Tag: Software & Technology

Heart failure (HF) monitoring plays a critical role in delivering proactive, patient-centered care—but only when integrated into clinic workflows with the right tools and team coordination. Despite availability, a 2023 review noted fewer than 30% of eligible patients benefit from CRT-based HF diagnostics—due largely to workflow limitations and operational silos. 

Many cardiac device clinics hesitate to fully leverage HF diagnostics from CRT devices due to complexities in routing, cadence management, and coordination between care teams. The result? Missed opportunities for early intervention, increased provider burden, and inconsistent patient outcomes.

At the core of this issue is a simple but important reality: CRT devices—while a type of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED)—report both HF and arrhythmia data, yet the workflows and systems supporting clinical teams aren’t always designed to accommodate that dual functionality efficiently.

---

I. Key Challenges in Implementing Heart Failure Monitoring Workflows

One Device, Separate Teams

While CRT devices generate both HF and arrhythmia diagnostics, those data streams need to be assigned to separate clinical teams—electrophysiology (EP) and heart failure (HF)—in a unified workflow. This misalignment can lead to confusion, redundancy, and critical information slipping through the cracks.

Monitoring Cadence Mismatches Increase Risk

EP reports typically follow a 91-day cadence, while HF monitoring often requires a 31-day rhythm. Yet these diagnostics are combined in a single stream. Manually parsing out what needs to be reviewed and when can be burdensome, and risks allowing clinically relevant HF data to go unreviewed—sometimes for weeks.

Workflow & Billing Confusion

Accurate team routing and billing depends on clean data segmentation—but most clinics lack the built-in infrastructure to support this. Without a streamlined process, many teams face administrative overload and compliance risks.

Rigid Systems, Limited Options

Without flexible software, clinics are left without solutions to customize HF monitoring from CRT devices. Ultimately, clinics need configurable workflows and the ability to intensify monitoring when HF risk increases—without disrupting CIED data flow for other device patients.

---

II. PrepMD OMNI: Purpose-Built for Coordinated CIED Monitoring

PrepMD OMNI was designed to help clinics navigate these challenges—not with a one-size-fits-all model, but with intelligent, clinician-driven workflows that adapt to your team’s, and patients’ real-world needs.

Flexible Monitoring Cadence

PrepMD OMNI enables clinicians to start with a standard 91-day cadence, with the ability to shift individual patients to a 31-day schedule when HF concerns arise—and just as easily de-escalate when stability returns—improving response times and aligning with best practices in heart failure care. This dynamic flexibility supports precision care without overextending resources.

Smart Report Routing

PrepMD OMNI’s automated report assignment tools ensure diagnostics go to the right hands:

• EP data is routed to EP teams
• HF data goes to HF teams
• Both teams retain shared access for full transparency and collaboration when needed. This eliminates duplication while supporting multidisciplinary care.
• The system allows for separate and independent documentation for each care path.

Collaborative Case Management

PrepMD OMNI supports shared case ownership—allowing HF and EP teams to work from a unified profile, with role-based actions and visibility. This bridges the gap between specialties and fosters a more integrated approach to care.

Built-in Billing Logic

With OMNI Care Cycles, clinics do not need to manually track billing intervals. Care Cycles are set up to:

• Track all patient activity on a rolling basis
• Ensure billing intervals are satisfied
• Track upcoming service dates & identify overdue service dates

This ensures billing compliance for both HF and arrhythmia monitoring, even when they stem from the same CIED.

---

III. What It Means for Patients

By solving operational and billing complexities, PrepMD OMNI helps your team spend more of their time on patient care. That includes:

• Timely escalation or de-escalation of care
• Coordinated action from both HF and EP teams
• Individualized monitoring for each patient
• Greater patient confidence in their care journey
  

These desirable outcomes align with the latest ACC/AHA guidelines on heart failure management—emphasizing timely, team-based, and individualized monitoring practices.

