Dr Ajit Mehta, Interventional Cardiologist, Jehangir Hospital, (Apollo Hospitals) Pune talks about remote monitoring of heart patients
Over the past few years, the entire world has moved towards digitization, where everything is available just by the click of a finger. With the advancement of technology and innovations in various sectors, one has access to all the information. For the last two years, healthcare has emerged as one of the most important sectors and has undergone various changes. With the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, health became the first and foremost priority for every individual. The advent of medical technology has re-shaped healthcare, which has also led to patient management and care evolution. Healthcare technology has been redefining the doctor-patient connection by making it possible for patients to be connected with their medical experts round the clock and be an integral part of their disease management process. While there have been many innovations on the surgical front that have helped reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases, the role of monitoring for early detection and treatment of CVDs is also paramount. One such technology which is redefining cardiac monitoring is remote monitoring technology.
What is remote monitoring technology?
Remote cardiac monitoring, or remote heart monitoring, is a technology by which information from a patient’s implantable rhythm management device (ICD & CRT-D) can be transmitted directly to the cardiac electrophysiologist (doctor) to review a patient’s heart activity. Remote monitoring is a powerful tool for off-site cardiac rhythm management. It works through a transmitter that syncs with the patient’s implanted device, collecting data about the heart’s activity, such as its rate and rhythm. The transmitter then sends the information through a secure website to the electrophysiologist for assessment and evaluation. This syncing and transmission can happen overnight while the patient is asleep.
An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is device placed under the skin to monitor your heart rhythm and detect irregular heartbeats. It delivers electric shocks to the heart muscle to fix abnormalities in the heart rhythm. ICDs detect and stop abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias). With the advancement of science & technology, the ICDs & CRT-Ds now available in our country come with Bluetooth technology wherein the patient’s device is connected to their smartphones via Bluetooth and they can send critical data related to their device to their doctors by a touch on their smartphone screens. The device is specialized to continuously monitor the heartbeat and deliver electrical pulses to restore the heart rhythm whenever necessary. A CRT-D device is a special device for heart failure patients with a high risk for sudden cardiac death. It delivers small electrical impulses to the left and right ventricles to help them contract at the same time. This helps the heart pump more efficiently.
Benefits of RM
The top five benefits of remote monitoring are as follows:
The benefit to the doctors and patients: The most crucial single-use that remote monitoring offers is the flexibility (for both patient and doctor) to seek and provide medical consultation from anywhere at any time of day. It equips doctors with accurate data for correct diagnosis and treatment while reducing the time taken to detect irregularities in heart rhythm. For patients, the technology provides them with the safety of communicating critical information about their medical condition directly to the doctor at any time of the day from the comfort of their home digitally. Moreover, patients using remote monitoring devices have a higher chance of survival since they are regularly monitored. This technology not only ensures timely intervention but also provides patients to contact with the best medical treatments from experts remotely. Patients can always be in touch with the doctor through teleconsultation. The doctor has the patient’s medical history and can offer the best-suited medical advice, even from a distance.
Allows the best healthcare during COVID: The current and unprecedented times have significantly impacted healthcare systems across the globe, including India. However, there are restrictions in the movement due to concerns about health and safety. During these challenging times when social distancing has become the need of the hour, remote monitoring technology allows medical experts to monitor their patients remotely in the best possible ways.
Possibility of a timely, efficient healthcare system: The rapid growth in technology has remarkably enhanced the scope of remote health monitoring systems. Devices like CRT-Ds (cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator) are also helpful to improve the function of the heart that prevent sudden death similar to traditional ICDs (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator), but in addition, act to restore the heart’s natural pattern of beating in patients with reduced cardiac function and progressive heart failure despite optimal medical therapy.
Digitally – empowered healthcare is the need of the hour: Remote care platforms provide patients with the convenience of accessing qualitative and quantitative healthcare from their homes. Monitoring plays a crucial role for patients with existing heart conditions like heart failure or cardiac arrhythmia. New-age technologies like remote monitoring can go a long way in ensuring patients are on top of their heart health and that their doctor is up-to-date on their condition at any given time.
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