Technology has simplified so many things, including health care. In Rochester, Minnesota, a new advance that combines health care and technology has been made by a team at the Mayo Clinic. The team, which was comprised of members of the Division of Engineering and Technology Services and members of the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases has been working on creating devices that monitors, screens, prevents and manages disease in patients for the past 10 years.

After 10 years, the team has created a remarkable new form of remote health care technology: The BodyGuardian Remote Monitoring System.

About the BodyGuardian Remote Health Care Monitoring System

Simply referred to as the BodyGuardian, this monitoring system is a body sensor that is worn by patients who have a history of cardiovascular disease. The device collects physiological data. The data, which is collected on a constant basis, is streamed back to physicians, allowing them to keep a close eye on valuable biometric data. This cutting edge technology keeps patients and their physicians in constant contact, which allows physicians to provide valuable care around the clock.

The BodyGuardian has been cleared by the FDA to monitor arrhythmias that are non-lethal in ambulatory patients.

How the BodyGuardian Remote Monitoring System Works

The BodyGuardian Remote Monitoring System works by performing rhythm monitoring and cardia ECG, which is traditionally performed by large instruments in a hospital setting. The device, which is similar to a bandage, contains a small monitor that delivers information to the BodyGuardian Connect smartphone. The patient is able to be completely mobile and free to go about his or her normal activities while his or her healthcare team monitors important biometric information and cardiac rhythms.

The information that the BodyGuardian collects is delivered wirelessly to a cloud-based mHealth platform, known as the Preventice CarePlatform and PatientCare Portal. The platform collects information in real-time and delivers it to health care professionals who monitor the information. Patient information can be accesses their patients’ information and receive notifications 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from any location via the World Wide Web.

Benefits of the BodyGuardian Remote Monitoring System

The BodyGuardian Remote Monitoring System provides a wealth of benefits to both patients and their health care professionals.

Benefits for patients include:

• The ability to go about normal daily routines without having to be limited by regular visits to a hospital or doctor’s office.
• They can receive immediate updates regarding their health and well being via the BodyGuardian Connect smartphone. If doctor’s notice that there are changes in certain threshold amounts that have been set by their doctors to ensure a healthy heart, their doctors can modify their thresholds or their medications to meet their needs.

The benefits for health care professionals include:

• The ability to provide real-time care for their patients at anytime from any place. This allows health care professionals to provide their patients with the best care possible.

The BodyGuardian Remote Monitoring System also helps to control the cost of health care, which is beneficial for both patients and health care providers.

The development of this type of remote health care has opened up a world of opportunity for further and similar advances for other areas of health care. It’s exciting to think what the future holds.