by Laura Van Heel RN, BSN, CCDS and Amber Seiler NP, FHRS.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare, remote monitoring of cardiac devices has emerged as a transformative technology. This has revolutionized the way patient care is delivered. However, amidst this technological advancement, the significance of staff retention cannot be overlooked. The dedicated and experienced healthcare professionals responsible for managing and interpreting the data generated by remote monitoring systems play a pivotal role in ensuring optimal patient outcomes. Consider the following real world scenario in which CV Remote Solutions partnered with a device clinic while increasing internal staff:

Real World Scenario

A clinic found itself constrained by limited staff due to a lack of retention. This was due to a considerable influx of heart failure patients, a significant backlog, and an overwhelming volume of daily remote monitoring cases. The clinic took a decisive step in January of 2022 by partnering with CVRS. This came after recognizing the critical need for frequent checks and optimal patient care. This strategic relationship paved the way for establishing robust processes, refining them through iterative trials, and ultimately developing a sustainable strategy tailored to the clinic’s requirements. A meticulous transition plan was devised to effectively manage the ever-increasing volume of transmissions, ensuring smooth operations and improved patient outcomes.

In the pursuit of optimizing their remote monitoring capabilities, the clinic embarked on a transformative journey. After 12 months of full support, the clinic was able to take charge of 50% of their device volume due to increases in internal staffing. Throughout the following 6 months, CV Remote Solutions continued to offer partial support and eventually the clinic’s internal team reached a point of readiness and competence. Then, they were capable of taking full ownership of all remote transmissions. This transition symbolized the culmination of their efforts, as they became self-reliant in handling all device transmissions. This ensured comprehensive care for their patients. It was a testament to their dedication and the successful collaboration with CVRS that enabled them to achieve this significant feat.

Clinic Collaboration

CV Remote Solutions and the clinic fostered a partnership that yielded remarkable results, ultimately maximizing the quality of care for each patient. The establishment and adoption of new alert protocols, designed with meticulous attention, showcased the shared commitment to delivering optimal patient outcomes. This successful relationship extended beyond alert protocols, encompassing the optimization of the device database, streamlining processes, and enhancing efficiency.

By prioritizing regular exchanges of insights, challenges, and best practices, the two teams worked together seamlessly to maintain a high standard of care for patients. As a testament to their joint efforts, the clinic experienced a substantial reduction in non-actionable remote transmissions. The data illustrates a consistent downward trend in non-actionable cases. January was at 60.9%, February at 63.9%, March at 58.9%, April at 54.4%, and May at 43.0%.

The clinic has successfully resumed full responsibility for the care of their patient population. They are confidently managing the volume of remote transmissions. While minor adjustments are continually being made, the overall processes run smoothly due to the foundation of close collaboration and effective communication. This achievement highlights the transformative power of this approach. It enables the seamless delivery of care and the realization of improved patient outcomes.