Examination of the Effective Utilization of the CARELINK® Remote Monitoring System after its Introduction

• Published in: Journal of Arrhythmia Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 126 - 130
• Main Authors: Miyamoto, Satoshi, Nakano, Yukiko, MD, Okahara, Shigeyuki, Takahashi, Hidenobu, Matsuzaki, Hisayasu, Oda, Noboru, MD, Imai, Katsuhiko, MD, Sueda, Taijirou, MD, Kihara, Yasuki, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Japanese Heart Rhythm Society 01.01.2011; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Cardiovascular; Checklist; Implantable Devices; Monitoring systems; Patients; Remote Monitoring; Checklist; Remote Monitoring; Implantable Devices
• ISSN: 1880-4276; 1883-2148
• DOI: 10.1016/S1880-4276(11)80020-7

Abstract Background: Japan started using the CARELINK® (Medtronic, Inc, Minneapolis, MN, USA) remote monitoring system in April 2009. However, in some cases, the device failed to transmit a message after registration or according to schedule. We investigated the difference between patients who could make effective use of CARELINK® system and those who could not. Subjects and Method: Sixty patients who had registered until December 2009 at our institution were analyzed. These patients were divided into two groups: those who were able to use the device effectively (group G, n = 49) and those who were not (group F = 11). Patient background, automatic or manual telemetries, new or existing implant patient, presence of adverse events, and the use or non-use of a checklist at the time of introduction were compared between the two groups. Results: In group G, more patients used a checklist at the time of introduction than that in group F (use of checklist/total, 31/49 in group G vs. 3/11 in group F; P, 0.029). No significant difference was observed in other factors between the two groups. Conclusion: We consider that the method used to explain the system are important to make the patients understand handling methods of CARELINK® system. The number of patients introduced to remote monitoring of implantable devices will continue to increase in the future; therefore, we must continue to develop innovative approaches for their effective us.