The Problem
Over the past decade, the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine has seen an increase in the number of highly complex infections. This is related to a few different factors. The population of the Sooner State has been trending less healthy in general. Surgeons at the Oklahoma City-based medical school are performing more complex surgeries. And third, there has been a huge increase in immunosuppressive therapeutics for cancers and rheumatological and autoimmune diseases, all of which increase the risks for infection.
The Solution
Remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) technology has some appealing features in the OPAT setting. It does not require an in-person visit to the patient. Staff can monitor the patient while the patient is home and the clinician is in their hospital/clinic.
Meeting the Challenge
"We designed a clinical trial at the University of Oklahoma to study the impact of RTM technology on patients discharged home on OPAT," said infectious diseases physician Dr. Joseph Sassine. The clinical trial enrolled 95 patients between July 2023 and October 2024; these patients were adults who were admitted to OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center, diagnosed with an infection (we included all classes of infection) and were deemed to need at least one intravenous antibiotic to be taken at home after discharge.
Results
The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine did an interim analysis with 64 patients enrolled on RTM and 95 contemporaneous controls. This included patients enrolled until June 15, 2024, who had at least 90 days of follow-up.
Advice for Others
Remote therapeutic monitoring is a major technological breakthrough that will help healthcare advance the quality of care offered to patients when they go home, Sassine stated. "It has the power to change clinical outcomes in a tangible and beneficial way, and now we have the data to support it," he said. "I would certainly advise healthcare organizations and physician practices to evaluate how RTM could be incorporated into their clinical practice and their value-based care models."
Conclusion
The data generated by RTM actually drove the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine to simplify some of the antibiotic regimens for some patients, which subsequently increased their adherence to 100%. The feedback we received from patients enrolled in our trial was also great. They told us they felt supported during their transition of care and throughout their antibiotic course. I believe this helped set them up for success.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM)?
A: RTM is a technology that allows healthcare providers to monitor patients remotely while they are receiving treatment at home.
Q: What are the benefits of RTM?
A: RTM can improve patient outcomes by reducing hospital readmissions and improving adherence to treatment.
Q: How does RTM work?
A: RTM uses a device that attaches to the patient’s IV antibiotic bag and monitors the flow of medication. The data is transmitted to a central system, where it is analyzed and monitored by healthcare providers.
Q: What are the results of the clinical trial?
A: The clinical trial showed a significant reduction in infection-related readmissions in patients who received RTM compared to those who did not.
