Amsterdam University Medical Center
Beginning today, patients and physicians at Amsterdam UMC’s Heart Centre can leverage the HartWacht app to enhance their healthcare experience. This innovative solution, comprised of a compact measurement device and a mobile application, enables patients to monitor their blood pressure and arrhythmias from the comfort of their homes. Consequently, patients will require fewer visits to their cardiologists, while physicians gain access to more precise measurements, allowing for prompt intervention when necessary. Michiel Winter, cardiologist at Amsterdam UMC and project leader, hails this development as a significant advancement.
“HartWacht, pioneered by Cardiology Centres Netherlands (CCN) in 2016 and a key partner of Amsterdam UMC, has already transformed the care of over 3,000 patients. Our e-health initiative has resulted in a reduction in ambulance calls and emergency department visits. With real-time patient monitoring, we can provide immediate reassurance, advice, or intervention, leading to fewer outpatient clinic visits and reduced nursing requirements,” explains Winter, who also serves as the Chairman of CCN’s Board of Directors.
The HartWacht program caters to patients with high blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, or heart failure, offering them the convenience of fewer hospital visits and ambulance trips. For cardiologists, the app streamlines workflows, allowing them to focus on patients with abnormal readings. Jasper Selder, cardiologist at Amsterdam UMC and project co-leader, underscores the importance of smart data management: “We must efficiently manage the vast amount of telemonitoring data to optimize patient care.”
As the first academic hospital to adopt this program, Amsterdam UMC enables remote ECG monitoring, offering unparalleled convenience to patients. Selder emphasizes the significance of immediate anomaly detection: “We no longer sift through numerous measurements during busy outpatient check-ups. Instead, abnormal readings trigger instant notifications, allowing us to prioritize patient care.”
Selder underscores the peace of mind afforded to patients with chronic heart conditions: “Patients receive instant feedback after each measurement, fostering a sense of reassurance. This approach not only ensures accessibility and affordability but also facilitates timely intervention, resulting in patient satisfaction and reduced healthcare burden.”
Expansion plans include incorporating diabetes and cardiovascular risk management programs into the e-health initiative. HartWacht is fully covered by Dutch health insurers.
Source: Amsterdam University Medical Center
