

“The diabetic who knows the most, lives the longest,” Elliott Joslin, MD, who pioneered the field of diabetes epidemiology, once said. Dr. Joslin’s wisdom lives on in sync with contemporary technology.

Today’s continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems deliver life-changing benefits that prominently illustrate the potential of network-attached devices in healthcare. A sensor on a diabetes patient’s arm or abdomen enables automatic glucose readings every five minutes around the clock, eliminating traditional fingerstick tests that provide just a single reading. CGM data transmits to a smartphone app, enabling notifications that can be customized to issue alerts when blood sugar spikes too high or drops too low. Research shows CGMs to be among the top options for reducing A1C, the “gold standard” test for blood glucose management, while increasing the percentage of time the patient spends in a healthy glucose range.

Likewise, pulse oximeters, formerly most often used in critical care, are increasingly being adopted for remote and self-monitoring applications in non-hospital settings. Newly developed fingertip pulse oximeters go beyond detecting oxygen levels with added capabilities for measuring pulse, perfusion rate and respiration rate.

Additional network-attached medical devices are positioned to ramp up the data connection between non-clinical and clinical environments. Examples include intravenous infusion pumps for hydration, antibiotic delivery, parenteral nutrition and post-op pain management; metered-dose inhalers for asthma control; and continuous positive airway pressure machines for obstructive sleep apnea. In each of these cases, the devices provide realistic usage data that can accurately measure outcomes and shape treatment plans.

Preparing for new data sources

As with any type of IT investment, healthcare organizations should approach integration of network-attached devices by focusing on improving the quality and consistency of patient care, while minimizing impacts to caregiver productivity. Physician stakeholders should be involved in the planning, selection and design of any such system. Likewise, during testing and training, project managers should proactively communicate how physicians will be involved in decision making and where to turn for technical help when needed. From go-live and beyond, reinforcement of fundamentals will drive physician fluency and efficient use.

Equally important are cybersecurity issues. A report that analyzed data from over 10 million devices at more than 300 healthcare facilities found that the majority of internet-connected devices have a vulnerability that could put patient safety, confidential data or device usability at risk. Active threats to digital networks increasingly come from hackers who lock up access to medical records, devices and other digital tools and demand a ransom to free them.

Nonetheless, with proper planning and safeguards in place, connected devices continue to make their mark in remote patient monitoring and facilitating care and prevention of chronic disease.

Frank Irving is a Philadelphia-based content writer and communications consultant with specialties in healthcare, technology and sports. When not following those beats, he writes creative fiction.