The Application of Telemetry in Heart Disease Management
Heart conditions such as coronary artery disease have become more common in the United States over the last several years because of a decline in the nutritional content of the food being consumed and the difficulty of incorporating daily exercise into an already busy schedule. Unfortunately, this trend has allowed heart disease to become one of the top contributors to chronic morbidity and mortality. While public health officials have begun developing new strategies for reversing the trend towards widespread heart failure, expanding technology has improved the way patients are evaluated and has resulted in treatment protocols that are more effective and that lead to better health outcomes for patients. A good example of a significant innovation in the management of heart disease is the use of telemetry to monitor the activity of the heart under resting and active conditions.
Telemetry is the process by which sensors are used to collect and transmit information to receivers over long distances. The technology was first used by the defense department as a means for collecting data about events that could impact the outcome of military operations and to improve the ability of different branches to communicate with each other. Over time, many other industries discovered new uses for these types of systems that enabled companies to enhance the way they gather and analyze data. Today, telemetry is used by the weather industry to keep track of seismic activity and other natural phenomena that could harm the population or destroy property. The technology is also used in the oil discovery industry, space exploration, healthcare, and much more.
The application of telemetric systems in the cardiovascular department demonstrates one of the most significant benefits that humans receive from the innovation. While the electrocardiogram and echocardiogram remain the first-line procedures for the evaluation of heart disease, telemetry plays an important part in cases where patients need to be observed over long periods of time in both resting and active states. In order to prepare patients for monitoring, sensors are placed on the chest in a similar fashion as is done for the standard electrocardiogram. A wireless transmitter is then turned on and begins broadcasting information about the electrical activity of the heart to the monitoring center.
Monitoring centers are designed using special computer hardware and software that is capable of receiving signals from many different transmitters at the same time. This capability allows medical personnel to keep tabs on several patients at once and improves the efficiency of the provision of care process. These computers are also able to translate the data they receive into tracings that display the waves and intervals associated with different phases of cardiac contraction. These tracings are essentially the same as those seen on an EKG, but they occur in real-time and provide a continuous feed. Most systems also include an alarm system that sounds when an abnormal rhythm occurs and when emergent intervention may be necessary.
Most healthcare establishments operating in the US allow nurses and technicians to share the responsibility for manning the monitoring center. For this reason, it is important for all cardiac care personnel to have a basic understanding of normal and abnormal heart patterns. In many cases, special training along with telemetry certification must be completed prior to working in the monitoring center. Individuals may also be employed in remote monitoring facilities that are known as virtual intensive care units. These units are located in office buildings across the country and employ a variety of medical personnel to monitor patients in many remote or underserved areas.
Telemetry represents a significant advancement in cardiac care because it improves the patient care experience and allows medical personnel to observe the activity of the heart under both resting and active circumstances. This information can provide insight that cannot be gained from traditional tests because some signs and symptoms only occur while the heart is being forced to work harder. The technology is also used in cases where a patient condition may be considered unstable. Overall, the addition of telemetry to the cardiac care unit represents an important step for ensuring high quality care and more informed diagnostic and treatment decisions.
Telemetry is the process by which sensors are used to collect and transmit information to receivers over long distances. The technology was first used by the defense department as a means for collecting data about events that could impact the outcome of military operations and to improve the ability of different branches to communicate with each other. Over time, many other industries discovered new uses for these types of systems that enabled companies to enhance the way they gather and analyze data. Today, telemetry is used by the weather industry to keep track of seismic activity and other natural phenomena that could harm the population or destroy property. The technology is also used in the oil discovery industry, space exploration, healthcare, and much more.
The application of telemetric systems in the cardiovascular department demonstrates one of the most significant benefits that humans receive from the innovation. While the electrocardiogram and echocardiogram remain the first-line procedures for the evaluation of heart disease, telemetry plays an important part in cases where patients need to be observed over long periods of time in both resting and active states. In order to prepare patients for monitoring, sensors are placed on the chest in a similar fashion as is done for the standard electrocardiogram. A wireless transmitter is then turned on and begins broadcasting information about the electrical activity of the heart to the monitoring center.
Monitoring centers are designed using special computer hardware and software that is capable of receiving signals from many different transmitters at the same time. This capability allows medical personnel to keep tabs on several patients at once and improves the efficiency of the provision of care process. These computers are also able to translate the data they receive into tracings that display the waves and intervals associated with different phases of cardiac contraction. These tracings are essentially the same as those seen on an EKG, but they occur in real-time and provide a continuous feed. Most systems also include an alarm system that sounds when an abnormal rhythm occurs and when emergent intervention may be necessary.
Most healthcare establishments operating in the US allow nurses and technicians to share the responsibility for manning the monitoring center. For this reason, it is important for all cardiac care personnel to have a basic understanding of normal and abnormal heart patterns. In many cases, special training along with telemetry certification must be completed prior to working in the monitoring center. Individuals may also be employed in remote monitoring facilities that are known as virtual intensive care units. These units are located in office buildings across the country and employ a variety of medical personnel to monitor patients in many remote or underserved areas.
Telemetry represents a significant advancement in cardiac care because it improves the patient care experience and allows medical personnel to observe the activity of the heart under both resting and active circumstances. This information can provide insight that cannot be gained from traditional tests because some signs and symptoms only occur while the heart is being forced to work harder. The technology is also used in cases where a patient condition may be considered unstable. Overall, the addition of telemetry to the cardiac care unit represents an important step for ensuring high quality care and more informed diagnostic and treatment decisions.