Picture this: You have a cardiac patient on their way to the hospital with all of the signs of a cardiac event. Even though the ambulance is only a few minutes away, the patient’s condition is deteriorating. The paramedic is taking every action that they can to help the patient. Unfortunately, by the time the patient makes it to the emergency room, you’re out of options.
What if you were able to intervene from the moment they loaded the patient into the ambulance? How many lives would you be able to save? With telecardiology services on the rise, cardiac patients can get an EKG from anywhere.
Continue reading to learn how telemedicine improves cardiac care.
What Is Telecardiology?
Telecardiology is a branch of telemedicine devoted to remote cardiovascular care. It makes it possible to treat heart conditions without making patients leave home. There are three components of telecardiology, including:
- Video conferencing
- Electronic medical records
- Digital cardiology devices
Video Conferences for Doctors and Their Patients
Telehealth is making it possible for specialist appointments to occur remotely through videoconferencing. These video conferences take place through:
- The doctor’s computer
- The patient’s camera-capable device
Doctors can even conference with each other through telemedicine to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Digital Access to Patient Records
Telemedicine also makes it easier to obtain patients’ medical records. When patient records are digital, the cardiologist can access all relevant medical data. This can be done through one source via HIPAA-compliant, cloud base technology.
This tech allows the doctor to gather medical data regarding the patient’s illness. With the information right in front of them, they can make their medical decision.
Telecardiology Equipment for Recording Patient Data
Rehabilitation is essential to the outcome of the patient’s health. This is especially true in the aftermath of a cardiac event. This might include congestive heart failure, cardiac arrest, or arrhythmia.
Only about one-third of patients follow through with the regimen for cardiac rehabilitation.
This means they might not make it to their follow-up appointments. Sure, it could be due to stubbornness, but it’s more likely that they don’t have transportation. As a result of telemedicine, transportation to and from appointments becomes a non-issue. This means that most patients are much happier to comply.
This is possible through the use of echocardiography (EKG) monitoring equipment, such as:
- 24 hour Holter monitors
- Transtelephonic pacemakers
The heart’s electrical impulses will record any irregularities. The data from the EKG gets stored on a device before it is transmitted to the cardiologist.
The cardiologist can make an educated, medical decision once they have:
- The patient’s medical file
- The patient’s test results
- The video appointment with the patient
Telecardiology in Action
Let’s take a look at the different applications of telecardiology in real-life. Telecardiology makes a huge difference in diagnosing and treating patients with heart problems. This includes before, during, and after a stay in the hospital for a cardiac-related event.
Pre-Hospital Telecardiology
Emergency medical services can utilize telecardiology equipment while transporting patients to the hospital in response to a cardiac event. This allows patients to get a 12-lead EKG while en route to the emergency room. The EKG results are then available immediately. They can be sent to the doctor to help diagnose the case quickly and efficiently.
In-Hospital Telecardiology
Telecardiology equipment acts as a link between small hospitals and their larger counterparts. The telecardiology equipment helps them communicate better. It also gives specialists access to the patient’s medical data in real-time.
Live video conferencing can help the medical team in a small hospital get answers from a specialist and take immediate action to save a patient’s life. This means that they can transport a heart patient to a larger facility equipped for taking on the cardiac rehabilitation process.
Post-Hospital Telecardiology
Telecardiology equipment allows general practitioners to video conference with a cardiac specialist. This helps to make sure they are all on the same page, in real-time, without having to wait for a response to an email or for reports to be sent up from the lab.
Telemedicine allows doctors to remotely monitor a cardiac patient’s progress after a cardiac event takes place via the real-time transmission of medical data from a 24 hour Holter monitor or a transtelephonic pacemaker. This means that the patient doesn’t have to worry about making it to a follow-up appointment and their doctors can focus on more serious cases.
The monitoring equipment can even aid in diagnosing a heart problem. The 24 hour Holter monitor can help identify palpitations. The transtelephonic pacemaker monitoring is more accurate. It will even notice:
- Sensors failing on the device
- Inaccurate use of the device
- That the pacemaker mode needs to be changed
As a result, the implantations of cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) implementation rate is increasing. This improves the rate of prevention for sudden cardiac deaths. An added benefit of this is that the patients prefer this method compared to missing class or work to go to their cardiology appointments.
Implementing Telecardiology Services
Modern technology is changing the way that medicine works. By implementing telecardiology services, you are improving how your patients are cared for.
At Specialist Direct, we help to ensure that your patients are getting the best care possible. We look forward to collaborating with you in your next step towards improving patient care. We can’t wait to help you provide top-notch care to your patients with cardiac diseases.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
