As part of the In-Home Health Evaluation (IHE), Signify Health can help accelerate heart arrhythmia detection and intervention by applying a continuous ECG monitor, a device not routinely administered in the primary care setting yet proven to be twice as effective as a Holter monitor.
Heart arrhythmia (or simply arrhythmia) is when the heart beats too slowly, too fast, or in an irregular way. Some types of arrhythmias are serious and pose immediate health risks, while others may be less severe but can lead to complications such as stroke.
The risk of arrhythmias increases with age which means, due to the growing population of older Americans, the prevalence of arrhythmias has also increased – and is expected to continue. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common arrhythmia in the United States, affecting nearly three million Americans, yet many have AFib and don’t know they have it, don’t have any symptoms, and have not been diagnosed. Undiagnosed AFib individuals tend to be older, have one or more chronic conditions, and are at high risk of stroke and other adverse outcomes including heart failure or death.
Heart arrhythmias are typically detected through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests including the point-of-care electrocardiogram (ECG), Holter monitor, and continuous electrocardiogram (cECG). Nearly half of undiagnosed members with AFib had a previous point-of-care ECG, a test that records the heart’s electrical activity over a few seconds, which likely missed their underlying AFib. Almost all undiagnosed AFib members did not have a Holter monitor or continuous ECG (cECG) completed.
Unfortunately, as members with undiagnosed heart arrhythmias struggle with or without symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath, the common traditional methods for detection (ECG or Holter monitor) can incur unnecessary costs and steps along the member journey with a specialist referral needed from the primary care provider (PCP), and multiple specialist visits for the examination and application of the testing device.
Comfort and convenience
Due to its bulkier size, visible wires, and how it’s worn (around the neck) the Holter monitor can be uncomfortable to wear for many people and disruptive to daily activities like showering and sleeping. In contrast, the cECG is much smaller, wireless, and worn directly on the chest adhering to the skin.
One study showed the significant difference in comfort and convenience between the devices, as 94% of patients found the adhesive monitoring patch (cECG) more comfortable compared to 52% for the Holter monitor. In terms of the impact of the device on daily activities, the cECG affected 11% of patients’ activities of daily living compared to 76% in the Holter monitor group. The physician group that participated in the study also sided with the cECG as 90% thought a definitive diagnosis was achieved using the data from the adhesive patch monitor, as opposed to 64% using data from the Holter monitor.
Our Solution
Signify Health offers a cECG-based solution for proactive, real-time capture of cardiac activity for early detection of specified heart arrhythmias facilitating timely intervention and reducing risk of serious complications. When our Signify Health clinicians apply the monitor as part of the IHE for applicable health plan members, you are giving your members access to the newest and most effective technology they may otherwise not receive in any other healthcare setting. The care coordination that follows a screening period resulting in a detected heart arrhythmia will only further delight members as they and their care management team will have information needed to take their next best action towards better health. With Signify Health’s cECG-based solution, your health plan can help improve cardiac management resulting in fewer cardiac events, hospital admissions, helping to mitigate downstream costs.
How it works:
- Signify Health will help identify members at risk for heart arrhythmias to be eligible for a screening.
- Signify Health clinicians will screen the member for contraindications, and ask for consent to apply the cECG monitor which provides real-time capture of cardiac activity.
- After 14 days of wear, the member mails the monitor to our vendor where a cardiologist reviews the cECG monitor data for result interpretation, assertion and documentation of diagnosis if appropriate.
- Results will be shared with you, your member, and their PCP if known. Members with abnormal results will be notified of their results by a cardiologist or nurse.
If needed, Signify Health can also help connect members to care with PCP scheduling and Cardiovascular specialist referrals and scheduling.
Value to Members
A member with untreated AFib is five times more at risk for stroke and three times more at risk of developing heart failure. Early detection of heart arrhythmias enables medically necessary treatment that can decrease the likelihood of a dangerous complication. Many health plan members likely have undetected AFib or other arrhythmia. In nearly half of these members, they have had a previous ECG that missed the arrhythmia.
- Eligible members receive end-to-end service that includes the IHE, the cECG, and when indicated, follow up with a PCP and cardiologist or other specialists.
- Long wait times are alleviated with Signify Health’s intervention resulting in the member being connected to the care they need sooner.
- Peace of mind and improved confidence in a member’s level of care not only results in better member compliance but can also lead to increased loyalty to their health plan.
Value to Health Plans
- Early detection enables timely intervention that can decrease the risk of complications such as stroke, sudden death and heart failure
- Enhance member experience with the comfort and convenience of continuous ECG monitors - 94% of members found the monitor more comfortable to wear vs 52% for a Holter monitor
- Drive quality care with improved cardiac management resulting in fewer cardiac events, hospital admissions - A 14-day ECG is 2x as effective as a Holter monitor
American Heart Month is an annual observance held every February to raise awareness about cardiovascular health and encourage individuals, families, and communities to adopt heart-healthy habits. It is spearheaded by organizations like the American Heart Association (AHA) and supported by various public health agencies and organizations, including Signify Health.
As we recognize the importance of Heart Health, join Signify Health in impacting cardiac care—helping to ensure you and your members receive the best in heart health management, conveniently and efficiently.
Learn more about Signify Health’s solution for early detection of specified heart arrhythmias.