Healthy Living Tips from
The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | May 2021
HEALTHY TIP : Remote Bluetooth-Enabled ICD Monitoring Helps Manage Heart Rhythm Problems
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , it is estimated that as many as 6.1 million people in the United States battle cardiac arrhythmias , or abnormal heart rhythms . Implantable cardioverter defibrillators ( ICDs ) are often recommended to help reduce the risks of life-threatening arrhythmias . For patients with heart failure , or in situations when the heart ' s chambers beat out of sync , cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators ( CRT-Ds ) can be used to restore the heart ' s natural pattern of beating .
Patients with these types of devices often worry about their heart health and their device performance . Having access to real-time device monitoring is the newest approach to managing these devices , monitoring heart arrhythmias , and providing peace of mind .
At Deborah Heart and Lung Center , since last November patients have been receiving Bluetooth-enabled ICDs . These Abbott Gallant™ implantable cardioverter defibrillator ( ICD ) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator ( CRT-D ) devices combine a high voltage smartphone app and Bluetooth communication . Patients and physicians can now continuously monitor the devices and arrhythmias . The app provides :
· Access to data
· Device performance
· Transmission history
· Quick remote warning on asymptomatic episodes
· Ability to intervene early
Breakthrough Technology Keeping Patients Healthier
Raffaele Corbisiero , MD , Deborah ’ s Director of Electrophysiology Services said : “ This is the next step forward in supporting our heart arrhythmia patients . Having an immediate feedback loop through a patient ’ s smartphone provides a major step forward in staying ahead of any worsening conditions . This is a tremendous health benefit to our patients , as well as providing a very convenient option for remote monitoring of their heart health .”
Since Deborah began using the Bluetooth-enabled devices , it has implanted over 100 of them .
“ We are more than impressed with how useful this device has been ,” added Dr . Corbisiero . “ We have caught numerous early-warning instances of patients with worsening conditions which has allowed us to be proactive in managing the symptoms . It is so easy to use the smartphone app that patients have become more engaged in managing their own data and have been proactive on managing their own symptoms also . This is a win-win for everyone , and I expect that this technology will be routinely used moving forward .”
For more information , visit www . DemandDeborah . org or call 855-646-3484
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