Device Clinic Management—Part 4: Monitoring Non-Wireless Device Patients

by Rebecca Revell, RN, BSN, CCDS, PaceMate™ Director of Patient Communications

Wireless vs. Non-Wireless Data Transmission

Technology continues to advance digital healthcare for cardiac patients. Today, the majority of CIED data is transmitted wirelessly to manufacturers’ proprietary monitoring networks via radio frequency (RF) or Bluetooth transmitters built into the implanted device. The benefits of wireless monitoring are numerous—including faster identification of device malfunction and arrhythmia, automatic transmission of clinical alerts and scheduled remote follow-up, reduction in non-compliance due to elimination of the manual process, and increased patient satisfaction.

But despite these advantages of wireless monitoring, many patients have non-wireless devices which were implanted prior to the wide availability of non-wireless monitoring technology. And even now, there remain many newer cardiac electronic implantable devices without wireless capability. Some leadless pacemakers and sub-cutaneous ICDs are capable of remote interrogation; yet they are not equipped with the ability to transmit data wirelessly to a transmitter. Patients with these devices must manually initiate remote transmissions on a pre-communicated schedule to ensure compliance.

Clinical Challenges for Managing Non-wireless Devices

Remote management of non-wireless device patients poses a challenge to clinic staff. If patients are transmitting too frequently, there can be negative consequences for their device battery longevity and an overburdening of clinic staff with non-actionable transmissions. Alternatively, patients may not send data frequently enough, resulting in clinical care delays and potential for missed billing opportunity. Assisting the non-wireless CIED patient population in maintaining compliance requires clear communication of a transmission schedule and ample opportunities for monitor education.

We Help You + Your Patients

PaceMate™’s groundbreaking platform is fully integrated with an automated calling feature that delivers specific reminders to cardiac patients on their transmission due date. Our compassionate team of in-house PaceMate™ patient communication specialists proactively reaches these patients to provide education and support at the individual level. This patient attention frees device clinicians from the time-consuming clerical task of creating schedules, sending letters, or making phone calls.

Ask us how PaceMate™’s revolutionary remote monitoring solutions can assist your busy device clinic.