Telephone monitoring of your pacemaker
It is possible to monitor your pacemaker by sending data from your pacemaker through the phone. This is easier and costs less than going to the doctor's office or clinic every time you need to have your pacemaker checked.
To check your pacemaker over the telephone, your doctor or clinic will need to give you a special transmitter to use. When you are scheduled to have your pacemaker checked (or if you are having problems with your pacemaker), you dial the telephone number and then follow the instructions. You will be asked to place the special transmitter over your pacemaker and send information.
Periodically, you may also be asked to place a special magnet on your chest over your pacemaker before you send your pacemaker information to your doctor. The magnet causes the pacemaker to turn on even if your heart is beating normally. This is needed to check how the pacemaker is working and to check the life of the battery.
The technology of remote monitoring of pacemakers is changing. Pacemaker monitoring may become wireless and automatic so that you do not have to do anything for your pacemaker to send information to your doctor.
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: July 7, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Laurence Epstein, MD - Cardiac Electrophysiologist | |
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