Telemonitoring in Device Therapy: a Living Reality?

Telemonitoring (TM) features are implemented in nearly all cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) that have recently been released to the market. Using TM has the potential to optimize patient care with regard to clinical, safety, and economic aspects. Thus, TM of patients with ICD or CRT devices can reasonably be included in a concept of optimized heart failure management. Meanwhile, a number of guidelines or scientific statements provide evidence-based positive recommendations with respect to the use of TM in CIEDs. Despite this fact, a broader application of TM is hampered primarily due to inadequate reimbursement of the technique, both in an outpatient and in-hospital setting. Thus, a considerable number of patients are currently deprived of the advantages of TM such as higher therapeutic safety and promptness of treatment optimization. In contrast to the federal government policy statement to promote the dissemination of TM, telecardiology has not been included into the recently adopted e-Health Act. It remains to be seen whether a future legal bill will facilitate introduction of this promising therapeutic options into standard medical care.