The remote monitoring of implantable cardiac devices started in France in 2001 after the implantation of the first remote-monitoring pacemaker at the University Hospital of Bordeaux.
The hospital is now a leader in the field with an active list of more than 5722 patients, the greatest number of procedures in France.

What is telemedicine?

Telemedicine is a remote medical practice which uses new technologies to put one or more healthcare professionals in touch with each other or a patient.
In particular, it meets the requirement for safer in-depth cardiac monitoring. Remote monitoring is one of the five telemedicine  procedures. It enables a professional to remotely interpret data collected at the patient’s home.

How does it work?

Data from the cardiac device is sent regularly, via a remote transmitter, a box placed in the patient’s home, to a dedicated website. The telemedicine technicians collect and analyse the data on a daily basis. They submit alerts considered relevant to a doctor for patient management.

And what happens at the cardiothoracic cluster at the University Hospital of Bordeaux?

In the rhythmology department, three doctors and clinical research staff form a team dedicated to implementing and managing remote monitoring.

This activity, praised by both doctors and patients, has become the method of choice for monitoring cardiac devices.

Since 2012, remote monitoring has also been provided to other partner centres, so that they can benefit from Bordeaux’s expertise.

And in the covid period, how is remote monitoring organized?

The remote monitoring teams ensure continuity of patient follow-up, even in this current exceptional circumstances.
Organized in part by telework and on site, the team continues to monitor 5 722 patients.