Category Archives: Cardiology

CB cardiologist facing sex crimes with 10-year-old appears in court – Port City Daily

CAROLINA BEACH A local doctor charged with first-degree sex offense and indecent liberties with a child appeared virtually in court Monday.

READ MORE: Local cardiologist, nonprofit founder arrested for sex crimes with a minor

Damian Alexander Brezinkski, 61, was arrested Friday, May 3, at his practice, Island Cardiology on Pleasure Island, for an incident that allegedly happened April 17. He is being held at the New Hanover County Detention Center under a $1.5 million bond.

Brezinksi was arrested on two felonies of sex offenses with a juvenile that, according to arrest warrants, is 10 years old.

First degree statutory sex offense, by state statute, is when a perpetrator at least 12 years old and four years older than the victim engages in a sex offense with someone under the age of 13. It carries a144 months to life imprisonment sentence, if found guilty.

Indecent liberties with a child refers to incidents when a person over 16 years of age and at least five years older than the victim takes immoral liberties with someone under 16 for the purpose of arousal and meeting sexual desire. Its a Class F felony, which means anyone found guilty may face a maximum sentence of 59 months imprisonment and potential fines.

Documents show Brezinski must go under electronic house arrest and surrender his passport if he makes bond. It was determined by Judge Noecker on his arrest date.

It also mandates Brezinski have no contact with any minor children, nor with the victim or victims family.

He was required to turn in a DNA sample under state statue 15A266.3A.

Tips or comments? Emailinfo@localdailymedia.com.

Want to read more from PCD? Subscribenowand then sign up for our morning newsletter,Wilmington Wire, and get the headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.

Read the original here:

CB cardiologist facing sex crimes with 10-year-old appears in court - Port City Daily

Cardiologists want better data on how legal marijuana will impact heart health in the US – Cardiovascular Business

Rezkalla and Kloner did note that marijuana use has been linked to certain health benefits. However, they added, it has also been associated with a variety of cardiovascular complications, including myocardial infarction, stroke and congestive heart failure. With recreational marijuana use now legal in approximately half of the country, should cardiologists expect the number of patients presenting with these adverse events to increase dramatically?

Many studies have indicated an increase in cardiovascular events, and some indicated an increase in mortality, in people who use marijuana, Rezkalla and Kloner wrote. An important question is, did legalization of marijuana in any states cause an increase in cardiovascular events and/or mortality?

Overall, the duo concluded, there is an urgent need for the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies to step forward and fund studies that can provide some definitive answers. Learning more about the cardiovascular impact of marijuana legislation will benefit the general public and it may even help influence future policies and industry guidelines.

Click here to read the full manuscript in Cardiology Research.

Visit link:

Cardiologists want better data on how legal marijuana will impact heart health in the US - Cardiovascular Business

Cardiologist charged with 9 more sex crimes as police search his home and private practice – Cardiovascular Business

A cardiologist in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, is now facing additional charges for allegedly raping a 10-year-old child.

Damian Brezinski, 61, was originally arrested on May 3. At the time, he was charged with indecent liberties with a child and first-degree statutory sexual offense.

According to new reporting from WECT, a local television station based out of Wilmington, North Carolina, Brezinski has now been charged with nine additional counts, including the rape of a child by an adult offender and the solicitation of a child by computer.

Brezinskis judge raised his bond from $1.5 million to $5 million after the new charges were announced. The judge also said Brezinski could face life in prison without parole if convicted.

WECT obtained copies of multiple search warrants related to the case, revealing new details. Those warrants allowed investigators to search Brezinskis home, cars and even his private practice, Island Cardiology, for evidence.

Click the link below for the full story:

More here:

Cardiologist charged with 9 more sex crimes as police search his home and private practice - Cardiovascular Business

