Adding telehealth surveys takes data for decision-making to the next level.
Do you have a remote monitoring program? It’s one of the fastest growing types of telehealth. Remote monitoring typically uses devices such as a blood pressure monitor or pulse oximeter to collect biometric data about a patient. Adding surveys increases insight. That’s because surveys supplement vital sign data with subjective, or self-reported, patient input. Surveys are used to:
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- Determine the patient’s mental or emotional state
- Measure things that are not “machine measurable”
- Gauge the patient’s engagement with their care
- Document their health status at a point in time
Electronic surveys typically have branching logic, and depending on the software platform you are using, may be designed to trigger action by the care team. For instance, many telehealth surveys end with a question asking if the patient wants a call from the nurse. Some patients need a daily wellness survey that pops up when they open the monitoring app to take their vitals. Others may only get a survey weekly. Another option is to push a survey in response to a trigger you set as part of the care plan. That trigger could be:
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- A biometric reading that is out of parameter
- A response to an answer in a previous survey
- An intervention by the care team
- A request from the patient for a video visit or other patient-initiated reason
Here are 4 of the most common types of surveys used to monitor patients:
1. Collecting data and input
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- Bowel movement survey – used to determine whether the patient had a bowel movement, how many, and the nature of its consistency/quantity. The survey could contain yes/no questions, ratings of 1-5, branching logic.
- Feeding survey – used to manually document the readings on the food scale for how much food the child ingested, how much was regurgitated, how much was excreted. The survey could contain drop downs for selecting measurements, yes/no questions, branching logic.
2. Responding to a real-time stimulus
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- Symptom survey – triggered by a vital sign result that is out of normal parameters. A high blood pressure reading could trigger a symptom survey inquiring about dizziness, sweating and nausea. The patient’s response to the symptom survey could trigger an alert to check on the patient.
- Depression screening — could be triggered by a response to a separate symptom survey or a biometric reading. Patient’s response could trigger an alert to check on the patient.
3. Periodic planned surveys
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- Patient Activation Measurement (PAM) survey developed by Insignia Health, featuring standardized questions that measure how “ready, willing and able” the patient (or caregiver) is to take charge of their health. To be effective, it should be paired with PAM Activation Coaching by the patient’s care team. Periodic surveying shows whether the patient’s self-activation is improving.
- Scheduled survey inquiring about general health, emotional state, symptoms. Could contain yes/no questions, a rating system and branching logic. Could be conducted daily, weekly or monthly, depending on the care plan.
- Rothman Index-like survey, combined with biometric readings, taken regularly as a plan of care.
4. Scheduled screenings
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- Annual or periodic screenings for depression, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, social determinants of health, and so on can all be done via telehealth. These could be scheduled as part of the patient’s care plan. Alternatively, they could be triggered by an answer to a more general survey or a biometric reading.
Telehealth surveys are a powerful tool for addressing health concerns and creating an envelope of care around patients. If you are interested in learning more about telehealth surveys — or how to add this capability to your remote monitoring program — give us a call at 1-888-458-4225.
