The human heart pumps an average of a million barrels of blood throughout the body over an average lifetime, with an average of 100,000 beats per day. Over a lifetime, this totals 2.5 billion beats. This hardworking organ deserves our best care. Cardiac telemetry monitoring can help us know if there are any problems.
What is Telemetry?
Telemetry is a powerful tool for monitoring a patient's heart rhythm and QRS pattern in real time. Because telemetry monitoring beds are limited and expensive in most institutions, their use should ideally be evidence-based.
The American Heart Association (AHA) provides class I, II, and III indications for telemetry use, but the emphasis is almost entirely on cardiac diagnoses, such as admissions to rule out acute coronary syndrome or heart block. This technology is used by healthcare providers to monitor cardiac patients for extended periods of time.
How does Telemetry Heart Monitoring function?
Medical professionals attach electrodes to specific points on the skin around the chest, abdomen, and sometimes the limbs. These electrodes are connected by wires to a device that records the electrical activity of the heart.
The data from this recorder is then sent to a centralized display monitor in a different location, allowing medical professionals to monitor the patient's condition. Here are six advantages of telemetry heart monitoring that you should know.
Telemetry heart monitoring can help recognize a patient's discomfort.
A cue that a patient is experiencing acute pain can be identified via telemetry. When the body experiences acute pain, electrical signals are transmitted to the sympathetic nervous system. This causes a fight-or-flight response, which constricts blood vessels, raises blood pressure, and increases heart rate above normal. When the monitor detects a sudden and sustained increase in the patient's heart rate, it may indicate distress and prompt a visit to the patient's room. You may wonder why a patient would not simply request an attendant. In some cases, they simply cannot complete the task.
It is essential to recognize that patients with chronic pain conditions may not exhibit the same vital sign changes as those experiencing acute pain. While it is true that occasionally, patients may falsely report pain to receive narcotic medication, relying solely on heart rate to evaluate pain can lead to inadequate treatment of chronic pain conditions. The correlation between heart rate and self-reported pain is relatively small, and studies suggest that this relationship may vary slightly by race.
Therefore, it is crucial to consider multiple factors when evaluating pain, including the patient's medical history, the nature and duration of their pain, and other subjective factors, such as their self-report of pain intensity. Ultimately, a comprehensive approach that incorporates both objective and subjective measures is necessary to ensure that patients receive appropriate pain management.
Telemetry heart monitoring can provide valuable insights into the health of the heart.
This technology can help to identify any abnormalities in the heart's rhythm or function. This information can be used to make better decisions about treatment for the patient.
Telemetry heart monitoring has emerged as a cost-effective and efficient tool for assessing heart health.
At present,mobile telemetry heart monitoring allows for the continuous monitoring of a patient's heart rate, rhythm, and other vital parameters, providing real-time data that can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of various cardiovascular conditions. Telemetry monitoring can be utilized in a hospital setting or remotely, making it a practical and versatile tool for patients with a range of cardiac needs.
Telemetry heart monitoring, as well as electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) and blood tests, are clinically proven and dependable means of evaluating heart function.
The data acquired from telemetry monitoring devices are typically precise and trustworthy, while ECG and blood tests, when appropriately conducted, offer reliable and accurate diagnostic insights.
Telemetry heart monitoring can help improve patient satisfaction.
Patients who use cardiac telemetry monitoring usually report feeling more in control of their healthcare. They also enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their condition is being monitored.
Time Management for Healthcare Professionals
Using telemetry, physicians can monitor patients without being physically present. So that healthcare professionals can attend to other hospital or nursing home patients.
Monitors integrated into the system signal abnormalities in the heart's electrical waves. Professionals trained to monitor the system recognize when this is cause for concern.
Thus, nurses are able to attend to their duties and prioritize patients requiring immediate care. Compacting their efforts prevents them from becoming fatigued while concentrating on patients who do not require their services at this time.
Who requires Telemetry Heart Monitoring?
Based on American Heart Association guidelines, a physician may prescribe telemetry monitoring for a variety of reasons, such as:
- Pain in the chest
- Post cardiac event (cardiac arrest, heart attack, open heart surgery or stent placement)
- During the first 24-48 hours after an embolic stroke
- To be vigilant for arrhythmias associated with medication administration
- To be vigilant for arrhythmias associated with electrolyte imbalances (renal/dialysis patients)
- Drug overdoses
- Other interventions requiring monitoring (targeted temperature management)
Upgrade your cardiac care with Sotera Wireless and take the first step towards better patient outcomes. Our telemetry heart monitoring technology allows for real-time monitoring of a patient's heart rhythm and QRS pattern, notification for lethal arrhythmias, and providing valuable insight into their condition. Utilize our system to improve patient satisfaction, increase cost-effectiveness, and efficiently manage your healthcare professionals' time. Contact us today to learn more about how Sotera Wireless can support your healthcare institution with telemetry monitoring.
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