RPM & RTM in 2025: How Small Hospitals and Practices Can Sustain Virtual Care

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) continue to mature. For small hospitals and community practices, the winning pattern in 2025 is simple device logistics + disciplined monthly workflows.

Codes you'll encounter (confirm locally)

RPM

99453: initial setup + education
99454: device supply and daily recordings
99457/99458: 20+ minutes of interactive management per month (+ additional)

RTM (often for musculoskeletal, respiratory, behavioral adherence)

98975/98976/98977: setup/supply
98980/98981: 20+ minutes management (+ additional)

Keep management time separate from CCM/PCM logs to avoid double‑counting.

A small‑team operating model

Device ops: 1 coordinator handles inventory, shipping, and patient onboarding calls.
Clinical: MA/LPN does first‑line outreach; RN reviews alerts; QHP documents assessments and plan.
Hospital variant: central "virtual care hub" serves multiple clinics; standardize escalation to ED/inpatient.

Documentation that stands up

Patient consent & program enrollment
Device type, education given, and start date
Thresholds and clinical response rules
Interactive management minutes tied to assessments/plan changes
Patient messaging channels and response times

Thresholds and noise control

Start conservative: one primary alert (e.g., sustained BP or SpO₂ deviations), one secondary (no data x 3 days). Review monthly and tighten. Too many alerts = lost minutes and clinician fatigue.

Measuring value (minimum set)

Activation rate within 7 days of order
% patients with 15+ days of data in month
Average management minutes per enrolled patient
ED visits / hospitalizations vs patient baseline

Avoid the common traps

Device sprawl: standardize on 1–2 vendors; simplify chargers, returns, replacements.
Month boundary mistakes: log minutes & supply correctly to the calendar month.
No documentation of education: 99453/98975 need real evidence of education and setup.

A 45‑day launch plan

Pick 1–2 conditions (e.g., HTN, COPD).
Finalize device vendor(s) and return flow.
Build scripts for onboarding calls and education.
Add a weekly exception review with RN + QHP.
Enroll 30–50 patients; scale after week 6.

Codes you'll encounter (confirm locally)

A small‑team operating model

Documentation that stands up

Thresholds and noise control

Measuring value (minimum set)

Avoid the common traps

A 45‑day launch plan

Related reading

Related reading

G0511, Explained: A Practical Guide for RHCs & FQHCs

CCM vs. RPM Minutes: How to Track Separately and Stay Audit‑Ready

What CPOM Means for Outsourced Care-Management

Codes you'll encounter (confirm locally)

A small‑team operating model

Documentation that stands up

Thresholds and noise control

Measuring value (minimum set)

Avoid the common traps

A 45‑day launch plan

Related reading