Wireless Screening in the Home of Patients with Suspected Disturbance of Heart Rhythm

 
 
The project was completed in 2014

 
Testing of how wireless technology may be used to screen patients with suspected arrhythmia in their own homes instead of being admitted to hospital. How should the business and organizational model be designed to achieve the desired effects without compromising clinical quality?

Background

A large number of Danes are annually sent to hospital with suspected heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias) and is admitted for observation in order to have the suspicion either confirmed or dismissed. The number of people who actually needs treatment is relatively small, but the resources spent on screening and monitoring in the hospital are comprehensive. Finding a better way to diagnose patients, which can reduce the current spending without compromising quality and patient safety, is, therefore, high on the agenda.

 

To this end, a technology called ePatch was developed by a former innovation project in cooperation with the company DELTA. ePatch allows wireless monitoring of people suspected of arrhythmia and has previously been tested on inpatients in order to clarify the clinical effectiveness of the technology. The next step is to examine ways of implementing ePatch in the daily operations of a hospital.

 

20150417_ePatch_personer

 

Purpose / vision

The aim is to uncover whether carrying out screening of patients with arrhythmia in their own homes via the ePatch technology is a viable idea.

 

  • The project has conducted a pilot test including approximately 80 patients who have been screened in their own homes. The results of the pilot test are awaited; when available, it will be assessed whether the project idea can be built into the daily operations of a hospital.
  • The project has cooperated with SOS International, which has helped with the logistics in terms of making the technology available to citizens who, after visiting their GPs because of suspicion of arrhythmia, have been referred for screening and assessed suitable for home screening based on the new technology.

 

What is the expected outcome of the project?

It is expected that the project will provide Odense University Hospital (OUH) with a business and organisational model that describes ways of implementing ePatch or a similar technology in the daily operations of the hospital. The project does not include clinical tests of the technology.

 

Wireless home monitoring of citizens with suspected arrhythmia will result in a more efficient use of resources at OUH's outpatient clinic as well as at the GPs, and will also pave the way for a better everyday life for these patients, as they will experience greater mobility and flexibility when they can avoid hospitalisation.

 

Participants

Department of Cardiology B - OUH

Centre for Innovative Medical Technology - OUH

Delta

SOS International

 
Contact PersonHenrik 
                Gaunsbæk

Henrik  Gaunsbæk

Innnovation consultant


Center for Innovativ Medicinsk Teknologi

Email:  LOADEMAIL[henrik.gaunsbaek]DOMAIN[rsyd.dk]

Partners

Center for Innovativ Medicinsk Teknologi

Henrik  Gaunsbæk

Email:  LOADEMAIL[henrik.gaunsbaek]DOMAIN[rsyd.dk]

Web:   http://cimt.dk/

Odense Universitetshospital - Hjertemedicinsk Afdeling

Axel  Brandes

Email:  LOADEMAIL[axel.brandes]DOMAIN[rsyd.dk]

Web:   www.ouh.dk

DELTA

Karsten  Hoppe

Email:  LOADEMAIL[kh]DOMAIN[delta.dk]

Web:   http://www.madebydelta.dk