Karen Milton

Remote patient monitoring clinical trials (RPM) has been around for a long time, but that doesn’t mean it’s been easy to do.

With the advent of wireless communication technology, it’s now easier than ever to monitor patients remotely. But how does it work? Why are there so many different types of RPM systems available?

We’ll cover all of the answers to these and other questions in this post.

So, if you’re interested in using RPM technology in your clinical trials, read on.

Remote Monitoring in Clinical Trials

There are many risks in clinical trials besides the process being expensive. The stakes can be high when a lot is depending on the outcome of the clinical trials. The need to make clinical trials more effective and reduce the financial risks inspired telehealth technologies such as wearable devices, and remote monitoring devices to measure vital signs of participants and intervention groups.

The goal is to inspire healthcare providers and pharmaceutical industry among other related companies to embrace on-site monitoring and data collections to enhance disease management.

COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread adoption of digital technologies by various healthcare providers and the pharmaceutical industry. Everyone wants to control the outcomes and improve their clinical research.

Digitization of data monitoring process improves disease studies. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most healthcare providers and clinical research facilities are postponing site visits.

Telehealth technologies have come up with a list of wearable devices and platforms designed to give studies a better outcome. Patient monitoring solutions include interactive platforms using android, iOS, and tablet devices.

Healthcare professionals use the virtual-care monitoring devices to evaluate the trial process and quality of the systems in place.

Wearable devices are useful tools in data collection, as they provide insight on the efficacy of the treatment. Patient health is under review constantly to gauge the intervention and disease management.

How Remote Patient Monitoring Works

Participants in clinical trials receive a kit containing various devices for remote patient monitoring. The devices include weight scale, pulse oximeter, RPM, blood pressure cuff, and a thermometer among others depending on the trial.

The wearable devices measure patient vital signs and automatically send the readings to the clinical research professionals at a monitoring facility. The devices are hooked to a cellular Android, iOS, or tablet that comes with the kit for real-time data collection.

The wearables have an app that makes streaming of real-time data possible and protects the data integrity.

Research assistants remain in constant communication with the participants to assess their vitals. These healthcare providers make inquiries about symptoms like nausea even as patients receive notifications on what medications to take.

Real time monitoring reduces complications like heart failure complications. Action is taken whenever there is a change in the patient biometric data. This can occasionally trigger automated alerts for visual assessment.

The Future of Remote Patient Monitoring

It’s undeniable that COVID-19 has changed the healthcare sector. Enduring changes with respect to the healthcare approach and in clinical trials is already in motion. The quarantine and the harsh pandemic realities continue to inspire the adoption of better and more efficient telehealth programs to improve virtual patient care. There are hundreds of various RPM devices in use in the healthcare sector.

Telecommunication and electronic information technologies offer better monitoring and data collection. Besides, accessibility to the devices makes many participants good candidates for clinical trials and telehealth. Internet access is reliable, making real time clinical trial monitoring more effective and reliable.

The technology improves interaction between the researcher and participant besides being easy to use.

The United States FDA allows use of noninvasive devices made for healthcare facilities in home settings. For instance, expectant mothers can use the digital therapeutic app to allow health professionals to remotely manage their diabetes and prioritize their care without needing to book an appointment.

The system reduces in-person appointments and enhances the quality of care. Plus, RPM promotes effective drug recovery. The collected data from various RPM apps is uploaded to the Electronic Patient Records and the dataset analyzed using a machine learning algorithm to predict outcomes that help doctors, patients, and clinicians make informed decisions.

The same analysis improves resource utilization and informs other clinical research for disease prevention. This results in faster treatment development.

Measuring the Success of Clinical Trials

Researchers can use the clinical dashboard to analyze the study data. The dashboard provides focused outcomes using various service elements to ensure the process is verifiable and dependable.

The digital technologies tailor the wearable devices with the clinical study around vitals like heart rate, blood pressure, in accordance with the study protocols.

Essentially, the platforms focus on the study attributes.

Participants receive instructions on the RPM kit and get a demonstration on the fitting and usage to improve patient experience. The aim is to improve clinical trial compliance.

Participants receive regular reminders and notifications throughout the process to ensure they take medications as advised. RPM enables researchers to notice any pattern in the participants’ condition giving them an accurate account of the trial experience. The outcomes help researchers determine the causes of the variations.

RPM reduces external factors like travels, added costs which affect the operational efficiency of the trial. Advanced technology makes monitoring of patient vital signs more accurate for the duration of the study.

Expected Improvement in Patient Monitoring

Adoption of RPM in clinical research makes it more accessible. The main challenge is participants in rural and underdeveloped regions who lack reliable internet access making participation difficult.

Also, some clinical research uses specialized technology which are expensive to procure and use in large-scale patient monitoring. Telehealth has to create a new technology that will effectively handle specific disorders and diseases to collect better data.

