Remote patient monitoring (RPM) technology was already making great strides in distributed medical care before the pandemic took hold. COVID-19 accentuates the value of medical care that doesn’t require in-person contact. The ability to monitor biometric data via the Internet is an important advance in medical care and in resource management. The pandemic showcases RPM’s role during quarantines and lockdowns.
Blipcare, a Chicago-based telehealth solution company, recently announced the Blip BP800, a new FDA-cleared Class II Medical Device that measures and transmits patient blood pressure readings via cellular networks. The Blip BP 800 has a built-in 4G cellular radio and SIM card. A surprisingly large number of households lack computers, Internet connectivity, or the computer skills to use such technology. Reports of 9 million children in the U.S. who cannot participate in remote learning because their homes don’t have computers or Internet connectivity are evidence that you can’t count on the technology to be universally available.
The battery-operated Blip BP800 doesn’t require a special connection or a power outlet. According to Dr. Sukhwant Khanuja, Blipcare CEO, the design focus was a device that is simple to use. “All they have to do is take a reading!,” Khanuga said in a news release. The Blip BP800 encrypts the data for storage on the device and for transmission. The system integrates with Microsoft Azure IoT Hub, care management platforms, and electronic medical records systems with APIs available from BlipCare.
Remote patient management via cellular connections has the potential to increase coverage to patient populations that might benefit from the technology the most. This product is an excellent example of an effort to serve people whom technology might otherwise leave behind.