Applications of Nanotechnology in the Field of Cardiology – Cureus

Specialty

Please choose I'm not a medical professional. Allergy and Immunology Anatomy Anesthesiology Cardiac/Thoracic/Vascular Surgery Cardiology Critical Care Dentistry Dermatology Diabetes and Endocrinology Emergency Medicine Epidemiology and Public Health Family Medicine Forensic Medicine Gastroenterology General Practice Genetics Geriatrics Health Policy Hematology HIV/AIDS Hospital-based Medicine I'm not a medical professional. Infectious Disease Integrative/Complementary Medicine Internal Medicine Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Medical Education and Simulation Medical Physics Medical Student Nephrology Neurological Surgery Neurology Nuclear Medicine Nutrition Obstetrics and Gynecology Occupational Health Oncology Ophthalmology Optometry Oral Medicine Orthopaedics Osteopathic Medicine Otolaryngology Pain Management Palliative Care Pathology Pediatrics Pediatric Surgery Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Plastic Surgery Podiatry Preventive Medicine Psychiatry Psychology Pulmonology Radiation Oncology Radiology Rheumatology Substance Use and Addiction Surgery Therapeutics Trauma Urology Miscellaneous

Visit link:

Applications of Nanotechnology in the Field of Cardiology - Cureus

Tri-City Cardiology’s Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Leads the Way in Revolutionizing Heart Failure Management – PR Newswire

MESA, Ariz., April 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --In the ongoing battle against heart failure, continuous monitoring stands as a beacon of hope. Among the array of innovative solutions, the CardioMEMS HF System shines brightly, offering a groundbreaking approach to managing this debilitating condition. Imagine a world where patients can receive crucial heart failure management in the comfort of an outpatient setting, such as an Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC). This vision is now a reality, with Tri-City Cardiology's ASC at the forefront of this medical revolution. Access to cutting-edge technology is key in reshaping the landscape of heart failure management. The CardioMEMS HF System embodies this shift, offering a minimally invasive procedure that provides real-time monitoring of pulmonary artery pressurea vital metric in tracking heart failure progression.

Notably, while this technology has been available in hospital settings, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recognition to perform these procedures at our ASC marks a significant advancement in accessibility and convenience for patients.At Tri-City Cardiology's ASC, patients can now undergo this procedure with ease, thanks to its streamlined approach and expertise in outpatient care. Being one of the first ASCs selected to perform this procedure, Tri-City Cardiology demonstrates its commitment to innovation and patient-centered care. Once implanted, the CardioMEMS sensor seamlessly transmits data to healthcare providers, empowering them to monitor patients remotely and make timely interventions. This proactive monitoring enables early detection of changes in pulmonary artery pressure, allowing for personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient's needs. The benefits of CardioMEMS extend beyond early detection; they encompass a clinically proven improvement in quality of life. By preventing heart failure exacerbations and reducing hospitalizations, patients can experience fewer symptoms and regain a sense of independence and mobility. Moreover, the integration of CardioMEMS into mainstream healthcare practices holds the promise of significant cost savings by minimizing the need for emergency interventions and hospitalizations.

Tri-City Cardiology's ASC serves as a pioneer in advancing cardiac care, integrating innovative technologies like CardioMEMS into outpatient settings. As technology continues to advance, such initiatives herald a brighter and healthier future for individuals battling heart failure. In the journey towards better heart failure management, the CardioMEMS HF System represents not just a milestone, but a paradigm shift. With Tri-City Cardiology, patients can rest assured knowing that they are receiving the most advanced and personalized care available, right in their own community.

About Tri-City Surgical Centers and Tri-City Cardiology

In 2022, the Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) opened, offering a wide range of services, including the latest innovations in heart failure management. Tri-City Surgical Centers is a modern, free-standing, state-of-the-art ambulatory surgical center designed to help patients receive quality care outside of the traditional hospital setting, allowing Tri-City Cardiologists to complete the continuum of care for our patients while offering a multitude of additional benefits.

Tri-City Surgical Centers allows patients to be seen quicker with a more predictable schedule and in some cases lower cost. The center offers many out-patient surgical procedures including pacemaker and defibrillator insertion, replacement, loop recorder insertion, heart catheterizations, cardiac angioplasty, cardiac stenting, and peripheral angiograms and interventions.

Established in 1979, Tri-City Cardiology is widely known for its progressive and innovative approach to heart and vascular services. Tri-City Cardiology consists of 27 board-certified physicians coming from some of the top medical universities and fellowship programs in the country. We provide comprehensive services, including medical cardiology, diagnostic testing, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, peripheral vascular testing, medical imaging, vein center, and disease management clinics (heart failure, anticoagulation, and device). Tri-City Cardiology has multiple office locations in the Phoenix Metropolitan area and has affiliations with both Banner and Dignity Hospital Facilities for inpatient services.

