Remote Monitoring UK

I am coming up to the end of my Medtronics pacers useful battery life and the hospital has issued me with a Medtronic monitoring machine for me to use at home. Is this a new system for the UK pacer patients?
Peter
UK

6 Comments

Update

by PeterG - 2012-02-08 02:02:02

Hi Ian
I am a NHS receiver of the Medtronic pacer and was told by the technician that the clinic will tell me when to use the machine. I recall when I was first told that I wanted another pacer as the two fitted to me after cardiac surgery were not holding me up together that it could be one of three types used by the NHS and I asked for one that has good rfi suppression and I was told which ones they used. I picked the Medtronic as I was a radio ham and had stray rf around me at some times. Then the Medtronic being of US design they would be more aware of rf. so I am requesting another Medtronic when a replacement is to be fitted by the NHS. Not sure if they use any other types now. Any UK reader aware of what they use now. I am 100% paced at 60 night and day and occasionally I go astray and my heart goes into overdrive then the pacer really comes into its own.
Peter

Interesting

by IAN MC - 2012-02-08 02:02:23

Hi Peter I too have a Medtronics PM but have not had the possibility of home monitoring mentioned to me. I will ring Medtronics and ask them

Do you mind sending a post letting us know if it works OK; also is it to replace regular PM check-ups or do you have it just because your battery is reaching the end of its life ?? Perhaps someone from the US could clarify what home monitoring is all about.
Thanks

Ian

Care link?

by Heidiglassmeyer - 2012-02-09 01:02:46

I have a Medtronic PM, live in the US, and have a remote monitor that I've used since implant. It is called Carelink and I am on a scheduled every 3 months. It is a unit that I plug into my phone line, start it up, hold a monitor over my PM, just like during interrogations. It pulls a read from my PM, and reports the info to my EP. Is that similar to what they described? It saves me time in between my regular visits. If I recall, I had to pay for the unit up front through my insurance and then I pay a charge for my EP to review the reads so it really only saves my the drive to his office. Since I am paved 100% as well, I feel far ore comfortable knowing my battery life is being monitored frequently and when I start having any issues I am able to hook myself up, send in a read, and my EP can advise me what to do. It has saved me a couple of trips to the EP and sent me to the ER as well :)

Heidi

medtronlc carlink

by mick2203 - 2012-02-09 06:02:16

Hi All
I have a Carlink monitor and have had it almost from the start of having my pm in December 2009. It's been very useful and has meant less trips to clinic etc. I also get great reassuerance from having it. I can send a transmission over the phone along with an email to the clinic to advise them I have sent it and by the end of the same day I can get an email back advising me of results. I have also had a Medtronic reveal loop recorder for last. 18months and have a carelink transmitter for that aswell.

I am from the UK, the technicians at my hospital in Newcastle are extremely helpful after I have spent a great deal of effort building a relationship with them and showing a lot of respect and gratitude. They have responded to this positive stroking by treating me very well indeed. Wish I could say the same for more people I have to deal with in the medical profession especially the doctors.

Anyway I don't have any issues now with getting printouts etc, it does help if you can show a lot of interest and let them see you have taken the time to be able to understand some of the information that is contained in the reports.

Be friendly, be nice, show appreciation and you usually get better results.

Mick

update

by IAN MC - 2012-02-09 06:02:38

Hi Peter I telephoned Medtronic head office ( in Watford) and spoke to their Customer Services guy who wasn't particularly knowledgeable or helpful re their cardiac products but he did say that the home monitoring devices have been in the UK for some time ..he didn't know the basis on which they are allocated. I am writing to their cardiac marketing dept to get more info.

Heidi .. many thanks for explaining the Carelink home system and how it works in the US..it sounds good to me !

Best Wishes
Ian

Update

by PeterG - 2012-02-09 12:02:07

I did a web search and the UK NHS issued Medtronic Carelink Remote Pacemaker kit is exactly the same as the US. It was prescribed/issued by a NHS cardiac clinic in the UK. The accompanying paperwork tells me it sends its information to a pre programmed set up. I would also believe that when I have a new replacement pacer I will possibly have to hand it back as i would expect the pacemaker NHS check to be yearly for the first few years. The NHS Pacer clinic did make the comment that I would be seen annually even with the Carelink machine.
The only other jocular comment that has been made is I am living via windows software and when do I get updated . what happens when windows crashes etc etc crass jokes.
Peter

You know you're wired when...

Your old device becomes a paper weight for your desk.

Member Quotes

Yesterday was my first day mountain biking after my implant. I wiped out several times and everything is fine. There are sports after pacemakers!