A recent press release from Datos Health, a provider of telemedicine and hospital-grade automated remote care platforms, announced the results of a six-month study into how tele-CR can be an effective application of digital health technology for monitoring patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. The study, titled “Feasibility, Safety, and Effectiveness of a Mobile Application in Cardiac Rehabilitation,” was published in the Israel Medical Association Journal (IMAJ).
The trial was performed at the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at Sheba Medical Center, and it represents the first attempt to use digital health technology to monitor patients in the process of cardiac rehab. Significant improvements were evidenced in exercise capacity and adherence among CR patients, with over 63% of them completing the goal of 150 minutes of aerobic exercise weekly. Additionally, patient satisfaction was positive, scoring 4.05 out of 5 among participants.
“Remote care and telemedicine solutions are helping health systems to reduce costs and improve recovery through increased engagement between patients and their care teams outside of hospital settings,” said Uri Bettesh, CEO and Founder of Datos Heath.
Patients were provided with a smartphone application and a personalized care plan, including monitoring devices that transmit medical feedback during training. Datos developed the app, and a care team monitored patient adherence and activity. As a result of the study’s success, the Israeli Ministry of Health defined a new reimbursement code, which shows the potential direct effects on positive regulatory change.
“The findings of this study reveal considerable advantages of tele-CR in terms of better adherence to exercise programs and improved patient outcomes. The versatility of Datos’ remote care platform and its ability to increase patient engagement and adherence through app personalization is integral in making tele-CR a viable option for patients unable or unwilling to participate in center-based CR programs,” said Prof. Robert Klempfner, MD, Director of the Israeli Center for Cardiovascular Research and Scientific Director of Sheba’s ARC Innovation Center. “Despite the clear benefits of CR in reducing cardiac mortalities and improving overall quality of life, it is often woefully underutilized for reasons stemming from challenges in attending rehabilitation centers and interference with day-to-day life.”
“Datos has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Prof. Klempfner and his team at Sheba,” said Bettesh. “This collaboration is further evidence of how together we can bring positive change to the provision of care for the benefit of large patient populations.” Bettesh stressed how the success of all such programs depends heavily on developing strong partnerships between healthcare organizations and technology developers.
