Remote monitoring

home monitors

by Tracey_E - 2017-03-07 21:36:09

I got my first pacer in 1994, my first remote monitor last year. I'll confess I was upset about it at first! I don't want a box in my face every morning reminding me I have a heart problem. I don't want big brother looking over my shoulder. I don't want remote checks instead of seeing the techs so I can ask questions. Ya know what? I love it.

I wrapped it in a towel and stuck it under the bed, so I never see it. As long as it's within 10' of where I sleep, it works. 

I have an appointment once a year, no more quarterly appointments. I get a phone call telling me when it'll do a download, then a few days later another call letting me know all is ok. I can email my doc in between if I have questions so I don't miss the in-person appointments.

And twice I had issues pop up so I hit the button to force a download. The first one wasn't urgent, more curious, so I emailed them and told them I'd done it and what was going on. They looked it over, got back with me a couple of days later. The other time, I went to the ER. I told the ER doc I'd done a download, she called SJM and got a report, within 5 minutes they'd ruled out cardiac. In the past, I would have been there hours while they called the SJM rep to come to the ER to do the download, then get the doc to read it. 

So, home monitors are pretty cool, imo. I have a SJM Merlin, rather than a Carelink, but they work pretty much the same. 

Thanks

by Paced2017 - 2017-03-08 03:07:58

Thanks for telling me about your experience with home monitoring. At this stage I'm thinking that I like the idea of being able to speak with the my Dr and the techs looking at the data in real time, just to get a feel for how things are going and to learn more about how adjustments can be made in respone to my symptoms and the downloaded data. But I can see how home monitoring would be useful when travelling (the Medtronic reader is battery operated, not plugged in) and also in order to capture any concerning symptoms as they happen. I go for my first follow-up appointment next week so will discuss this with them.

insurance

by Tracey_E - 2017-03-08 16:27:47

If you have a home monitor, insurance may not want to cover office visits. Most offices are pretty good about getting us in if we have a problem, and if something shows up on the reports they will call us. As I said, I was skeptical and resistant, but now I'm a convert. 

carelink

by John123 - 2017-03-14 00:03:08

I use the carelink smart reader with an iPhone app. It works fine. I make 1 visit to the device clinic a year and use remote monitoring 3 times a year at quaterly intervals. It has worked well for me. My PM was placed in 2014. 

Careljnk

by TBrous&Chip - 2017-03-19 06:36:40

I use Care link and it works just fine.  Since I only report quartery I do have to reread the instructions each time.  It takes less than 10 minutes total time to set up the device, send the report and then store the device.

Nice to have since I do not have a wired telephone.

Remote Monitor

by Carol - 2017-03-28 21:37:59

i have a remote monitor but usually go in for my interrogations.  It did come in very handy recently however.  I had just been in for an interrogation on Monday as I was nearing end of life for the battery. I was told time was running out.  On Friday of that same week I had a very unnerving episode of something cardiac - felt very weird - and I was immediately aware that my anxiety which was high never raised my HR above 65- it  should have been closer to 120 the way I was feeling.  The remote came in handy as I never would have been able to go back to the office for confirmation that I was now in safe mode- but I was able to immediately send in a report and received a return call within 10 minutes confirming that that is definitely what happened.  So glad I had it and didn't have to make a trip to the ER.

my insurance has never refused to pay for my office visits despite having the remote.  I keep mine in the closet and only pull it out if needed.