Basic structural features of a cardiac telemedicine center for patients with heart failure and implanted devices, cardiac arrhythmias, and increased risk of sudden cardiac death : Recommendations of the working group 33 Telemonitoring of the German Cardiac Society

• Published in: Herzschrittmachertherapie & Elektrophysiologie Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 136 - 142
• Main Authors: Helms, T M, Stockburger, M, Köhler, F, Leonhardt, V, Müller, A, Rybak, K, Sack, S, Schwab, J O, Störk, S, Zippel-Schultz, B, Perings, C A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01-03-2019
• Subjects: Heart failure; Structural and quality characteristics; Telemonitoring; Telemedical center; Telemedicine
• ISSN: 1435-1544
• DOI: 10.1007/s00399-018-0606-7

Heart failure is one of the most common diseases. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Since heart failure is age-associated, the number of patients with heart failure is constantly increasing. At the same time, the imbalance between the need for treatment and the provision of care is growing. Telemonitoring/telemedicine offers patients in rural or remote areas access to high-quality health care and enables fast access to specialists. The working group 33 Telemonitoring of the German Cardiac Society describes the characteristics and possible applications of telemonitoring/telemedicine in the treatment of patients with heart failure. Furthermore, quality criteria for cardiological telemedicine centres are defined. In addition to the personnel structure of a telemedicine centre and the competencies of employees, requirements for the technical infrastructure and the management of incoming data and alarms are described.