Remote Physiological Monitoring: Innovation in the Management of Heart Failure
July 2004 (view document 1.5MB)

Heart disease may well be known as the leading cause of death in the United States. But perhaps less well known is the fact that heart failure itself is a primary reason for those fatalities. The prevalence of heart failure has grown by 500 percent over the past 30 years. And as the massive baby boomer generation continues to age and patients with heart diseases are living longer, it seems clear that the cost and burden to society could become catastrophic over the next decade.

NEHI’s report on remote physiological monitoring (RPM) analyzes one emerging technology that can assist providers in caring for this growing population. This report has found that RPM provides substantial benefits to the health care system by reducing the number of hospital visits, length of stay, and health care costs for heart failure patients, in addition to improving quality of life. The report also identifies significant barriers to widespread adoption of this valuable innovation including the uncertainty over future Medicare payment, clinician resistance, and the lack of patient awareness about the availability of RPM technology.

Heart Disease Is Costly

The American Heart Association estimates that the cost of cardiovascular diseases and stroke in the United States in 2000 will be $326.6 billion. This figure includes direct costs, such as physicians and other health professionals, hospital and nursing home services, medications and other medical durables, as well as the indirect costs of lost productivity.

Here's how those costs break out:

ECG is the N°1 method of diagnostic. In 2003, 63 million ECGs were recorded in the United States. The average growth rate is 3 % .

One of the key drivers is the growing demand for ECG monitoring equipment to have increased communication capabilities. Within the hospital market in particular, ECG monitoring systems are being networked across various hospital information systems to permit fast and reliable access to complete patient information. In the U.S., this trend is promoted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision in 2002, requiring all electrocardiograph data submitted to the agency, in support of drug applications, to follow digital format.

Similarly in Japan, much like the average consumer is comfortable with adaptations in technology, so is the medical professional. Throughout the healthcare continuum, physicians are striving hard to increase the efficiency in the acquisition, storage, and retrieval of ECG data. Additionally in Japan, there are new discussions about potential regulations that may require all end-users will need to have electronic storage of ECGs in the near future.

In Europe, a similar trend is noted. There is a drive to improve the accuracy of ECG monitoring systems, reduce errors, as well as improve overall efficiency, providing additional clinical capabilities that enhance workflow. Additionally, as hospitals consolidate to gain economies of scale, the demand for networked ECG monitoring equipment will continue to grow.