UAE | Health
Remote heart monitoring device to help cut health costs
A new remote heart-monitoring device being introduced in the Gulf could cut out the need for hospitalisation and reduce health service costs.
- By Alice Johnson, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:10 March 19, 2008
Dubai: A new remote heart-monitoring device being introduced in the Gulf could cut out the need for hospitalisation and reduce health service costs.
The credit-card size "telemedical" device records an electrocardiogram (ECG) reading via sensors attached to the chest, which can then be transmitted via mobile or telephone to a medical reading facility. Recording an ECG in this way can stop patients visiting hospitals unnecessarily and therefore reduce healthcare costs.
John Fewings, MD, Vitaphone, said: "Often a heart arrhythmia occurs at home and by the time patients arrive at hospital it has stopped. So they stay in hospital for observation. If the ECG is carried out at home, it stops the need to visit a hospital, saving time for patients and money for hospitals."
He continued that only around 20 per cent of heart-related cases treated by ambulance services in Europe are necessary.
"This device can be used even by the elderly," Fewings continued. "It would be useful for off-shore oil rig workers because it would cut out the need for a helicopter ambulance, and also to measure the health of long-haul pilots in-flight," he said.
Heart disease is closely linked to obesity and diabetes, both of which have reached pandemic proportions in the Gulf region, mainly due to sedentary lifestyles. Devices will be available in the near future via hospitals and on healthcare professional recommendation.
Share this article
More from UAE Health
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
A Selection of the best Gulf News reader pictures this week
Latest news
- Universities celebrate UAE National Day
- Brothers' triple success
- Reviving age-old craftsmanship
- Youth reconnect with history
- 24% jump in Emirati students in US
- Fatima: UAE's women are exercising full rights
- Emirates Palace gears up for festivities
- Emerging writers to get networking opportunities
- Ministry of Health sacks employees for forgery
- Al Ain's oryx may hold key to breeding
- Please don't use two parking spaces
- Large crowds join in Eid festivities
- 'Education is a long-term investment'
- Scottish businessman awarded honorary doctorate in engineering
- Giving money is not enough
Community Reports
-
Please don't use two parking spaces
Thoughtless drivers means other motorists are losing out in a city where places to leave cars are often hard to find
-
School buses must do safe drop-offs
Some bus drivers let students off at the wrong side of the road
-
Munching on a health hazard
Residents must be careful about consuming snacks and sandwiches prepared along the roadside as they attract dirt and bacteria
-
Faded signage fails to guide visitors
Reader seeks better upkeep of signboards in green areas
