Kazem Rahimi, MD: Home Monitoring for Cardiology Patients

In the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, remote patient monitoring and implementation of telemedicine approaches have gone from fringe topics to centerstage. While, for most, the revelation during this unique time period has been that telemedicine options provide a viable alternative for many patients, there are certain specialties that are more difficult to transfer into a digital space.

Without regard to specialty, this time period has led to stringent evaluations and reevaluations of thousands of medical procedures and routines. A major topic of discussion in the realm of telemedicine even before the pandemic was home monitoring of patients with cardiovascular diseases. In a study presented at a conference earlier in 2020, Kazem Rahimi, MD, and a team examined the effects of home monitoring on quality of life in patients with heart failure. Rahimi refers to the trial as one of the rigorous, in terms of design and criteria, to examine the topic and, while it failed to reach statistical significance, provided valuable insight into what else is needed in terms of technology and home monitoring to make this a viable option for all patients.