Remote monitoring (also called remote device monitoring) is a technology that allows implanted cardiac devices such as ICDs, pacemakers, and CRT devices to transmit data from the patient’s home to the device clinic without requiring a visit. A bedside communicator receives nightly transmissions from the device and sends them securely to the clinical team via a dedicated network.
The data transmitted includes any arrhythmia episodes detected, therapies delivered (shocks or anti-tachycardia pacing), device battery status, and lead performance measurements. The clinical team reviews alerts automatically generated for any clinically significant findings. This allows problems to be identified and addressed much earlier than would be possible with routine annual or six-monthly clinic reviews.
Remote monitoring is now standard of care for most ICD and CRT recipients in the UK, and studies have shown it reduces unnecessary clinic visits, improves patient safety, and may reduce mortality in ICD recipients. Patients are typically provided with a communicator at the time of device implantation and receive instructions on how to set it up. See also [Remote Device Monitoring](/glossary/remote-device-monitoring/) for a full description of how the system works in practice.
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