Use of Remote Monitoring to Improve Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure: A Pilot Trial

• Published in: International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications 2010-01, Vol.2010 (2010), p.121-127
• Main Authors: Watson, Alice J., Halpern, Elkan F., Goyal, Abhinav, Kvedar, Joseph C., Kulshreshtha, Ambar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Blood pressure; Data collection; Health care policy; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Mortality; Patient satisfaction; Public health; Womens health
• ISSN: 1687-6415; 1687-6423
• DOI: 10.1155/2010/870959

Remote monitoring (RM) of homebound heart failure (HF) patients has previously been shown to reduce hospital admissions. We conducted a pilot trial of ambulatory, non-homebound patients recently hospitalized for HF to determine whether RM could be successfully implemented in the ambulatory setting. Eligible patients from Massachusetts General Hospital (n=150) were randomized to a control group (n=68) or to a group that was offered RM (n=82). The participants transmitted vital signs data to a nurse who coordinated care with the physician over the course of the 6-month study. Participants in the RM program had a lower all-cause per person readmission rate (mean=0.64, SD±0.87) compared to the usual care group (mean=0.73, SD±1.51; P-value=.75) although the difference was not statistically significant. HF-related readmission rate was similarly reduced in participants. This pilot study demonstrates that RM can be successfully implemented in non-homebound HF patients and may reduce readmission rates.