11th December 2024
A first-of-its-kind pilot scheme has launched in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, which allows patients to capture their heart data anytime, anywhere.
As part of this new roll out, patients who are being investigated for palpitations or atrial fibrillation will receive a remote mobile ECG (electrocardiogram) monitoring device, which allows them to check in on their heart at home and transmit real-time ECG data back to cardiology specialists to review their trace without them having to attend hospital.
Carolyn McMullan, Cardiology Nurse Specialist within the Ambulatory Cardiology Unit (ACU), said that this piece of equipment is a “gamechanger”.
“The devices are used in the investigation of palpitations, which can range from something quite insignificant risk, such as an awareness of one’s own heartbeat to something more serious such as atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular heart rhythm associated with an increased risk of stroke.
“These devices will allow us to detect irregular heart rhythm quickly and easily through these high-quality ECG readings that patients can record from the comfort of their own homes.”
Dr Neil McAleavey (Cardiology Specialist), Carolyn McMullan (Cardiology Nurse Specialist), Natalie Archer (Chief Clinical Physiologist) and Dr Jude Tweedie (Consultant Cardiologist).
Carolyn said the team will demonstrate to patients how to use it once they are assigned one.
“The back of the device is placed on the back of the patient’s knee or ankle and two fingers are then placed on each side at the front of the device when they are symptomatic. Patients then use an app on their Smart phone to record a 30 second heart trace. That recording is then sent via email to the ACU, where it is reviewed by a cardiology specialist who will track the patient’s heart rhythm, detect potential issues early and/or make timely interventions if required.
“This device avoids unnecessary Emergency Department attendances and allows early identification of more serious conditions, the treatment of which can lower the patients risk.”
The team have 36 devices available at any one time as part of this new groundbreaking remote ECG (electrocardiogram) monitoring programme.
The team were able to secure the devices through funding from the Trust’s Research and Development team who recently launched their own five-year plan which focuses on ensuring the health and wellbeing of people is positively impacted through the highest quality and innovative research.
Trudy Reid, Director of Medicine and Unscheduled Care, said:
“This is an excellent development, previously we would have had to bring these patients back to undergo ECGs in a clinical setting, so this has a significant role in freeing time and space in our hospitals whilst maintaining safety whilst improving outcomes for at-risk patients.
“We are thankful to the support and funding from our Research and Development team. Together we are committed to transforming healthcare through innovation and lead the way in the region in relation to remote cardiac monitoring.”