A mobile app for improving the compliance with remote management of patients with cardiac implantable devices: a multicenter evaluation in clinical practice

Abstract

Background The remote device management (RM) is recommended for patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). RM underutilization is frequently driven by the lack of correct system activation. The MyLATITUDE Patient App (Boston Scientific) has been developed to encourage patient compliance with RM by providing information on communicator setup, troubleshooting, and connection status of the communicator. Methods At 14 centers, patients with CIEDs were invited to download and install the App on a mobile device. After 3 months, patients were asked to complete an ad hoc questionnaire to evaluate their experience. Results The App was proposed to 242 consecutive patients: 81 before RM activation, and 161 during follow-up. The App was successfully installed by 177 (73%) patients. The time required for activation of the communicator and the need for additional support were similar between patients who followed the indications provided by the App and those who underwent standard in-clinic training. During follow-up, notifications of lack of connection were received by 20 (11%) patients and missed transmission by 22 (12%). The median time from notification to resolution was 2 days. After 3 months, 175 (99%) communicators of the 177 patients who installed the App were in “Monitored” status versus 113 (94%) of 120 patients without the App installed (p=0.033). The use of the app made 84% of patients feel reassured. Conclusions The App was well accepted by CIED patients and offered support for communicator management and installation. Its use enabled patients to remain connected with greater continuity during follow-up.

HeartLogic™: real-world data—efficiency, resource consumption, and workflow optimization

“…Moreover, replacing in-office visit with RM requires a cultural change from physicians and co-workers, who are forced to create different relational modalities with the patient and a new organizational model. 17 The organizational model for RM endorsed by current guidelines, the ‘primary nursing model’ is based on the dynamic interaction between a nurse/technician and a physician. The nurse/technician should educate the patient and its caregivers, activate RM, review daily alerts and transmissions, and report significant transmission to the physician ( Figure 1 ).…”