Medtronic home monitor

Same problem here!

by Gemita - 2024-01-02 07:46:49

Piglet since we have the same pacemaker model and both use a reader to connect with our devices to send transmissions when required, I do understand the problems you are having.  My last transmission didn't send.

Update:  Have you checked the batteries in the Reader?  We have to take them out of the Reader when not in use (not convenient at all I know) in case of leakage.  The three flashing lights might indicate a terminal problem for the Reader and Medtronic may need to replace.

The difference between us is that I have regular clinic checks and you do not, so this is all the more reason why you should receive regular in person checks, especially as your battery is nearing maturity.

I would request better monitoring and I wouldn't rest until I had an in person appointment arranged?  When we have a new blue toothed enabled pacemaker, hopefully these problems will no longer exist?

Is it fixed Piglet ?

by Gemita - 2024-01-02 13:22:06

Is the problem with your main Reader which sits on your phone monitor?  I have a separate Patient Reader since  I no longer have a phone monitor (my choice because it didn't work satisfactorily).  Instead I just send data on an as needed basis using my MyCareLink Smart Patient Reader and iPhone App.  

I presume you have the old telephone monitor?   My husband has one but it doesn't work very well and is almost obsolete.

Monitor

by piglet22 - 2024-01-03 05:49:45

Hi Gemita

More time wasted yesterday trying to sort it out.

Yes, it appears to be working again but a lot of time spent looking up error codes etc.

As you know, I'm not impressed by the pacing team and have got to the point where I don't want too much to do with them, so if possible, I will fix things myself.

Bear in mind that this is the second MCL 24952 and reader battery charging was an issue with the first.

I still need to find out exactly what was going on, but Google finds instances of the three flashing LEDs by other patients.

I took the recommended action of disconnecting and keeping it powered down for about 30 minutes. 30 seconds is minimum recommended.

It fired up OK and seems alright this morning.

You are right about it not working well, but worse of all, it is now the only lifeline.

Too much to go wrong. Poor charging arrangement and three links in the communication chain. Pacemaker to reader, reader to base unit, base unit to central remote hub.

I wonder if the extreme weather conditions yesterday was a factor?

The GSM signal always looks weak and 2400 properties in the Southeast lost power.

I have commented before about factory reset - don't unless told to - and the MCL 24952 does indeed have a small hole in the case next to the power plug that looks like a reset switch access.

There is a very faint symbol to refer to instructions.

On closer inspection, the hole is there, but no switch to be seen.

Given all the other problems, I'll be glad to be shot of it.

We are still living in the past with our devices

by Gemita - 2024-01-03 09:32:24

Piglet, yes perhaps it was the weather conditions yesterday.  We have had trees blown down this end.  

There is too much to go wrong as you say with our current monitoring systems and three links in the communication chain:  pacemaker to reader, reader to base unit, base unit to central remote hub.  We are still living in the past, aren’t we with our pacemaker devices and monitoring equipment!  

Your Reader is the same one as my husband’s, that sits on the phone monitor. 

My Reader is larger, has batteries and gathers information from my pacemaker when I physically place it against my device.  It then communicates with my phone App. My phone App sends the information to the Medtronic CareLink Network.  It works better than the phone monitor+Reader, but the downside is that I need to change the batteries frequently and they need to be stored outside of the Reader when not in use, so far from ideal when I want to use it in a hurry.

Yes I will be pleased to get a blue toothed enabled device too Piglet, but I hope they will never completely do away with my in clinic checks - currently every 6 months or as required when settings are adjusted.

Monitor

by piglet22 - 2024-01-04 05:40:21

Thanks Gemita.

The weak link here is the GSM part. A gut feeling tells me that the phone link is likely to be more reliable simply because with such a hugely important technology as mobile phones and the commercial aspect, advances in cellular technology aren't likely to translate into an old Vodafone GSM bedside monitor.

What is really at issue here is when the health provider unilaterally substitutes old style technology for face to face clinics.

Not once has the hospital asked me how I'm getting on with the new way of working.

When you have a heart condition, it's with you every day and the hospital has done their best to remote themselves like the GP service.

A better approach might have been to introduce the remote monitoring once the pacemaker technology had caught up with the communication system.

Combine a now old device (PM) with an iffy communication system then turn round and tell patients that they will now only contact you when the results don't look right is hardly working in the patient's physical and psychological interest.

I can't help but suspect that someone went through a list of patients and on the basis of some unknown criteria, decided who could make do without face to face 

Having worked with introducing new technology and ways of working, the last thing you do is dump it on people without first explaining it and then continually follow it up afterwards.

Bear in mind, MCL does nothing to monitor me in an active way, and I have a nasty feeling that if something bad happened, I would be strictly on my own.

What is really going on is the NHS stretching resources as far as they can.