---

IV. A Consultative Note to Clinicians

The 2023 HRS Expert Consensus Statement makes it clear: CIED-based remote monitoring should be collaborative, dynamic, and patient-specific. Here at PrepMD, we understand how difficult that is without the right tools in place.

PrepMD OMNI was built to address this challenge—helping your team coordinate across specialties, adjusting monitoring as patients’ needs change, and staying aligned with billing rules—all without increasing your administrative burden.

HF monitoring doesn’t have to be risky or inconsistent. With PrepMD OMNI, it becomes a structured, adaptable, and clinically sound part of your CIED workflow—empowering you to do what you do best: care for your patients.

---

While many clinics default to a 91-day monitoring cadence—often tied to standard device follow-up workflows—a 31-day cadence is more appropriate when patients show signs of heart failure (HF) decompensation. This more frequent review supports timely clinical intervention and aligns with best practices in HF care.

How can clinics overcome workflow challenges in CIED-based HF monitoring?

Adopting flexible tools like PrepMD OMNI allows teams to assign data efficiently, automate cadence changes, and reduce administrative load.

Built-in billing logic, automated interval tracking, and team-specific HF documentation offered by advanced platforms like PrepMD OMNI help reduce missed revenue opportunities and ensure compliance.

---

References

1. Heidenreich PA, et al. “2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure.” Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2022.
   
2. Singh JP, Varma N. “Device-Based Monitoring of Heart Failure: Evolution of a Clinical Paradigm.” Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology Review, April 24, 2023.
   
3. Ferrick A, et al. “HRS Expert Consensus Statement on Remote Monitoring of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices.” Heart Rhythm Society, 2023.

The success of cardiac device clinics depends heavily on the expertise and skills of their staff. Whether onboarding new employees or enhancing the proficiency of experienced team members, selecting the right training program is essential. With the growing demand for cardiac device expertise, clinic managers must prioritize training solutions that provide a strong foundational understanding while equipping teams to adapt to technological advancements and deliver exceptional patient care.

Effective training programs equip staff with the confidence and skills to handle complex clinical scenarios and meet patients’ needs with precision and efficiency. Without proper training, clinics risk increased errors, reduced patient satisfaction due to inefficiencies, and lower staff morale and retention. Investing in high-quality training not only enhances daily operations but also lays the foundation for long-term success, excellence in patient care, and improved financial outcomes for clinics.

What to Look for in a Cardiac Device Clinic Training Program

1. Comprehensive Curriculum

A well-rounded, up-to-date curriculum is essential for both new and experienced staff. While new hires need a clear starting point to build their expertise, experienced employees can greatly benefit from revisiting and reinforcing foundational concepts. 

An effective training program should encompass:

• Core topics, including cardiac anatomy, physiology, rhythm analysis, and therapies such as Brady, Tachy, and CRT.
• Advanced concepts, practical applications, and simulation-based learning, focusing on device operation, troubleshooting, and monitoring.

By blending foundational knowledge with practical application, a comprehensive curriculum equips your team to excel in the ever-evolving field of cardiac device management.

2. Onboarding and Upskilling Made Easy

The onboarding process sets the foundation for a new hire’s success. A strong onboarding process integrates a high-quality technical training program designed to:

• Seamlessly integrate new staff into your clinic’s workflows.
• Minimize errors through structured and effective learning paths.
• Build confidence and competence in handling cardiac device programming and monitoring.

Equally important is the upskilling of existing staff. Training programs that address skill gaps and incorporate best technical practices ensure experienced employees remain competitive, adaptable, and equipped to handle the latest cardiac device technologies. Training programs that offer preparation practice tests also enable experienced staff to take their expertise to the next level by earning credentials such as IBHRE CCDS or CDRMS.