For more information, visit: Tri-City Surgical Centers - Tri City Cardiology Consultants Heart & Vascular Care in Phoenix, AZ | Tri City Cardiology CardioMEMS HF System Procedure Overview | Abbott (cardiovascular.abbott) CardioMEMS HF System Animated Implant Procedure Overview (youtube.com)

Contact: Mark Chkeiban Phone: 480-505-5279 [emailprotected]

SOURCE Tri-City Cardiology

Here is the original post:

Tri-City Cardiology's Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Leads the Way in Revolutionizing Heart Failure Management - PR Newswire

Watchdog group calls out risks associated with private equity in cardiology, other specialties – Cardiovascular Business

Lets call out private equitys abuse for what it is: legal looting, she said. The Private Equity Stakeholder Projects new state risk index is a razor-sharp tool in the fight to hold private equity accountable. Together, were taking on this trillion-dollar, behemoth industry thats hurting working people and sucking money out of the rest of the economy.

By providing transparent data on the risks associated with private equity investments, we empower communities, working families, and policymakers to advocate for change and protect their states from the threats posed by unchecked private equity firms, added Chris Noble, PESP policy director. This is an important step toward mitigating the risk and tangible harms wrought by private equity across the county.

The rise of PE continues to be one of the biggest trends in all of healthcare, and its presence in cardiology seems to be growing by the day. Cardiovascular Associates of America, Cardiovascular Logistics and other PE-backed cardiology management groups are acquiring more and more practices, and the trend has shown no signs of slowing down.

A recent survey found that a majority of physicians have a negative opinion about the rise of PE in cardiology, radiology and other healthcare specialties. Just last month, thousands of U.S. physicians united to launch a new Coalition for Patient-Centered Care.

In addition, the increasing influence of PE was one of the biggest topics at ACC.24, the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology (ACC). ACC.24 focused on the business of cardiology much more than previous ACC meetings, in part as a response to ongoing trends cardiologists are witnessing throughout the country.

Read the original:

Watchdog group calls out risks associated with private equity in cardiology, other specialties - Cardiovascular Business

Heart health: Cardiologist shares impact of advanced wearable technology on patient monitoring – News9 LIVE

Women are more damaged mentally and should be targeted for more assistance. (Photo credit: Pexels)

New Delhi: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death in India. Heart disease remains a significant health burden across the globe. The risk factors of heart disease include poor lifestyle habits, smoking, alcohol consumption and more. The rising incidences in cases have led to the development and advancement of technology for cardiac treatments. Among these is the advanced wearable technology for patient monitoring but do they really create an impact?

Dr Keshava R, Senior Director, Interventional Cardiology, Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road, Bengaluru told News9, In recent years, the integration of cutting-edge wearable technology into the field of cardiology has ushered in a new era of patient monitoring and care. Among the array of innovative devices, a groundbreaking wearable medical device has emerged as a beacon of progress, offering continuous, non-invasive monitoring of heart arrhythmias.

Continuous Monitoring of Heart Arrhythmias

Equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and sophisticated algorithms, the wearable medical device excels in detecting various heart arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation (AF), bradycardia, tachycardia, premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), pause, and long QT syndrome. Dr R said, Unlike conventional ECG devices, this device provides continuous monitoring, enabling the timely identification and intervention of potentially life-threatening arrhythmias. Clinical studies highlight its exceptional sensitivity and specificity in detecting AF, outperforming traditional ECG methods.

Comprehensive Health Monitoring

The watch goes beyond arrhythmia detection, offering a comprehensive suite of features catering to diverse cardiology patient needs. It continuously monitors heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and core temperature, providing valuable insights into overall health and well-being. This holistic approach allows healthcare providers to obtain a more nuanced understanding of patients cardiovascular health.

User-Friendly Interface and Data Integration

According to Dr R, The user-friendly interface of the wearable medical device, coupled with seamless data integration with healthcare providers, empowers patients to actively participate in managing their cardiovascular health. Real-time and historical data are easily accessible, enabling patients to identify patterns, monitor trends, and share progress with their healthcare team. This collaborative approach fosters a more engaged and informed patient population.

