In a recent survey from the American Medical Association (AMA), 85% of physician respondents indicated that they are currently using telehealth in their practices. 70% responded saying that their current organization plans to continue using telehealth in the future. From 2019 to 2020, the number of telehealth visits increased from 840,000 to 52.7 million. In 2022, telemedicine has become the norm for many providers and physicians across the various fields of healthcare.
Cardiology and Telehealth
Since the pandemic, the telehealth model has proved its effectiveness time and again. However, there are more possibilities for home health that have yet to be fully explored. The field of cardiology has long been one that requires an in-office visit. Traditional 12-lead ECG machines are bulky and require a trained staff member, nurse, or physician to ensure proper placement of all lead limbs.
Having the option to provide patients with a portable 12-lead ECG technology would provide tremendous benefits for providers, physicians, and patients alike. SmartHeart® is a portable 12-lead ECG device that can be used anywhere at any time. Using the intuitive SmartHeart® app, patients are guided through the proper lead placement and can quickly perform a 12-lead ECG with no help from a physician.
The Advantages of Remote Monitoring
Another underutilized benefit that telemedicine provides is the ability to monitor patients remotely. The AMA reports that only 8% of physicians were using remote patient monitoring in early 2022. In the past, pairing cardiology with remote monitoring has been a difficult prospect. Even with the advancement of 12-lead ECG technology, patients with heart problems have been required to visit an office or medical center to monitor hearth health.
SmartHeart® makes remote monitoring simple and efficient. When a patient or provider performs an ECG with SmartHeart®, a report is instantly sent to the appropriate physician for review. The SmartHeart® app and web platform also builds a patient profile, allowing providers to easily access and review ECG history for comparison. Having easy access to this baseline ECG can help to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, according to JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association).
The Cost Savings of the “Hospital at Home” Model
Serving patients from remote locations allows providers and physicians to reduce overall costs. In a recent study performed with SmartHeart®, a hospital at home program reduced total costs for providers by over 70% during a two-and-a-half-year span. This percentage was achieved by reducing the number of times required for physicians to properly review and address patient heart health and by reducing unnecessary readmissions for patients.
The financial savings of the hospital at home model are just the beginning. SmartHeart® also allows providers to perform more 12-lead ECGs and expand service offerings to increase overall revenue.
Benefits to the Patient
The hospital at home model provides many benefits for patients as well as providers. Compared to an in-office healthcare model, the benefits to patients include:
Patients gain both independence and convenience by reducing the number of trips to the hospital. Travel time plays a large role in many patients’ reluctance to visit a physician or provider. The hospital at home model also broadens the available network of specialists and physicians for patients. Now, a patient on the east coast can consult with a specialist on the west coast from the comfort of home.
Who Needs a 12-Lead ECG?
According to the CDC, 1 in every 5 deaths in the United States occurs due to heart disease. From myocardial infarctions to arrhythmias, a 12-lead ECG can detect previous occurrences and warn of potential new occurrences in patients with an established baseline. Even those with no symptoms of heart disease can still receive recommendations for an ECG screening, according to Mayo Clinic.
Many rural areas, such as those in the stroke belt, have extremely limited access to quality cardiac care. These areas have a 16% higher rate of death due to cardiovascular causes than any other area in the United States. For nearly 30 years, the rate of cardiovascular related deaths has not changed, despite advances in medical technology across the country. These rural areas are in desperate need of a portable 12-lead ECG technology that can provide fast, convenient cardiac care from the comfort of home.
SmartHeart® provides the technology to reach even those who have little to no access to quality cardiac healthcare. Providers can simply prescribe SmartHeart® to a patient and start receiving 12-lead ECG reports as soon as the patient gets home.
Remote cardiac monitoring is the future of cardiac care. SmartHeart® provides the portable 12-lead ECG technology needed to achieve it. Contact our team today to schedule a free demonstration and learn more about the SmartHeart® advantage.
Visit us at:
Or call:
1-866-745-8356