3. Flexible Learning Formats

Flexibility is essential when selecting a training program, as each clinic’s needs are unique. Equally important is evaluating the quality of the training to ensure it meets industry standards. Look for programs that deliver high-quality content with flexible options, such as:

• Online, Self-Paced Modules: Perfect for clinics with demanding schedules, allowing staff to learn at their own pace without sacrificing quality. Programs that use a multi-modal approach – such as animations, knowledge checks, and simulations – boost engagement and help ensure successful course completion.
• Virtual Support: Includes features like live webinars and office hours, providing expert guidance while allowing staff to remain in the clinic during training.
• Hybrid Options: Combines online and in-person training, offering hands-on practical experience in conjunction with conceptual learning.

These flexible, high-quality approaches ensure that training seamlessly integrates into your clinic’s operations, enabling staff to enhance their skills while maintaining patient care.

4. Performance Tracking and Accountability

To gauge the success of your training efforts, programs should include tools for tracking progress and performance. These features might include:

• Regular knowledge checks, assessments and quizzes to evaluate understanding.
• Progress reports for managers to monitor individual and team progress.
• Feedback mechanisms to identify areas for improvement at the end of the training.

By measuring outcomes subjectively as well as objectively, you can continuously refine your training efforts to achieve better results.

5. CEU Accreditation for Professional Development

Continuing Education Unit (CEU) accreditation is a hallmark of a high-quality training program. CEU-accredited programs offer:

• Recognition of professional development efforts, while potentially assuring standardized, high-quality training.
• Enhanced employee motivation, as staff see tangible career benefits.

Selecting a CEU-accredited program not only boosts your clinic’s credibility but also ensures your team is equipped with industry-recognized skills.

Choosing a training program, such as PrepMD Accelerator, is essential for the success of your cardiac device clinic. High-quality training equips staff with the skills and confidence to tackle today’s challenges while staying ahead in a rapidly advancing field. The ideal program features a comprehensive curriculum, flexible learning formats, performance tracking, and CEU accreditation to meet industry standards and clinic-specific needs. Partnering with a provider like PrepMD, with a proven track record of delivering successful training and driving results for major healthcare systems, ensures you’re investing in excellence. By doing so, you can enhance operations, foster professional growth, increase retention, and elevate patient care.

In the evolving landscape of remote monitoring, cardiac device clinics have a unique opportunity to reassess their core operational challenges and seek comprehensive solutions that address their needs holistically. Historically, clinics often focused on data management in isolation, hoping to resolve broader issues. However, clinics continue to face significant personnel challenges, including the current staffing crisis and the need to onboard and upskill existing staff. With recent changes in the remote monitoring space, including the Paceart acquisition, clinics now have the chance to step back, reevaluate, and adopt an integrated approach to enhance patient care and streamline efficiency.

PrepMD OMNI emerges as the only comprehensive solution tailored to meet the evolving needs of clinics, including those migrating from Paceart. It enables clinics to take complete control of their operations, driving both clinical and economic efficiency, while ensuring seamless data transfer and providing access to CareSync — one of the most critical functionalities previously offered by Paceart’s SessionSync.

PrepMD OMNI is much more than just a data management platform—it’s a fully integrated suite of services that empowers clinics to deliver exceptional patient care while optimizing operational efficiency. Here’s why OMNI is the preferred choice for clinics navigating the changes in the cardiac device management landscape:

• Comprehensive Clinic Management: OMNI offers a robust set of tools including on-demand in-clinic staffing, expert IBHRE-certified remote monitoring services, and extensive online device management training. These resources ensure clinics have the support needed to maintain high standards of care throughout the entire device clinic lifecycle.
• Seamless Data Migration from Paceart: Transitioning from Paceart is made effortless with OMNI’s secure and efficient data migration services. Our team ensures patient data is transferred with integrity and compliance, minimizing disruptions and maintaining continuity of care.
• EHR Integration for Enhanced Efficiency: OMNI’s seamless integration with existing EHR systems ensures streamlined data flow and enhanced patient care. This interoperability is crucial for clinics looking to maintain efficient workflows and comprehensive patient records.
• Wireless In-Clinic Data Transfer with CareSync: For clinics that previously relied on Paceart’s SessionSync for in-clinic data transfer from Medtronic SmartSync, PrepMD OMNI now includes CareSync—a built-in wireless transfer feature that seamlessly delivers reports and maintains uninterrupted clinic workflow efficiency.

