Cardiac Monitoring At Home
Heart failure is a widespread condition that develops when the heart muscle weakens and is unable to pump sufficient amounts of blood throughout the body. It is a chronic condition that worsens over time and is typically caused by persistent high blood pressure, heart attack, valve disease, and other forms of heart disease or birth defects.
Davis Regional Medical Center recently acquired a cardiac monitor that seeks to improve survival and the quality of life for patients dealing with heart failure.
The monitor analyzes pulmonary artery pressure in people who have been diagnosed with heart failure or had a prior heart failure hospitalization in the past 12 months. Proactively managing patients who are living with heart failure may alter the course of the disease’s progression. Despite medical advances, heart failure is a worsening epidemic. By monitoring the pressure of blood through the pulmonary artery, we can detect worsening heart failure even before symptoms such as shortness of breath or weight gain are reported.
The cardiac monitoring system features a small pressure-sensing device, no larger than the size of a small paperclip. It is implanted through a minimally invasive procedure directly into the patient’s pulmonary artery. While at home, patients lie on a special pillow to wirelessly take a pressure reading. Data from the sensor is collected through radio frequency to the pillow’s antenna and is sent wirelessly to the patient's cardiologist. This information is then used by the cardiologist to proactively adjust medication and treatment plans.
The cardiac monitoring system is FDA approved and covered under most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, with appropriate documentation.
Extensive trials have been conducted and results do suggest that this method has benefitted an expanded group of people. Studies have shown not only reduced hospitalizations but also an improved quality of life for patients.