In the current economy where hospitals are tightening their belts to help get through tough times, technology can aid in cost cutting by increasing physician and staff efficiency.

The use of remote, prehospital ECG transmission systems by emergency medical services (EMS) can help quickly identify ST-elevated myocardial infarctions (STEMI) and allow earlier activation of the cath lab prior to the patient’s arrival at the hospital. Users of these systems say earlier diagnosis and cath lab activation is key to significantly reduce door-to-balloon (D2B) times.

Interventionalists using radial instead of femoral access say it significantly cuts bleeding complications, infection rates, readmissions and aids patient comfort and ambulation.

There has been a growing trend in electrophysiology toward remote, home monitoring of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices, pacemakers and implantable cardiac monitors. These systems were displayed prominently on the show floor and discussed in several sessions in May at Heart Rhythm 2009 in Boston.