Post-acute care (PAC) facilities play a critical role in transitioning patients from hospital stays to long-term recovery at home. However, one of the greatest challenges they face is preventable rehospitalizations—patients being readmitted to hospitals due to changes in condition that go unnoticed until it’s too late. 

Every hospital readmission not only disrupts patient care but also places a financial strain on healthcare providers and can result in financial and reputational penalties. The good news? Advances in remote patient monitoring (RPM) technology, like the Vios Monitoring System (VMS), are providing a powerful solution to reduce hospital readmissions and improve patient outcomes. 

In our recent webinar, “Rehospitalization – Can Technology Prevent This?”, Cindy Fronning, Executive Director at NADONA, explored how technology is transforming care in PAC facilities. Below, we recap the key insights of her presentation and explain how adopting VMS can help reduce hospital readmissions and improve patient outcomes in your facility. 

Understanding the Causes of Rehospitalization in PAC Facilities 

Hospital readmissions in PAC facilities are often preventable—but only when early signs of patient deterioration are identified and addressed in time. Unfortunately, subtle clinical changes can go unnoticed due to limited staffing, incomplete documentation, or lack of continuous diagnostic data. 

Some of the most common causes of PAC rehospitalization include: 

  • Undetected Changes in Condition: Without continuous vital sign monitoring, early indicators of cardiac or pulmonary distress, such as heart rate spikes or oxygen desaturation, can be missed, leading to rapid deterioration. 
  • Gaps in Diagnostic Data: When objective, real-time data is unavailable, it becomes more difficult for care teams to communicate patient status clearly and act before hospitalization is needed. 
  • High Acuity Patients: Patients may be discharged from hospitals before achieving full clinical stability, putting PAC teams under pressure to manage high-acuity patients without adequate monitoring tools. 

Each of these scenarios underscores the need for continuous monitoring, allowing staff to detect changes early and intervene before a patient requires hospitalization. 

The Critical Role of Identifying Changes in Condition 

One of the ways to prevent hospital readmissions is to catch deterioration early—especially when it involves cardiac or pulmonary events, which are among the most common drivers of rehospitalization. Vital sign abnormalities like increased heart rate, irregular ECG patterns, respiratory rate changes, or oxygen desaturation often occur hours (or even days) before visible symptoms. Recognizing these changes in real time is essential for timely, in-facility treatment. 

Common early indicators of deterioration include: 

Cardiopulmonary Changes: 

  • Elevated or irregular heart rate 
  • Abnormal ECG activity 
  • Respiratory rate increases or labored breathing 
  • Oxygen saturation drops (SpO₂ decline) 

Additional Clinical Changes: 

  • New or worsening pressure ulcers 
  • Sudden changes in mobility or weakness 
  • Unexplained falls or fatigue 
  • Rapid weight loss or decreased appetite 
  • Increased confusion, agitation, or altered mental status 

While these changes are often subtle, their impact can be significant. Traditional care workflows rely on periodic assessments—but the Vios Monitoring System (VMS) provides continuous, automated tracking of key vital signs, ensuring that no warning sign is missed. 

How the Vios Monitoring System Helps Reduce Rehospitalizations 

The Vios Monitoring System is a wireless, FDA-cleared remote monitoring system designed to continuously track vital signs, detect early warning signs of deterioration, and alert clinical staff when intervention is needed. 

VMS continuously monitors: 

  • 7-lead ECG 
  • Heart Rate 
  • Respiratory Rate 
  • Pulse Rate 
  • SpO2 (Oxygen Saturation) 
  • 24/7/365 Remote Monitoring Services 

By automating patient monitoring, VMS ensures that even the smallest changes in patient condition are detected before they escalate. 

Why Your PAC Facility Needs the Vios Monitoring System 

Potential Benefits of VMS include: 

  • Up to 40% fewer rehospitalizations1 
  • Improved workflow efficiency and reduced staffing burden 
  • Faster clinical decision-making with real-time vital sign monitoring 
  • Higher reimbursement rates from managing sicker patients in-facility 
  • Greater patient and family satisfaction with 24/7 monitoring 

By watching this free, on-demand webinar, you’ll learn how implementing RPM in your PAC facility can improve patients’ safety and clinical efficiency. 

 

1Vios Medical. Rehospitalization – Can Technology Prevent This? YouTube video, 53:55. Posted Oct 9, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jha6ARK4ymk.