Future Prospects and Ongoing Research

As technology evolves, the potential of this groundbreaking wearable medical device is set to expand further. Ongoing research and development may lead to the incorporation of advanced features such as blood pressure monitoring, sleep apnea detection, and stress assessment. The device has the potential to transform into a comprehensive cardiovascular health monitoring system, providing a holistic view of an individuals well-being.

Various devices like wearable watches and other devices are available with different sensitivity and specificity for various arrhythmias. The devices are improving in leaps and bounds with the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning every year.

Follow us on social media

Continue reading here:

Heart health: Cardiologist shares impact of advanced wearable technology on patient monitoring - News9 LIVE

TAVR Found Non-Inferior to SAVR for Low-Risk Patients – Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology

April 11, 2024 Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was found to bring no increased risks and was associated with substantial decreased rates of death or stroke at one year in lowrisk patients, compared with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), according to findings presented at the American College of Cardiologys Annual Scientific Session.

TAVR and SAVR are procedures to replace a damaged aortic valve that is not functioning properly. U.S. guidelines recommend TAVR, a catheter-based approach in which the new valve is threaded to the heart through a blood vessel in the groin or chest, over open-heart SAVR for older patients and those with high cardiovascular risk. However, previous studies and different countries guidelines have varied when it comes to determining the optimal approach for younger and lower-risk patients.

We can now provide strong data that in this low-risk patient population, you could very safely offer TAVR vs. SAVR, said Moritz Seiffert, MD, professor of cardiology at BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr University Bochum in Bochum, Germany, and one of the study authors. TAVR is less invasive; its usually performed under local anesthesia, lasting 30-60 minutes, and the convalescence is shorter than with open chest surgery. [These findings offer] a strong argument toward catheter-based treatment, at least for the one-year timeframe of this study, in these patients.

The DEDICATE-DZHK6 trial compared TAVR vs. SAVR in 1,414 patients who underwent valve replacement procedures at 38 centers in Germany.

All patients enrolled in the trial were eligible for either TAVR or SAVR and had similar characteristics in terms of the severity of aortic stenosis (narrowing of the valve which makes it harder for blood to flow efficiently) and a similar balance of risks and benefits expected with either type of procedure. Patients with bicuspid valves, previous heart surgery or additional coronary or valvular diseases requiring further treatment were excluded. The average age of participants was 74 years and 43% were women.

Researchers randomly assigned half of the participants to undergo TAVR and the other half to SAVR. Since the trial was intended to mirror real-world conditions, many decisions were left to the local heart teams at each study site, rather than strict predetermined study protocols. Local interdisciplinary heart teams determined which patients were eligible to participate in the study based on broad inclusion criteria. Operators selected which replacement valve to use and followed their own centers standard practices for performing the procedures.

The co-primary safety endpoint was designed to assess whether TAVR was non-inferior to SAVR as indicated by an absolute increase of no more than 1% in the composite rate of death or stroke at one year. The trial met this endpoint, showing that people who underwent TAVR were 47% less likely than those undergoing SAVR to experience death or stroke at one year. Event rates for several secondary endpoints, including all-cause death or disabling stroke, were also significantly lower in patients undergoing TAVR compared with those undergoing SAVR at one year.

Although we primarily tested for non-inferiority, the magnitude of the difference surprised us, Seiffert said. Valve prosthesis selection based on individual patients anatomical and medical considerations may have played a role. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic might have amplified the surgical risk. In fact, the relative difference was comparable to previous studies, but the overall higher event rates and larger patient population may have led to these significant results.

Researchers plan to further investigate some factors that set the trial apart from previous studies and may have contributed to the substantially reduced risk in the TAVR group, including the relatively high proportion of females in the study group. The data were consistent among the subgroups tested so far.

Overall, researchers said that the findings are likely generalizable to patient populations and health care environments across many developed countries.

What it really adds to previous trials is that it mirrors clinical routine, Seiffert said. Its completely industry independent, not focused on one particular device but comparing a catheter-based strategy to a surgical strategy overall. That makes it more applicable and aligned with the types of decisions physicians are making in their daily medical work.

The researchers will continue to track outcomes for at least five years. Future analyses will include additional metrics for assessing clinical superiority as well as quality of life outcomes. In addition, researchers plan to examine whether certain subgroups appear to derive specific risks or benefits from one approach or the other.

