Researchers from the School of Informatics and Computing at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis are developing information technology that may help chronic heart failure patients have greater access to their person health data. The goal is to enable quick and preventative action to protect those suffering with chronic heart failure.
The technology project, dubbed Power to the Patient, is the effort of a team led by Richard J. Holden, an assistant professor of health informatics in the School of Informatics and Computing at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Just recently, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality awarded Holden $293,786 to conduct the 18-month project.
Patients with chronic heart failure often receive an implantable electronic device that delivers cardiac resynchronization therapy along with other interventions. The device also collects data on cardiac function and device activity. It is the intent of Power to the Patient to use that data to improve self-care by delivering personalized health information to the patient immediately.
Currently, data from the electronic devices are transmitted to a collection point on a secure server and then made available to clinical staff for review. Patients eventually either receive a form letter saying all is well or are asked to visit the clinic for follow-up, according to Holden.
The Power to the Patient system will process data from the implantable devices alongside patient-reported information entered via a simple user interface, he said. It will then transmit reports and recommendations directly to the patient through a variety of user interface channels, such as an online patient portal or a wrist-worn smartwatch.~MD