Nevertheless, remote patient monitoring clinical trials is credited with the rapid increase in accurate data collection in healthcare. The current professionals enjoy improved data integrity and data quality because they communicate better with patients.

The efficacy of clinical trials currently experienced is because of the improved remote monitoring technology.

How RPM Affects Patients

The platforms boost patient care. Patients can receive video calls from healthcare professionals monitoring their health while at home. A survey of over 5600 RPM users finds that patients enjoy better heart health and feel safer using the blood pressure monitor at the comfort of their homes. More people are embracing the use of telehealth technology for improved health.

There is a remarkable drop in hospitalization rates as high risk patients get timely care. Healthcare providers use telehealth to offer personalized disease management solutions.

What is medical lab software?

Medical lab software is used to coordinate sample, test, and result information for medical and research laboratories. This software is used by lab technicians and administrators this software to automate various laboratory processes and production requirements. Additionally, MLS or applications provide a wide range of solutions for sharing solutions that help promote better efficiency, accurate data integration within multiple offices and locations.

In simpler terms, MLS, also known as Laboratory Information Management System, helps manage and track samples and associated lab data. These systems also streamline overall processes and activities within a laboratory.

The best Medical Lab Management Software

Below is a list of some of the best Medical Management Software in the market:

Apex LIS

Apex LIS is an affordable medical management software available as an in-house or web-based solution. Private physicians and commercial labs use it. It features elements like data security, sample management, lap instrument integration, audit management, and EMR or EHR. It is also worth mentioning that Apex LIS allows medical laboratories to comply with regulatory requirements. It can also be easily configured to meet your exact workflow requirements.

Sapio Science

Sapio Science’s medical lab management software is a comprehensive research informatics platform. It features an intuitive website interface. It allows multidisciplinary project teams to collaborate on chemical and biological data. They can also manage and analyze relevant information in medical labs. Their software’s capabilities are data security, lab instrument integration, sample management, and audit management. Sapio Science provide an ideal Medical Lab Management Software because it is easy to implement, backed with impeccable technical assistance, and easy to implement.

Simplex Himes

Simplex Himes is a cloud-based medical practice and lab management software. It is used in hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic labs to manage records, appointments, and other significant data. Some of its features are radiology management, data verification, feedback collection, insurance management, billing, and custom consent forms management. Pathology laboratories use this software to generate barcodes for tracking samples, managing referral lab details, and sending results through text or email. Simplex Himes allows integration with other applications to make processes in the lab simpler and more manageable.

Polytech LIS

This is one of the most accessible and easiest medical lab management software to install and run. It is also a fully-featured lab management software with elements like data security, lab instrument integration, sample, audit, calibration management, and EMR/EHR. It allows medical lab practitioners to manage patient reports, medical tests and send results.

Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS software

This software suite delivers features like data management, process execution, and laboratory management in a single solution. The software is applied in laboratories across multiple industries, like pharmaceutical, food and beverage, petrochemical, and manufacturing, to name a few. Medical laboratories use this software to manage policies and procedures. It allows elements like clinical documentation, a real-time dashboard, and create a centralized to-do list. It allows them to meet compliance requirements and simplify their management processes.

LabWare LIMS

This software is a global leader in laboratory information management. This factor is proven because it features thousands of customers, who are also leaders in the medical industry. The thirty-year-old medical lab management software ensures data compliance, accuracy in test results, and more efficiency. It is optimized for quick response and impeccable customer satisfaction.

MediXcel EMR

This is also an efficient medical lab management software offering streamlined registration processes and maintain hefty patient data. It efficiently accumulates process management for various tasks carried out throughout the patient’s lifecycle in the lab. It helps reduce hassles in the lab by allowing practitioners with accessible, on-time, and patient-centric flow and reminders. From providing electronic medical record features to practice management, this software is a must-have for medical laboratories. The software can be deployed on a local area network or cloud, depending on your needs.

Features offered by medical lab management software;

• Electronic medical record management
• Lab instrument integration and management
• Sample and result management
• Report or documentation management
• Audit and calibration management
• EMR
• And data security management

Note that the features provided differ from one system to the next. Some also offer additional practice management features.

Have you noticed sludge-like buildup in the bottom of your storage tank? Do you feel your engine is taking more time to start than usual and losing power all of a sudden? The possibility is, you are using contaminated fuel. 

Unless you maintain your fuel and treat it well, you will notice diesel fuel contamination symptoms that can wreak havoc in your engine eventually! 

No matter if you are using high-quality diesel to run machinery or vehicles for aviation, agriculture, or marine, unless you seal the system appropriately and follow top-notch maintenance, the fuel can get contaminated, resulting in even system disruption!

To help you prevent diesel-quality degradation because of contamination, I gather its signs, preventive measures, and everything essential. 

Fuel Contamination

Fuel contamination is the process of degrading fuel quality by contaminants like water, algae, microorganisms, etc.

