LHCH launches new innovative approach for patient monitoring to support people with pacemakers

Since the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital has rolled out a remote patient monitoring system, in partnership with Boston Scientific, for our patients with pacemakers.  Patients have no longer been required to attend in person for their routine pacemaker follow up appointments. Instead, they have been provided with a plug in box which permits them to provide a remote electronic pacemaker download from the comfort of their own home. This innovation has provided safety and reassurance for patients.  This remote monitoring system has worked effectively, and patient feedback has been extremely positive. 

From Monday 2nd September, for patients with new pacing implants, the team will commence a phased approach to a different way of working where patients will no longer need to download data once a year for routine analysis.  The LATITUDE™ NXT Remote Patient Management System from Boston Scientific will assist the clinical team with monitoring patients living with pacemakers. 

 Any abnormality that is detected will create an alert that will automatically be sent directly to the Cardiac Diagnostics team for triage and review on a daily basis.  The alerts will be prioritised in terms of clinical urgency and actioned as appropriate by the relevant clinician.

Professor Jay Wright, Director of Research & Innovation and Consultant Cardiologist, said:

“We know from patient feedback that the existing remote monitoring system is working well and the data we receive is invaluable.  This new approach will provide consistent monitoring and alert us to any device or clinical change immediately. We will be able to take action at a much earlier stage and improve the care provided to our pacemaker patients.”

LHCH is one of the largest specialist hospitals for cardiothoracic care and treatment in the country, has been twice rated as ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission and is a centre of excellence.  The hospital has the largest and busiest remote pacing clinic in Europe currently caring for 3,500 pacemaker patients on remote follow up.