Amid the current shifts in the industry, PrepMD stands out as a trusted partner, known for its deep relationships not only with world-renowned healthcare systems but also with leading vendors like Medtronic—the former owner of Paceart—as well as Abbott Labs, Boston Scientific, and Biotronik. These partnerships highlight our comprehensive expertise across all specialties within the cardiac space, reflecting our commitment to delivering innovative and effective solutions.

Upgrading to PrepMD OMNI provides clinics with access to a clinician-developed software suite that is designed with a deep understanding of each clinic’s unique needs. OMNI is not only comprehensive and backed by years of clinical expertise but also highly customizable and intuitive, ensuring a seamless onboarding process with minimal training time. This empowers clinics to quickly integrate the software suite, benefiting from advanced solutions and dedicated support that position them for long-term success in the evolving cardiac device management landscape.

As the cardiac device management landscape evolves, clinics need a partner that offers stability, innovation, and comprehensive support. PrepMD OMNI is uniquely positioned to provide this, making it the ideal choice for Paceart customers seeking a seamless transition and continued excellence in patient care. Contact us today to learn more about how PrepMD OMNI can support your clinic’s success.

Transforming Cardiac Device Clinic Software: Beyond Data Management to Comprehensive Clinic Solutions

As the healthcare landscape evolves, so too must the tools we use to manage it. Cardiac device clinics today face numerous challenges in optimally running their operations. While cardiac middleware solutions can streamline workflows, addressing foundational issues like the lack of clinical staffing and training resources is crucial for comprehensive device clinic operations. Today’s technology has the ability to provide tools for easy communication, on-demand learning, and recruiting that go beyond data management. This blog explores a comprehensive suite that enhances clinic operations, addressing these core challenges with cutting-edge tools. A holistic approach in device clinic management software can revolutionize operations, improving efficiency, patient care, and overall performance. 

Broader Needs of Device Clinics:
Device clinics face a range of challenges beyond data management: These challenges are often on-going, cyclical in nature, and need to be addressed in a timely fashion in order for clinics to maintain efficiency, exceptional patient care, and prevent staff burnout. 

• Device Clinic Staffing: High turnover rates have been a challenge for all clinic managers. Once trained staff move on to a new career, or go on extended leave, the time to source and train new staff to be self-sufficient can often exceed more than a year. A complete cardiac device clinic software should provide embedded access to a pool of contract staff, specializing in device management.
• Remote Patient Monitoring: When clinics are short-staffed, keeping up with daily transmissions, triaging alerts, and processing reimbursable reports becomes increasingly challenging, leading to suboptimal patient care, greater risk of liability, missed reimbursable revenue, and burnout for existing staff. A complete cardiac device clinic software should provide embedded access to professional, on-demand remote monitoring services to minimize and even eliminate these challenges during times of being short staffed. 
• Onboarding and Continuous Training: Keeping staff up-to-date with the latest practices and technologies is essential for delivering optimal patient care. Device clinics require a thorough clinical training solution to onboard new staff, assess their skills, and upskill existing clinical staff. A complete cardiac device clinic software should provide embedded access to a robust online training platform. This enables clinic leaders to customize training to meet their clinical team’s needs, offering tailored training based on individual requirements, IBHRE certification preparation, and interactive content specific to the daily operations of a cardiac device clinic.

In conclusion, the evolving role of cardiac device clinic software extends beyond mere data management to address the comprehensive needs of clinics. By incorporating solutions for staffing, remote patient monitoring, and continuous training, these software suites can significantly enhance clinic operations. A holistic approach to clinic management software not only improves efficiency and patient care but also supports the well-being and satisfaction of healthcare professionals.

