From Physical Therapy to Mental Health: Customizing RTM Apps Across Disciplines
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring is revolutionizing the way treatment is delivered in today’s increasingly digital healthcare landscape. RTM applications, originally designed for physical therapy and musculoskeletal disorders, are now being adapted across various disciplines, including cardiology and pulmonology, as well as behavioral and mental health.
This blog looks at how RTM platforms may be used for a variety of medical specializations, with a focus on physical therapy and mental health, two areas that are at opposing ends of the care continuum yet benefit equally from remote monitoring.
What is Remote Therapeutic Monitoring?
Remote therapeutic monitoring is the process of tracking non-physiological patient data, including functional status, therapy adherence, and pain levels, using digital health tools. RTM codes were developed by CMS to enable clinicians to bill for therapy-related metrics that are monitored remotely, even if they do not gather biometric data.
RTM assesses how well a patient follows a prescribed treatment plan, which may include exercise routines, mental health tasks, or medication regimens, in contrast to RPM, which concentrates on physiological metrics such as heart rate or blood glucose.
Common use cases for RTM
- Monitoring home exercise in physical treatment.
- Monitoring anxiety or mood levels in mental health.
- Improving drug adherence in chronic pain treatment.
- Managing pulmonary rehabilitation procedures for COPD patients.
The Growth of RTM in Physical Therapy
Physical therapists were among the first to use RTM tools. With musculoskeletal problems being a primary cause of disability, there is an obvious need for scaled remote care solutions.
Benefits of RTM in Physical Therapy
- Improved adherence to prescribed home workouts.
- Objective progress monitoring (e.g., range of motion, pain score)
- Real-time input from therapists and patients
- Improved patient engagement and accountability.
Features That Allow RTM to Work in PT
- Exercise libraries use instructional videos.
- Daily check-ins or reminders to finish sessions.
- Wearable integrations for movement tracking.
- Progress dashboards for both patients and providers
Because physical therapy is extremely goal-oriented and repetitive, RTM applications aid in the transition between clinic visits and home-based care.
Extending RTM into Mental Health
While mental health and physical treatment appear to be very different, both rely on behavioral engagement and continuous follow-up. In mental health, RTM tools can be used to track
- Mood Trends
- Medication compliance
- Sleep Patterns
- Behavioral activation levels
How Mental Health Professionals Customize RTM
- Daily journaling prompts for mood and anxiety levels
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy task tracking
- Sleep Quality Surveys
- Push alerts for coping tactics and breathing exercises.
Challenges
- Subjectivity of self-reported data.
- Need for individualized intervention content.
- Ensure data security for critical mental health indicators.
Despite these difficulties, the potential is enormous. RTM applications can provide therapists with real-time insight about patient issues, allowing for earlier action and more successful therapy modifications.
Customization is Key: One Size Doesn’t Fit All
| Discipline | Custom RTM Features |
| Physical Therapy | Video-guided exercises, pain logs, mobility scores |
| Mental Health | Mood tracking, journaling, CBT task reminders |
| Pulmonary Rehab | Symptom questionnaires, spirometry reminders |
| Cardiac Rehab | Exercise adherence, fatigue levels, BP tracking |
| Pain Management | Opioid adherence tracking, pain frequency mapping |
With APIs, HL7/FHIR connection, and configurable templates, providers may tailor the app to their clinical workflows, enhancing both usability and patient results.
Designing an RTM App
To achieve scalability, RTM platforms should have a core-plus-modules design.
Core Platform Features
- Secure login and patient authentication.
- HIPAA-compliant data storage
- Real-time provider dashboard
- Analytics engine
Modular Add-Ons
- Specialty-specific material, such as CBT modules versus PT exercise regimens.
- Notification customization
- Integration of EHR or other third-party solutions
How RTM Improves Patient Engagement
Engagement is the foundation of every remote care system. Patients must see the usefulness of tracking their activities and understand how their data affects treatment decisions.
Engagement Techniques That Work
- Gamified Progress Charts – Visualize the therapeutic milestones.
- Daily nudge – Encouragement to finish chores.
- Feedback loops – Provider messages depending on the provided data
- Patient education – Includes brief films or articles that reinforce treatment recommendations.
Engagement tools, whether for a patient recuperating from ACL surgery or someone dealing with depression, should promote trust, consistency, and autonomy.
Regulatory and Reimbursement Landscape
The introduction of RTM CPT codes (98975-98978) has enabled reimbursement for remote monitoring for a wider range of provider types than physicians alone. This includes:
- Physical Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Psychologists
- Qualified healthcare professionals.
RTM Billing Overview
- 98975: Initial setup and patient education.
- 98976 / 98977: Device supply for respiratory or MSK systems
- 98980 / 98981: Monthly RTM data review and interactive communication.
While mental health therapists may bill for RTM, the data collected must be non-physiological and explicitly related to the therapy regimen.
Vendor Selection Checklist
- Specialty templates are offered out of the box for PT, mental health, and pulmonary.
- Non-technical people may easily alter the workflow editor.
- EHR integration uses FHIR webhooks rather than CSV uploads.
- Transparent time tracking is compatible with 98980/98981 and planned 98XX7 tiers.
- No proprietary lock-in for sensors or data formats, as well as data ownership and mobility.
- Certifications of road-tested compliance, including ISO 27001, SOC 2, and HITRUST.
- Pilots can begin modestly thanks to scalable pricing depending on active patients.
Related: Building RTM Infrastructure That Aligns With CMS Billing and Documentation Rules
Accelerate Outcomes With CapMinds Custom RTM Solutions
Ready to turn today’s insights into tomorrow’s revenue?
CapMinds engineers, implements, and optimizes specialty-grade Remote Therapeutic Monitoring platforms, so you can deliver proactive care across physical therapy, mental health, cardiology, pulmonary rehab, and more.
- Custom RTM App Development – Device-agnostic apps tailored to PT, MSK, and behavioral-health workflows
- Specialty Content Packs – Pre-built exercise libraries, CBT modules, and symptom surveys you can brand and deploy in weeks
- FHIR & HL7 Integration – One-click launch inside Epic, Cerner, and athenahealth to eliminate double documentation
- Engagement & Analytics Dashboards – Gamified patient UX plus real-time KPI tracking for 98980/98981 billing compliance
- Security & Compliance – HITRUST-aligned cloud architecture, SOC 2 reporting, and automated audit logs
Book a free workflow audit today and see how CapMinds transforms remote care into measurable results.
