Telecardiology for patients with acute or chronic cardiac complaints: The 'SHL' experience in Israel and Germany
Objective: To assess the impact of a telemedicine program in which electrocardiogram (EKG), body weight and/or blood pressure are measured at home and medically trained personnel judge the transmitted data and council the patients by telephone. Method: We systematically studied the outcome and cost-effectiveness of the cardiac programs carried out by Shahal (SHL) during the past 19 years. Result: Most patients (85%) with acute complaints resembling coronary artery disease, could be reassured, representing a savings of about 46 677 000 per 10 000 members/yr in Israel in., 1989, and a marked reduction in patient delay to 44 min (median). In chronic heart failure a 66% reduction in hospitalisation days was observed, together with an improvement in quality of life. A large Healthcare Insurance Company in Germany (Taunus BKK) has calculated that it can save at least E 5 million per year with the use of such services. Conclusion: Disease management with concomitant telemedicine for coronary artery disease and chronic heart failure is safe and effective and has a huge potential for cost savings, improvements in quality of life and in prognosis of heart disease. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
telemedicine disease management heart failure, congestive coronary disease myocardial infarction