Ambulatory cardiac monitoring is becoming a service that more physicians are offering as a part of a standard of care. With advances in mobile cardiac telemetry (MCT), it has become easier to provide cardiac monitoring services, and these advances are making the services more effective for patients who have experienced cardiac related issues. With the growth in the market, physicians now have a number of providers in the cardiac monitoring industry. With that, it can be difficult to pick the right provider. ReactDx, experts in ambulatory cardiac monitoring, has compiled a list of common mistakes to avoid when choosing a monitor provider.
The Algorithm: All cardiac monitors do not work the same. Some provide much higher clinical yield than others, and this fact makes choosing the right provider vital to the health of your patients. It all begins with the artificial intelligence of the monitors. The foundation for a robust cardiac monitoring algorithm begins with an ability to identify each beat. Be sure the provider you choose has an algorithm that not only classifies and analyzes each beat but also directly analyzes all four beat-by-beat indices — Rate, Rhythm, Morphology and P wave — when determining whether arrhythmia is present.
Getting Locked In: When looking for a cardiac monitor provider, it is best to look for one that takes a “device agnostic” approach to recommending a technology. A firm or manufacturer with a vested interest in a specific device might not give you the full picture of what is happening in the market. Holter monitoring, 30-day cardiac event tracking, and mobile cardiac telemetry (MCT) are the three largest types of cardiac monitoring services. Find a provider that will recommend the method and technology that is right for you and your patients, not the provider’s bottom line.
Know Who is Monitoring the Data: With technology constantly advancing, there are advances in how data is collected. Data collection is very important, but what happens with the data is even more important than gathering it. Before choosing a cardiac monitor provider, you need to know who is monitoring the data. Do the providers you are contemplating employ highly trained and experienced electrocardiographers, such as Certified Cardiac Technicians (CCTs), Registered Nurses (RNs), and Paramedics? Do their electrocardiographers monitor all tests for quality assurance, or do they provide periodic spot checks? In general, experienced electrocardiographers maintain a higher level of expertise and higher quality assurance and service. Find out who is reading your data before you select a partner.
Poor Providing Skills: Wondering what the providers you pick are able to do with your data? Setting up a monitoring device may be easy, but you’ll be dealing with the reporters they provide frequently. Some critical questions to ask are:
- Does the reporting allow for customization?
- How promptly are reports delivered?
- Who creates the reports (computer-generated only or trained Electrocardiographers)?
- What type of delivery will you get?
If you are currently looking for an ambulatory cardiac monitoring provider or curious about these services, ReactDx encourages you to do your research and due diligence to avoid these common mistakes. We also recommend learning more about our cardiac monitoring systems by browsing our other blogs or contacting us online.