The study was funded by German Center for Cardiovascular Research with financial support by the German Heart Foundation. This study was simultaneously published online in the New England Journal of Medicine at the time of presentation.

For more information:www.acc.org

Find more ACC24 conference coverage here

See the original post here:

TAVR Found Non-Inferior to SAVR for Low-Risk Patients - Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology

Telemedicine Strategy After MI Scores a Win in TELE-ACS – TCTMD

ATLANTA, GAA telemedicine-based approach to care after acute coronary syndromes can reduce readmissions to the hospital, visits to the emergency department (ED), and the rates of stroke and MI, according to results from the randomized TELE-ACS trial. Notably, use of the management strategy also was linked a reduction in patient-reported symptoms.

MI remains one of the leading causes of mortality in the UK despite cutting-edge medical and interventional therapies, said Nasser S. Alshahrani, MSc (Imperial College London, England, and King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia), presenting the data at the recent American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2024 Scientific Session. Moreover, around 10% of patients return to the hospital within 30 days of their event.

TELE-ACS, said Alshahrani, was designed to see if a novel telemonitoring system-based algorithm would reduce hospital readmissions for patients post-ACS by using well-validated technologies coupled with an urgent remote consultation with a cardiologist.

One question at the outset was whether the remote monitoring would provide enough information to guarantee clinicians could effectively assess patients without necessitating a face-to-face encounter, he said. The results, simultaneously published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, suggest the answer to that is yes.

ACC President Cathleen Biga, MSN, RN (Cardiovascular Management of Illinois, Woodridge), said she was struck by this trial and others at the meeting that focused on transformation of care delivery. So much of medicine has evolved, yet our quality hasnt gotten better, Biga commented. We have got to figure out a different way of caring for our patients because our MI readmission rate, our 30-day mortality after an acute coronary syndrome, the needle isnt moving. So what are we going to do differently to help move that needle?

Biga said the TELE-ACS trial speaks to the possibilities that a remote approach could continue to offer MI patients in todays practice.

The COVID-19 pandemic abruptly upended care back in 2020, Biga pointed out. We went completely telehealth in 12 hours, . . . before we opened our office that Monday. We changed in a nanosecond. Then, as the world grew more used to the virus, we went right back to packed waiting rooms [and] in-person visits, she noted.

Telemedicine vs Usual Care

Alshahrani and colleagues analyzed data for 337 patients (mean age 58.1 years; 86% male; 46% white) with at least one cardiovascular risk factor who had been hospitalized with ACS between January 2022 and April 2023. Three-quarters had hypercholesterolemia, nearly 60% were smokers or had a history of smoking, around half had hypertension, four in 10 had a family history of CAD, and a little more than a quarter had diabetes.

Prior to discharge, the patients were randomized to receive either telemedicine-based or standard care; to participate, they had to have access to a smartphone or other smart device.

In the intervention group, patients received a telemonitoring package consisting of a 12-lead ECG belt (SHL SmartHeart; SHL Telemedicine), an automated blood-pressure monitor (Omron Basic M2; Omron Corporation), and a pulse oximeter (Kinetik Wellbeing), as well as training in how to use the devices. They also received follow-up phone calls for training at 2, 4, and 8 weeks.

When these patients felt symptoms they thought were potentially cardiac, they used their telemonitoring tools, with the details transmitted to a cardiologist. The cardiologist performed remote clinical assessment and then triaged patients to receive either reassurance with clinical follow-up as previously planned or advice to contact their general practitioner, go to the ED for further testing, or call emergency services. Cardiologists based their decision-making on an algorithm that categorized symptoms and clinical parameters. Remote consultations were available from 7 AM to 11 PM on weekdays; outside of these time frames, or if they didnt hear from a cardiologist within 15 minutes of reporting their symptoms, patients were meant to seek medical advice through the usual clinical pathways.

In the control arm, patients sought medical advice through the usual pathways and received standard routine clinical care, with remote, phone-based follow-up at 3, 6, and 9 months.

We have got to figure out a different way of caring for our patients, because . . . the needle isnt moving. Cathleen Biga

Study participants made a total of 169 calls, 64% of them during the active hours on weekdays. Reported symptoms were most often chest pain/discomfort, followed by palpitations and general weakness.

