Work burden with remote monitoring of implantable cardioverter defibrillator:  is it time for reimbursement policies?
OBJECTIVE
The efficacy and accuracy, as well as patients' satisfaction, of device remote monitoring are well demonstrated. However, the workload of remote monitoring management has not been estimated and reimbursement schemes are currently unavailable in most European countries. This study evaluates the workload associated with remote monitoring systems.


METHODS
A total of 154 consecutive implantable cardioverter defibrillator patients (age 66±12 years; 86.5% men) with a remote monitoring system were enrolled. Data on the clinician's workload required for the management of the patients were analyzed.


RESULTS
A total of 1744 transmissions were received during a mean follow-up of 15.3±12.4 months. Median number of transmissions per patient was 11.3. There were 993 event-free transmissions, whereas 638 transmissions regarded one or more events (113 missed transmissions, 141 atrial events, 132 ventricular episodes, 299 heart failure-related transmissions, 14 transmissions regarding lead malfunction and 164 transmissions related to other events). In 402 cases telephonic contact was necessary, whereas in 68 cases an in-clinic visit was necessary and in 23 of them an in-clinic visit was prompted by the manufacturer due to technical issues of the transmitter. During follow-up, 316 work hours were required to manage the enrolled patients. Each month, a total of 14.9 h were spent on the remote monitoring of 154 patients (9.7 h for 100 patients monthly) with approximately 1.1±0.15 h per year for each patient.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinician's work burden is high in patients with remote monitoring. In order to expand remote monitoring in all patients, reimbursement policies should be considered.
Cardiology Department, University Hospital of Rome, Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, Rome, Italy. lidapieretta@hotmail.com
Lida P
LP
Papavasileiou
Giovanni B
GB
Forleo
Germana
G
Panattoni
Valentina
V
Schirripa
Valentina
V
Minni
Giulia
G
Magliano
Kyriakos
K
Bellos
Luca
L
Santini
Francesco
F
Romeo
D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms; D019114:Remote Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors