Project

A sustainable financing model for the telemonitoring of patients with cardiac implanted electronic devices.

Code
3S000521
Duration
01 November 2021 → 31 October 2025
Funding
Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
Research disciplines
  • Medical and health sciences
    • Cardiology
    • Health care financing
    • Health economy
    • Health information systems of medical informatics
Keywords
Healthcare financing model Telemonitoring of patients with cardiac implanted electronic devices Health-economic analysis
 
Project description

Telemonitoring of patients with Cardiac Implanted Electronic Devices (CIEDs) refers to the process of using telecommunication and information technology to monitor the health status of a patient from a distance. It has emerged as a tool to evaluate several parameters of the cardiovascular physiology and risk of the patient. Moreover, it enables clinicians to promptly initiate the appropriate treatment and care, and prevent a full manifestation of a cardiac decompensation. However, the use of telemonitoring is discouraged by the current healthcare financing models. The traditional fee-for-service (FFS) models are challenged by the modalities of telemonitoring: telemonitoring has the possibility to reduce the number of follow-up visits, while FFS models would stimulate the number of follow-up visits. Therefore, this project aims to develop a sustainable financing model for the telemonitoring of CIEDs. To create this model, a health-economic analysis will be conducted to examine the clinical effects and cost savings of telemonitoring using long-term and routine practice data. The modalities of the financing model will be discussed with cardiologists, nurse specialists and patients. Different situations will be simulated to develop the optimal financing model. This research might stimulate future researchers to investigate sustainable healthcare financing models for other telemonitoring applications, including applications in other medical fields.