Of the 108 calls during the active hours, 54.6% resulted in patients receiving reassurance. Another 26.9% were advised to visit their general practitioner, 13.9% told to visit the ED, and 4.62% recommended to call emergency services.

By 6-month follow-up, there were 20 readmissions with telemedicine and 50 with standard care. Thus, the time to readmission (primary endpoint) was reduced with the remote strategy, as were visits to the ED and MIs. Stroke trended lower, though the rate of all-cause death was identical in the two groups.

Six-Month Outcomes in ACS Patients

Telemedicine

Control

HR (95% CI)

Readmission

8%

29%

0.24 (0.13-0.44)

ED Visit

24%

37%

0.59 (0.40-0.89)

MI

7%

22%

0.27 (0.14-0.53)

Stroke

2%

5%

0.38 (0.10-1.42)

All-Cause Death

1.2%

1.2%

1.03 (0.15-7.31)

Moreover, patients in the telemedicine group had fewer unplanned coronary revascularizations than did controls (3% vs 9%) and were less likely to report chest pain (9% vs 24%), breathlessness (21% vs 39%), and dizziness (6% vs 18%).

Telemonitoring in the active study arm ceased at 6 months. Notably, though, the initial effect between 0 to 6 [months] was large enough to leave a legacy effect up to 9 months, Alshahrani said.

At 9-month follow-up, hospital readmissions still were less common with the intervention than with usual care (HR 0.35; 95% CI 0.21-0.59). So, too, were visits to the emergency department (HR 0.66; 95% CI 0.46-0.94) and the rate of invasive coronary angiography and/or angioplasty (4% vs 10%; P= 0.03). However, there was no longer a difference in symptoms between the two groups.

Alshahrani, in his presentation, cited several limitations to their study. Among them were its predominately male population, the potential for recall bias due to retrospective collection of symptom data, and the fact that participants were required to have access to a smartphone.

Additionally, the high level of support for the telemedicine group, with prompt cardiology responses, may be challenging to replicate outside a trial setting, requiring significant investment and training, he continued, while technological barriers and infrastructure requirements may pose some obstacles to implementation. . . . Further studies need to establish the feasibility of implementation in different healthcare systems.

We were surprised by the large effect. Nasser S. Alshahrani

Malissa Wood, MD (Lee Health Heart Institute, Fort Myers, FL), discussant for the TELE-ACS results, highlighted the decrease in MI with monitoring. Do you think the intervention was related to that, as far as the patients knowing that they were being monitored or that they could reach out to someone? Did you look at any psychosocial variables to see if that reduced stress, anxiety, or depression in that population that may have been related to that reduction in myocardial infarction?

We were surprised by the large effect, and it could be because of the high level of support that we delivered and also the patient education on symptoms at the point of contact and then at regular intervals thereafter, Alshahrani explained. It could be the Hawthorne effect: when the patient is monitored, they tend to change their behavior.

For ease of use, Wood suggested that going forward it would be good to have a device that incorporates all three measurementsoxygen saturation, blood pressure, and ECG readingsso you dont have the patient having to [use] all these different devices to transmit data.

Biga, speaking with TCTMD, said that much of the positive impact in TELE-ACS may come from the fact that telemedicine offered a way to connect regularly with a human touch, albeit remote, that was reassuring but also offered practical advice and constant education. This can be valuable for patients feeling overwhelmed by the intricacies of their care after discharge, she said.

As Biga noted, the challenge lies in how to implement the strategy. Patients may prefer to call their own doctors office over a less-familiar hotline, and any added personnel or other resources to handle these calls must be paid for. The most convenient, cost-effective option going forward might be third-party companies to streamline remote monitoring, she added, so the practices dont carry the burden, because the payment from [Medicare for] remote patient monitoring isnt going to begin to cover the cost of that: you have the equipment and the intellectual property.

Scaling up is tricky, especially with the tsunami of data, Biga stressed. In just one of her practices, Biga said, 900 patients are seen a daymore than five times the number of participants in the intervention arm of TELE-ACS. The real-world math is daunting, she pointed out. How many MIs do I have a month? Can I get them all hooked up and compliant and have the staff to analyze that data?

Read the original:

Telemedicine Strategy After MI Scores a Win in TELE-ACS - TCTMD