PROVIDENCE – A recent publication in the Journal of the American Medical Association [JAMA] highlighted the significant role of digital health interventions in controlling hypertension, particularly among groups experiencing health disparities. The study revealed that techniques like remote blood pressure monitoring and culturally tailored programs can effectively reduce systolic blood pressure within 6 to 12 months.

In Rhode Island, the health care system is already embracing similar digital technologies. Among the innovators in this field is Healthcentric Advisors, with their development of PRiSM, a remote patient monitoring solution. Launched in 2019, PRiSM initially targeted reducing stroke, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular conditions in medically underserved communities.

The program’s success in its pilot phase led to considerable expansion. Today, PRiSM is widely used across New England, monitoring patients with a range of conditions including hypertension, diabetes, heart failure, and COPD.

Additionally, the program broadened its scope to encompass health and wellness monitoring for both adult and pediatric patients, showcasing its adaptability to a diverse array of health care needs.

Health care practices that adopted PRiSM observed significant improvements in blood pressure management among their patients. Initially, only about half of the patients [54.1 percent] had their blood pressure under control. However, by the end of their participation in the program, this number jumped to 86.1 percent – a substantial increase.

Additionally, more than 73 percent of the patients experienced a decrease in their systolic blood pressure, and nearly 84 percent saw a reduction of at least 5 mm Hg. These findings underscore how digital health tools like PRiSM can effectively manage health conditions and improve overall health outcomes.

Digital health tools are increasingly recognized for their role in reducing health care costs. Coastal Medical, a member of the Lifespan health system, demonstrates this effectively with their use of the PRiSM system in their Heart Failure and Hypertension programs. After the implementation of the program, Coastal Medical managed to significantly avoid additional costs in health care spending. In their Heart Failure Program alone, the use of PRiSM in 2022 led to an impressive cost avoidance of approximately $1.9 million. This was achieved mainly by preventing unnecessary hospital stays and emergency room visits, thanks to the system’s ability to facilitate timely interventions and offer effective patient management remotely.

The advancements demonstrated by digital health interventions signal a transformative era in chronic disease management, with a notable impact on hypertension. These technologies not only offer effective control over critical health parameters but also bridge gaps in health care access, especially among underserved communities.

The significant improvement in blood pressure management, coupled with the cost savings observed in health care systems like Coastal Medical, showcases the dual benefit of enhancing patient health outcomes while concurrently optimizing health care expenditure. This shift towards digital health solutions, as reflected in the promising results from Rhode Island, paves the way for a more accessible, efficient, and patient-centric health care future.

Vicki Crowningshield, MPH, PCMH-CCE, is the Senior Manager of Digital Health Solutions at Healthcentric Advisors.