With increasing numbers of patients using cardiac remote monitoring, keeping up with higher volume of cardiac remote monitoring transmissions creates challenges for cardiac device clinic staffs.
As the prevalence of remote monitoring for patients with medical devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, and other implantable devices increases, healthcare providers nationwide are facing a significant challenge: managing the high volume of data transmissions from these devices. Remote monitoring technology offers an abundance of benefits, including better patient connectivity, enhanced device functionality, improved patient outcomes, and reduced need for in-office visits. However, the influx of data can be overwhelming for a device clinic staff, who must analyze and continually respond to these transmissions, and often burnout from alert overload.1 Let’s examine this situation.
The adoption of remote monitoring has been accelerated by several factors, notably the advancements in medical technology and the necessity for remote healthcare solutions spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. It also provides a means to expand care to underserved and rural communities with little access to on-site medical facilities.
One of the primary challenges is the sheer volume of data that needs to be processed. Each patient’s device generates detailed data on a regular basis, leading to a situation often described as “data overload.” Clinicians must sift through this mountain of data to identify critical information, which can be a time-consuming and labor-intensive process.
The complexity of the data requires staff to have specialized training to interpret the readings accurately. This not only includes understanding the technical aspects of the devices but also being able to distinguish between normal and abnormal readings, which could indicate a patient’s deteriorating health condition or a malfunction in the device.
Integrating this new stream of data with existing healthcare systems poses another challenge. Most healthcare facilities have Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems, but not all are equipped to efficiently handle and store the data coming from remote monitoring devices. This can lead to fragmentation and potential loss of critical patient information.
Since the start of the Pandemic in 2020 there has been an ongoing problem staffing all medical facilities with qualified nurses, technicians and even physicians. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) points to data that suggests that the country will need more than 200,000 new nurses each year until 2026 to fill new positions or replace retiring nurses. 2 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for qualified nurses will increase much faster than the need for all professionals in the coming decade.3
To manage this influx, many clinics are turning to advanced software solutions that can help in sorting and prioritizing data. These systems use algorithms to flag abnormal readings or trends, allowing staff to focus on the most pressing cases first.
Investing in staff education and training is crucial. By ensuring that all members of the device clinic are knowledgeable about the latest technology and data interpretation techniques, clinics can improve their efficiency in handling data. The recent 2023 expert consensus statement on practical management of the remote device clinic emphasizes the need for specialized education and certifications for CIED clinic personnel; these include certification through the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners or the American Board of Internal Medicine.4
Enhancing the integration of remote monitoring systems with existing EHR systems is vital for a seamless workflow. This could involve upgrading EHR systems or adopting new software that is specifically designed to handle remote monitoring data.
Finally, using third-party resources to manage remote monitoring data from implantable cardiac electronic devices (CIEDs) will assist in device clinic workflows.
Cardiac RMS is a patient-oriented company that values your time and understands the importance of delivering accurate patient data and support on a timely basis to your clinic and patients. We employ only certified staff to monitor and report on your patients’ transmissions. The CIED Cardiac RMS staff will analyze the data from all devices, transmissions, and interrogations through a single monitoring platform so that you can quickly make appropriate clinical decisions.
Our completely flexible integrated software solutions work with your systems to optimize the workflow at your clinic and ensure that your patients will be more compliant. We cut through the clutter and triage the transmissions so you see the clinically actionable reports you want to see.
While the shift towards remote monitoring in healthcare is a positive development, it brings with it a set of challenges that need to be addressed. By leveraging technology, investing in staff training, improving system integrations, and considering partnering with a third-party provider, cardiac device clinics can effectively manage the high volume of data transmissions and have better patient outcomes. This will not only improve the efficiency of cardiac clinics and staff, but also ensure the highest standard of care for patients relying on implantable medical devices.
1 AI Web Assisted Research Content
2 https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/fact-sheets/nursing-shortage
3 https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2018/article/bachelors-degree-outlook.htm
4 https://www.heartrhythmjournal.com/article/S1547-5271(23)02011-8/fulltext – secsectitle0120
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Cardiac RMS LLC is a clinical service partner with expertise in remote monitoring of patients who have a cardiac pacemaker, implantable cardiac defibrillator, implantable heart failure device, or implantable loop recorder. Services also include Virtual Care Management, utilizing Remote Physiologic Monitoring (RPM) and care management to remotely support the treatment of patients with chronic conditions.
