“A high-quality single lead EKG is enough to then make clinical decisions on drugs and devices. If the person or patient uses a wearable device that can record an ECG then this means that we can diagnosis and treat heart rhythm conditions more quickly and more accurately”
Dr Andrew Mitchell
Innovative telemedicine is needed now
This year especially, the need for the introduction of telemedicine for remote patient monitoring via accurate, portable technology has been highlighted to us all. Creating a hospital-at-home environment through the use of medically trusted, innovated, and efficient remote monitoring solutions is critical for vulnerable and anxious patients as well as providing support to the healthcare services.
The BHF carried out a survey of 167 cardiologists. Of these, 71% believed that people were afraid to visit hospital during lockdown from fear of being exposed to the virus. With EKG technology built into consumer wearables, it can provide a doctor with a complete picture of the patient’s heart health over a long period of time.
“The accurate and efficient monitoring of patients remotely before, during and after infection is crucial for reducing pressure on medical resources, prioritising and improving treatment, and ultimately saving lives.”
Cardiovascular Implications in Patients with COVID-19
The World Health Organisation cited telemedicine among the essential services in “strengthening the health systems response to COVID-19”.