Data like those in Dr. Piccini’s report as well as the statement in May from the Heart Rhythm Society calling remote monitoring the standard of care (Heart Rhythm 2015 [doi.10.1016/j.hrthm.2015.05.008]) are very compelling. There has been a lag in the uptake of remote monitoring, but these new developments will make it impossible for administrators and payers to ignore remote monitoring any longer.
| Mitchel L. Zoler/Frontline Medical News Dr. Jonathan M. Kalman |
What we need now is an infrastructure to provide remote monitoring to the millions of patients who have implanted cardiovascular devices. Adopting remote monitoring as the standard of care involves more than just a declaration. Monitoring programs need capable technicians who can collect and evaluate the data that come in. It’s a big commitment, but something for which the benefit clearly outweighs the cost. We keep patients in better health while seeing them less often.
Dr. Jonathan M. Kalman is professor and head of the heart rhythm department of Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia. He has received research support from Boston Scientific, Medtronic, and St. Jude. He made these comments in an interview.
AT HEART RHYTHM 2015
