Study: Remote monitoring improves heart failure outcomes

A new study has concluded that remote monitoring can improve the condition of some heart failure patients, and may also reduce hospital readmissions. The pilot study, which included 150 patients admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, randomly selected patients to get either standard heart failure treatment or remote monitoring. Researchers from the Partners HealthCare Center for Connected Health gave patients in the remote monitoring group equipment to track their vital signs and transmit results. The patients also weighed themselves every day, as well as answering questions on their symptoms. A nurse would call weekly (or more often) if the patients' vital signs were not normal. Within three months, remotely-monitored patients had lower average hospital readmission rates than those with standard care.

To learn more about the study:
- read this HealthDay News piece

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