On Nov. 17, the FDA approved the MyCareLink Smart Monitor, the first app-based remote monitoring system in the U.S. for patients with implantable pacemakers.

For three years, Carly Heyman visited numerous doctors, searching for answers on why she was feeling so sick. She spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours going from specialist to specialist, all of whom could not help her. Her symptoms persisted. 

Growth seeded the need for a dedicated PCI program at Saratoga Hospital that went live in January along with a complete technology overhaul: cath lab, echo, hemodynamic monitoring and a fully integrated cardiovascular information system. The PCI program, close to 100 interventions later, is considered a jewel of the county. It also is a model for other facilities needing a technology refresh.

Although the number of smartphone applications and wearable sensors has increased significantly in recent years, a group convened by the AHA found that research was lacking in terms of whether the applications or devices helped reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

A panel of experts recommended that remote monitoring become the standard of care for patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), according to a consensus statement from the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS). The statement was published online in Heart Rhythm on May 13.

Remember the brouhaha a few years back when techies demonstrated at a conference that they could hack into implantable medical devices such as pacemakers? Two of those security pioneers announced that they recruited two unnamed hospitals in the U.S. to beta test Wattsupdoc, an add-on kit that spots malware by monitoring AC power consumption.

Many states have endorsed the use of telemedicine with legislation that clarifies terms and reimbursement policies. The Texas Medical Board recently took a contrary position by tightening rules on what constitutes a patient-physician relationship, according to the New York Times.

He may personify your ideal patient, and your most challenging patient. Steve Keating’s vigilance and involvement in treatment for what turned out to be a brain tumor likely saved his life. He now advocates for patients to have access their medical records and share the data.