If you ask Mike Shinn, 62, for a list of what matters most to him as he settles into retirement, he’ll say that his family and health are at the top of that list.
After a recent bout with COVID-19, he has a whole new perspective on his health — and that has given him even more reason to take time and enjoy life with his family.
In December 2020, Shinn was hospitalized for 33 days at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton while he was battling respiratory issues caused by the coronavirus.
The virus had taken a toll on his lungs, but after weeks spent on an airway machine, Shinn was strong enough to return home — but he was not quite in the clear.
He would still need to be cared for closely, so Tanner provided him with a remote patient monitoring kit — or RPM — so he can continue his care at home.
“When I got out of the hospital, I was kind of nervous and thinking if I was really over everything,” said Shinn, a Carrollton native. “One of the best parts about having the RPM kit was the people who were helping me monitor everything every day. If my temperature, blood pressure or weight was up or down, they would give me a call, which gave me peace of mind and reassurance that someone was always watching over me.”
Remote patient monitoring offers a way for caregivers to monitor their patient’s health issues and chronic conditions from afar using Bluetooth-connected medical devices, such as digital blood pressure cuffs, oxygen sensors, thermometers, bodyweight scales and more.
“Everything was easy. It was all connected through Bluetooth and the instructions that came with it were simple,” said Shinn. “I was worried about that at first because I’m not a ‘computer person.’ They told me when I got it to call if I had any problems, but everything was easy to use out of the box. If you follow the directions, you can’t mess up.”
RPM not only gives healthcare providers greater ability to manage their patient’s health while they recover at home, but it also helps patients engage in their health care on a greater level — one that Shinn had never considered before.
“When I got up every morning, it was one of the first things I did,” he said. “I had everything set up in my kitchen and I’d go through the process, taking my blood pressure first, then my oxygen levels, and then my temperature and body weight. I’d do that every day, sometimes twice a day, even though I only needed to do it once — but I’d do it twice just for my peace of mind.”
And if he needed help, his Tanner care team was always on hand and would follow up with him daily.
“One of my nurses was very sweet,” Shinn said of his care coordinator at Tanner. “Some days, she’d call me just to talk and make sure everything was all right, even when there wasn’t anything going on.”
Shinn, who has spent 43 years working in the construction industry, had generally been a healthy person his entire life — but RPM has been helping him stay on top of his health even after he was healthy enough to return the RPM kit that he used for four months.
“Honestly, I had never checked or monitored anything like that myself,” said Shinn. “I’ve always worked in construction, been really active, and had pretty good health. But now I’ve learned a lot. I bought my own oxygen meter to keep a check on my oxygen levels, and I also bought my own blood pressure machine, too. I go to all of my doctor’s appointments, where I didn’t used to go. Now, I don’t miss an appointment.”
He looks to impart his newfound knowledge to others who are looking to get a better handle on their health.
“Keep regular checkups with your family physician,” said Shinn. “If you’re able, get in your own equipment to monitor your blood pressure and things like that, especially as you get older.”
Today, almost seven months after getting sick, he’s still not 100%, but he says he is getting there.
He said he’s received his vaccination for COVID-19 and many members of his family have, too, which he is taking as an opportunity to spend as much time with them as possible.
As a bona fide family man, every moment he spends with his family is precious, so he’s also enjoyed being able to take his grandkids to ball games and practices, and even spending time cooking for them has been a joy, he said.
With a new perspective on his health, he is making the most of his retirement and taking every opportunity to keep himself healthy.
“I couldn’t have asked for better care — from the time I went into the hospital to the time I came home,” said Shinn. “All my doctors — my heart doctor, my lung doctor and even my regular doctor — have all been great. I’ve been really pleased.”
Video: How RPM Works
See how remote patient monitoring works and how it’s transforming the way patients are managing their health care. Watch it on YouTube.