In our upcoming blog posts, we will delve deeper into each of these critical areas. We’ll explore innovative solutions for device clinic staffing, detailing how integrated contract staffing can seamlessly fill gaps and maintain clinic operations without interruption. We’ll discuss the benefits and implementation of robust on-demand remote monitoring services that ensure continuous, high-quality patient care even during staffing shortages. Additionally, we’ll highlight the importance of continuous training and how cutting-edge online platforms can keep your staff proficient and up-to-date with the latest advancements in cardiac device clinic management.

In the realm of cardiac care, the role of device management software has become increasingly prominent. As clinics and healthcare providers strive to optimize patient outcomes, the reliance on technological solutions has grown. However, the current perception of device management software, primarily seen as a data-centric tool, may be limiting its potential. This blog seeks to explore how the market views device management software and to argue for a broader, more integrated approach in clinic operations.

The Conventional View of Device Management Software

Traditionally, device management software has been perceived primarily as a tool for managing the vast amounts of data generated by cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). This includes consolidating multiple vendor site transmissions, tracking patient device interactions, storing historical data, and facilitating routine checks. The prevailing view in the market has been to evaluate these tools based on their ability to handle and store data efficiently. With the proliferation of advanced technologies, this perception has led to a focus on features like being cloud-based, reducing clicks, centralized, and secure. While these are undoubtedly important, this narrow focus often overlooks the software’s potential to play a more expansive role in clinic management.

The Limitations of a Data-Only Approach

As essential as efficient data management is, focusing solely on this aspect does not address all the operational challenges faced by cardiac clinics. Cycles of high staff turnover, complex training requirements, and the increasing burden of remote monitoring during these cycles are just a few examples of the operational complexities that go beyond mere data handling. For instance, when clinics face staff shortages, a data management tool alone cannot solve the underlying issue of quickly onboarding new staff. Nor can it provide the specialized training required to manage the sophisticated needs of modern CIEDs effectively. Additionally, as remote monitoring becomes more prevalent, the sheer volume of data can overwhelm even the most robust data-centric systems, leading to delays and potential lapses in patient care.

The Need for an Integrated Approach

It’s time to rethink device management software. Beyond just managing data, imagine a solution that transforms the entire operational landscape of the CIED clinics. An integrated approach could dramatically enhance clinic functionality and efficiency.

Imagine a system that not only handles data but also seamlessly improves other key aspects of clinic operations, boosting both staff performance and patient care. The future of device management software involves broadening its scope to meet the evolving demands of cardiac care, ensuring that clinics not only manage their data but also optimize their overall operations. This is the future we envision—one where technology fully supports the complex needs of modern device clinic environments.

Recognizing these gaps, it becomes apparent that device management software should be re-envisioned to encompass more than just data handling. An integrated approach that combines data management with solutions for sourcing qualified staffing, training, and on-demand remote monitoring could transform the operational dynamics of cardiac clinics.

This approach would not only manage data efficiently but also enhance the overall functionality of clinics by:

• Providing dynamic staffing solutions that adapt to clinic needs in real-time.
• Offering built-in, up-to-date, CEU-accredited training modules directly within the software, ensuring all team members are proficient and current in their knowledge.
• Integrating on-demand advanced remote monitoring tools, and experts that can intelligently flag issues and prioritize patient alerts based on risk assessment, thereby improving patient care and staff efficiency.

In conclusion, the current market perception of device management software as primarily a data repository is a narrow view that fails to leverage the full capabilities of modern technology. As the landscape of cardiac care evolves, so too must the tools we rely on. By expanding the role of device management software to include comprehensive clinic management functionalities, we can ensure that clinics are not only managing data but are also optimizing their operations and enhancing patient care.

Contact PrepMD today to learn more about our solutions and comprehensive approach.