On July 10, 2019, there was an executive order to increase home dialysis and transplant utilization to 80% by 2030. Remote patient monitoring is a promising technological advance that could help achieve this goal by reducing the burden of home dialysis, improving patient experience, and addressing patient and provider hesitancy. A study in Kidney Medicine explored patient, care partner, and clinician perceptions of remote patient monitoring in home dialysis, highlighting its benefits and challenges.

The study found that remote monitoring could mitigate the risk of technique failure and improve outcomes by enabling closer patient monitoring and timely interventions. This technology can also provide patients and their care partners with comfort and support, encouraging them to choose home dialysis over in-center modalities. In addition, remote monitoring, coupled with telehealth visits, can reduce the need for frequent in-person visits, making home dialysis more accessible and manageable for patients. While technology will play a crucial role, addressing basic infrastructure needs and refining implementation strategies are essential for achieving the executive order’s ambitious targets.

Reference: Whitlow M, Wallace E. Remote Patient Monitoring: An Important Tool in Advancing Home Dialysis. Kidney Med. 2019;1(6):327-328. doi: 10.1016/j.xkme.2019.10.002.