Home Monitoring- Important Feature?

I was offered a PM(Biotronik) with Home Monitoring. Is this an important feature? Do those of you who have it, use it?
I'm not sure I'm sold on Biotronik. Only because I haven't really heard of them too often..

8 Comments

Biotronik and home monitoring

by Harrie - 2013-08-13 06:08:37

Hi
I have the Biotronik Evia with home monitoring. I wasn't offered any options - the cardio just said that as I had private health insurance I was eligible for the latest top of the range model (a mixed blessing as I don't really need all the features and had to get rate response turned off). Home monitoring is seamless - I just had to plug the monitor into the power, sit it on the bedside table and it downloads automatically every morning at 2am. The time is adjustable. The data goes to the service centre in Germany and if there are any problems it sends an orange or red alert to your dr or clinic. Every 3 months the data is collated into a report for your dr which they use in place of clinic/office check ups. Your dr can access the data online also. So all in all it's not whether you will use it but whether your doctor will use it that matters. It is reassuring to know that big brother is keeping an eye on your heart while you sleep!
As far as the reputation of Biotronik I haven't heard any bad reports and the tech told me they haven't had any recalls - encouraged me to look them up on the web.
Hope this helps

Forgot to mention..

by Harrie - 2013-08-13 06:08:50

On 2 occasions I've rung the clinic with issues and they have checked the home monitoring to save me a visit to the clinic. Didn't actually resolve the issue but did exactly what they would have done if I'd gone in.

It depends

by Zia - 2013-08-13 06:08:58

I wasn't offered home monitoring even though it was a 100 mile drive to the nearest PM clinic for my checkups. I wanted to avoid the trip, but after seeing some of the comments here, it may just be worth going for it.

home monitoring

by Tracey_E - 2013-08-13 09:08:30

I'm on my 4th and have never had one, don't particularly want one. I like to go in because I can ask my questions. I'm pretty stable and little changes from check up to check up so I guess my dr doesn't think monitoring between checks is necessary.

Thank you All so much!

by LIVE_STRONG - 2013-08-13 11:08:16

Lots to think about and investigate. I'm actually quite happy with my St Jude with The exception of the slight malfunction almost 5 years later.
I do have to travel quite a ways, especially if my EP is at his other office. Then it's at least 2 1/2 hours..but doable. I didn't realize the charges I may incure though. Heck, my insurance will probably not even cover it. So...maybe I will not even have to worry about making that choice. I do tend to skip my appointments thinking everything is fine. I hate going to see any doctor! I'm just sick of going! I know...get over it. :)
Tracey helped me so much with my first one! I was so scared and then there was the whole placement issue which worked out great till it moved on me. I will still probably go the same route though.

Top of the range

by golden_snitch - 2013-08-14 01:08:09

Hi!

"...had private health insurance I was eligible for the latest top of the range model"

No offense intended, but I really don't like people posting statements like this. Firstly and most importantly, they could make others feel like they have an old and not so good device because they have normal insurance. PLUS in the pacemaker industry you cannot really say that one model is the latest top of the range model. It always depends on what you need. Biotronik is good for some patients, but for instance doesn't have one of the two best (proven by studies) algorithms to reduce ventricular pacing. Also, Biotronik's CLS rate response sensor doesn't work well for quite a few patients. And for small, skinny people Biotronik might not be good, because the pacemakers are rather large compared to some other manufacturers. Last but not least, I'm sure you'll find some patients here who have normal insurance or even Medicare, but also have a Biotronik Evia.

Maybe your cardio told you that what you got is top of the range and you got it only because of private insurance, that's why I'm saying no offense intended. You have a good device, it does what it should for you. Whether it's top of the range - well, that depends, as I explained.

Best wishes
Inga

Heart monitor

by llee - 2013-08-14 05:08:07

John has a heart monitor at the bedside. He also has a Health Buddy that checks his BP, pulse and weight each day.
A real life saver!

No offence Intended

by Harrie - 2013-08-14 07:08:49

Wasn't intending to imply that Biotronik was better than any other pm. Wouldn't even know what the other brands are beyond Medtronik and lots of people here have St Jude's. just repeating what I was told that the Biotronik with home monitoring is their latest and top of their range.
Also making the point that the decision about which device was made by the doctor with zero input from me and yes, it was based on health insurance status - guess every country is different.

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