For small and independent healthcare practices, remote patient monitoring (RPM) can be a real game changer. It enables providers to stay connected with patients between visits, catch potential issues early, and improve long-term outcomes—all while fitting within the realities of limited staff and resources.

Setting up a successful RPM program does require more than getting devices into your patients’ hands, though. Here are some practical tips to implement RPM effectively and efficiently in a small-practice setting.

1. Start with the right patient panel

Not every patient is a great fit for RPM. Begin by selecting those most likely to benefit and stay engaged:

• Patients managing uncontrolled chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, heart failure, or COPD
   
• Recently discharged patients at a higher risk of hospital readmission
   
• Patients who are already proactive and interested in managing their health

Pro tip: RPM is also a great way to extend care to patients who live in rural or underserved areas or those who have difficulty making in-clinic visits.

2. Choose Devices That Are Simple in Use and Complex in Capabilities

In smaller practices, time is of the essence. Opt for RPM devices that:

• Are ready to use out of the box (no need for Wi-Fi, apps, or troubleshooting)
   
• Are user-friendly and comfortable for people of all ages
   
• Come with 4G cellular capability for real-time, automatic data sharing whether your patients are at the kitchen table or on the beach
   

Pro tip: Offer 1:1 training during enrollment to guide patients through their first reading.

3. Make RPM Part of Your Routine Workflow

The best RPM programs integrate with existing operations instead of adding extra work.  Look for RPM vendors who:

• Extend your clinical care capacity with case managers who monitor for alerts and handle first-response outreach within minutes
   
• Escalate clinically relevant alerts to your in-office team, ensuring you have the data needed for timely interventions
   
• Integrate with your EHR to save documentation time and support billing tasks
   

Pro tip: Select an RPM solution that can be customized to suit your clinic’s size, focus, and top objectives.

4. Keep Patients Engaged for the Long Haul

RPM is only effective if patients consistently take their readings. Boost engagement by:

• Scheduling check-ins to go over results
   
• Giving positive reinforcement when readings improve
   
• Explaining how monitoring supports their personal health goals
   

Pro tip: Ensure your vendor will provide regular patient vitals reports that catalog every reading, whether or not it was flagged, any interactions based on that reading, and timestamps for billing purposes.

5. Monitor and Optimize

Check in on your RPM program regularly:

• Are patients engaged and satisfied?
   
• Are your alert thresholds still appropriate?
   
• Are you seeing data-driven improvements, like fewer ER visits, better medication adherence, and lower blood pressure levels?
   

Pro tip: Patient-focused metrics are important, but don’t forget about your staff!  Do they feel that they can serve more patients with the chosen RPM solution?  Does their workload feel lighter, not heavier? 

Bottom Line

For small practices, RPM might feel like a big lift—but with the right solution in place, it’s a low-effort, high-reward way to elevate and extend patient care.

By beginning with a focused patient group, and identifying an RPM partner that can streamline device setup, embed RPM into your daily workflow, and keep patients involved, your practice can reap the rewards of RPM without increasing staff burden.
 

Ready to bring RPM to your patients without adding extra workload? Learn how Tellihealth helps small practices implement and manage RPM from start to finish. Talk with an RPM expert today.