Today’s environment-friendly fuel is a mixture of 93% petroleum diesel and 7% biodiesel. This ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) is excellent to decrease the earth’s carbon footprint, but it is prone to contamination, thus not favorable to the businesses that store fuel.

Causes of Diesel Fuel Contamination

The culprits that contaminate diesel are:

• Water
• Microbes
• Particulates

Water Contamination

The composition of modern biofuel makes water build-up in it unavoidable. Water can be present in the following three forms in a storage tank:

• Dissolved water
• Emulsified water
• Free water

When the dissolved water can deteriorate diesel quality, emulsified, specifically, the free water can taint it badly, causing severe damage to the engine, even following engine failure! 

Water can enter the fuel vessel in various ways:

• Biodiesel, being hygroscopic, easily penetrates water from the atmosphere.
• If the fuel container is not full, the vapor above the diesel gets mixed with it, appearing as a water-fuel emulsion. 
• Open vents allow moisture to penetrate the tank.
• The temperature difference and humidity outside cause water condensation and produce water droplets inside the tank.

Microbial Contamination

• The microbes like algae and bacteria that cause diesel contamination are classified as diesel bugs and look like blackish or brown slime.
• The naturally found microorganisms in biofuel can spur in the presence of water.
• The contamination accelerates when the temperature reaches 10-40°C in the presence of water. 

Particulate Contamination

Various smudge, asphalts, ferrous materials, etc., are other culprits that can contaminate the diesel and break your bank for making the system operate optimally again. 

Symptoms of Fuel Contamination

Is the back, cloudy exhaust of your car making you think the fuel is tainted? 

Don’t go with assumptions and check for the following symptoms:

• Uncontaminated diesel should appear bright and clean. If you have noticed the diesel looks muddy, the possibility is, it is tainted. 
• Jammed filters are the initial indication of contaminated fuel. Filters capture smudge and other particulates from the diesel before it gets transferred to the engine. If they need frequent replacement, the most viable cause is contaminated fuel. 
• Regular fuel filter clogging induces fuel pump failure as it has to operate beyond its design criteria to pass the engine the required fuel. 
• If your diesel engine is operating with low-quality contaminated diesel, it may require more fuel, resulting in a higher fuel consumption rate. 
• Do your fuel injectors require more cleaning and maintenance than usual? Well, injectors hardly need cleaning, but when the fuel gets tainted, the engine starts dissipating more power, and the injectors fail to operate optimally, resulting in frequent injector blockage. 
• Black and heavy exhaust is another indication of degrading diesel. When your engine is hot and operates with clean fuel, it generates comparably clean exhaust than contaminated diesel. 
• If your fuel smells like a ‘rotten egg’ while examination, the reason is, it contains microbes. 
• Have your tank, cylinder, and piston rings decayed? Contaminated diesel does not let the fuel injectors sustain the uniform fuel flow. This non-uniformity in fuel combustion speeds up the decaying process and affects the camshaft torque.

How to Prevent Diesel Fuel Contamination

Preventing fuel contamination is inevitable, as it can make your whole system fail and cost you huge! Following some easy yet effective steps will help you keep your diesel and storage tank in top-notch condition, making your system run optimally. 

Buy from Reputable Sources

One handy way to avoid loading your fuel tank with low-grade diesel is to buy from a trustworthy and authentic seller. A reputable seller will provide his customers with high-quality fuel that contains no contaminating agents like water, microbes, or particulates. 

Change Your Fuel Filters Periodically

Another effective way to prevent contamination is to replace fuel filters periodically. I have already mentioned, these filters are responsible for filtering smudge and grime from the fuel before delivering it to the engine. Thus you can ensure your engine is getting clean diesel and working appropriately by changing them regularly. 

Test the Fuel

If you suspect your fuel is getting contaminated, go for a quick check before it gets too late. Testing enables you to go to the root cause of fuel degradation. Thus you can go for fuel polishing and bring the diesel to the optimal operating state again if possible. 

Microbial growth, being the prominent reason for deteriorating diesel quality, demands your utter conscience. 

If you want a quality kit to examine your fuel, Conidia’s diesel fuel contamination kit can be your ultimate choice. It is an on-site immunoassay antibody testing kit that enables you to detect the microbes in the earliest stages without undergoing a multi-step process. 

Ensure Tank Maintenance

To ensure your fuel is in the best condition, you must maintain your tank also. Rusty tank is another reason that degrades fuel quality adversely. Again, a well-maintained tank hinders contaminants like microbes and water from entering the fuel. 

The other measures you should adopt are:

• To keep water condensation to a minimum level, ensure keeping the fuel tank full. 
• Always run the diesel through the filtration system after transporting it.
• Check the water state levels each month.
• To avoid microbes, use biocides in each 3-month.

Wrap Up

Using high-grade diesel fuel accompanied by top-notch maintenance can ensure your system can operate in its best condition, bypassing engine malfunctions. The above information I have summarised would help you identify the diesel fuel contamination symptoms and adopt the best preventive steps.