Coronavirus accelerating innovations with novel virtual clinic for patients with cardiac implant devices
Cardiac scientists at Barts Health NHS Trust have established a novel virtual clinic for newly implanted devices, such as pacemakers and defibrillators, during the coronavirus pandemic.
The team at St Bartholomew’s Hospital is one of the first in the country to have cardiac scientists review the performance of implants remotely, to help keep both staff and patients safe during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Patients with implants are at higher risk of life-threatening arrhythmias and have cardiac devices inserted into the heart to prevent them from occurring.
Patients of all ages can have cardiac devices fitted, but it is more common amongst people in their 70s or 80s, a group who are at increased risk during the pandemic.
Patients staying at home allows them to self-isolate effectively without having to use transport or travel to a hospital environment. Combining this with remote access allows cardiac scientists to themselves work from home to conduct the clinic, minimising the risk of staff also contracting the virus.
The new monitoring system involves the patient sending a picture of their implant scar to the device clinic, which is then followed up with a phone or online consultation between the patient and cardiac scientist to discuss their device.
The implanted wires and battery are reviewed with modern automatic tests and any arrhythmia that may have occurred can be easily detected through data downloaded from the device.
During the consultation, advice on leading a healthy lifestyle is also given to make life with the device safe and as easy as possible.
The programme, which has changed to a virtual clinic due to the coronavirus outbreak, previously saw patients visiting the outpatient unit at St Bartholomew’s Hospital to have their new implanted device checked after four-six weeks.
Chris Monkhouse, cardiac scientist and clinical lead for devices at Barts Heart Centre at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, said: “A silver-lining of the coronavirus crisis is that clinicians are pioneering and revolutionising new methods of delivering world-class healthcare to keep our patients and clinicians safe.
“The pandemic has potentially transformed the way in which these clinics are carried out in the future, and how we deliver care to our patients at St Bartholomew’s.
“It reduces the time and cost of these appointments without undermining excellent care for our patients.”