A Critical Moment at Home
Betty, an 86-year-old patient enrolled in Prevounce’s RPM care management program, frequently has cautionary blood pressure readings. However, on this particular day, her readings escalated into the critical range:
- 200/130 mmHg at 9:56 a.m.
- 197/111 mmHg at 9:59 a.m.
- 193/101 mmHg at 10:03 a.m.
Betty also began experiencing worsening symptoms, including vomiting, weakness, general fatigue, and right-sided flank pain. Despite the severity of her readings and symptoms, she did not reach out to her daughter, who is her primary caregiver and was away from home.
Immediate Care Manager Intervention
When the Prevounce care manager received the initial out-of-range alert, she quickly recognized the urgency and attempted to reach Betty, but was unsuccessful. Understanding that Betty was likely alone, the care manager immediately contacted Betty’s daughter to alert her to the critical blood pressure readings and her mother’s symptoms.
Betty’s daughter had no idea her mother had taken an out-of-range reading or was feeling unwell. The care manager’s call was the first sign that something was wrong.
Prompt Emergency Care
Betty’s daughter rushed home and brought her mother to the emergency department. Clinicians evaluated Betty’s symptoms and blood pressure and admitted her for treatment. During the assessment, she was diagnosed with pyelonephritis, a kidney infection that can cause significant illness and contribute to blood pressure instability in older adults. She received appropriate treatment and her condition stabilized.
Gratitude and Continued Support
The care manager followed up after the incident to ensure a safe transition home and notify Betty’s primary care team. Her daughter expressed sincere gratitude and explained that she would not have known about her mother’s condition without the Prevounce care manager’s call. The timely intervention allowed her to return home quickly and get Betty the urgent medical attention she needed.
This case shows how RPM and attentive care management help protect medically complex patients. Timely alerts and rapid coordination can prevent a critical situation from becoming a medical crisis and give families peace of mind when vulnerable patients are on their own.
Real stories featuring real patients. Patient names have been changed to protect privacy.
