Delivering remote monitoring data to patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: Does medium matter?

Background: This study presents findings on the impact of providing patients with their implantable device data on patients' satisfaction, engagement, healthcare utilization, and provider's perceptions of this practice. Remote monitoring of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) improves patient care through timely delivery of ICD data to the clinic. However, patients usually do not receive their ICD data. Providers are concerned that messaging patients with their device data could increase clinical workload.

Methods: To evaluate the impact of sharing ICD data summary through the patient portal, 128 patients were randomized into two groups. Group A and B received their data through the patient portal and postal mail, respectively. Data were collected through surveys and medical record reviews. Forty-eight providers also completed a survey.

Results: At the end of the study, at least two-thirds of patients were satisfied with the amount of information received through the electronic or paper ICD data summary. Additionally, providing patients with their device data did not increase ICD-specific clinical workload (e.g., calls or messages to provider). While providers did not foresee the provision of ICD data to patients as decreasing or improving clinical workload, they did see potential value in it for patients.

Conclusions: Providing patients with their ICD data (through paper or electronic means) might have the potential to improve patient satisfaction and enhance shared-decision making without adversely impacting clinical workload.