Phone Check?

Can anyone tell me what is the point of doing phone checks on a pacemaker. I received mine in June of 2007 and have been in for office for Medtronic Rep. checks.They have been booking me for every 8 weeks. Can they tell as much in short amount of time what the heck is going on? I had another one today and am booked for 8 weeks again. What information do they really get from them unless you are having a problem at that time?Does it record everything that has been going on since your last check?

Take care,
Amy

7 Comments

Checks the battery life

by MSPACER - 2008-03-10 08:03:16

The phone check basically checks if the pacemaker is working, and the estimated amount of battery life left. It is not a full interrogation like in the doctor's office.

yes

by jessie - 2008-03-10 08:03:20

i never have had a phone check amy but maybe they don't even do them here in canada. so let us know what you find out about these interrogations. jessie

Why so often?

by admin - 2008-03-10 08:03:23

Are your doctors concerned your pacer is not working correctly? Every eight weeks seems to be too often unless they are looking for something.

Blake

Ask them why!

by Rewiredaussiegirl - 2008-03-10 09:03:10

Yes like Blake said I would be wondering why they are doing checks so frequently.Ask a few questions next time .

Kay

phone checks

by Elke - 2008-03-10 09:03:47

I had my pacemaker implanted in August 2007 and had monthly checks done so far. Now they will call every 2 months. Perhaps each doctor has a different protocol?
Elke

phone checks

by thomast - 2008-03-10 11:03:12

To answer your question Amy, yes it does record everything that happens since the last time you had it checked. I do not agree with another comment, I have a care-link monitor and it is a full interogation the same as in the office. The difference is they cannot change your settings over the phone. I do a phone check every 3 months and go to the office once a year.Of course if they spot a problem on the phone check, then they call me into the office.

Thomas

I have phone checks too

by mandogrl - 2008-03-11 09:03:12

I've had two so far. The main difference with my medtronic carelink is that they are not getting simultaneous reading from having EKG leads all over me like they did in the offic visit.
The medtronic tech said he can tell over the phone that both leads are functioning correctly, by electronic readings he gets, also information about my usage, and battery life expectancy.
Maybe they do them more often when the PM is new, or until the readings are the same every time? Mine were 2 months apart, but I think they will change to 3 months apart.
Being kind of new to this still, I miss the chance to ask face-to-face questions of the techs, but the one I had in the office was kinda' grouchy anyway.

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