Cardiologists at Basildon hospital pioneer life-changing heart monitoring technology

Cardiologists at Basildon Hospital are using pioneering technology to remotely monitor their patient’s heart rhythms. 

A cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, is an abnormal heart rhythm that can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, breathlessness and palpitations.  For people living with atrial fibrillation (AFib)—the most common arrhythmia—many do not even know they have the condition. 

The Abbott’s Confirm Rx Implantable Cardiac Monitor is the size of a paperclip and is inserted under the skin of the chest. Once fitted it gives more accurate diagnoses and distinguishes between dangerous arrhythmias and other heart rhythms.

Information from the device is transmitted to the hospital via a patients’ smart phone app which is sent to a secure website. This is reviewed by a team of cardiac physiologists who can analyse the patient’s heart rhythm remotely. If they pick up any abnormal rhythms, the patient will be called in to discuss treatment. 

“This device gives me and my patient peace of mind that we are monitoring them all the time explains James Young, chief cardiac physiologist.

“Once we receive information from the patient, we can see if their symptoms correlate to a cardiac symptom or something else”.

Having this implant is also more time efficient for all as the patient doesn’t need to return to the hospital, showing how far technology has come to improving medicine and patient care.