Sebasticook Valley Hospital (SVH) now offers patients who have heart palpitations, arrhythmias, or previously suffered a heart attack a better way to accurately determine if they are at risk for sudden arrhythmic death, which claims millions of lives each year. SVH’s new monitoring device, the General Electric MARS® Ambulatory Electrocardiogram (EKG) system – known as a “Holter monitor” – enables physicians to accurately determine which patients are at risk of sudden arrhythmic death by evaluating 24-48 hours of electrocardiogram tracings with the ability to pick up subtle variations.
A Holter monitor is a portable device that continuously monitors electrical activity of the heart for at least 24 hours: it is commonly used for heart monitoring, but can also be used for monitoring epilepsy. Its extended recording period is often useful for observing occasional cardiac arrhythmias or epileptic events that would be difficult to identify during a shorter period of observation.
According to Mike Peterson, Vice President of Ancillary and Support Services, “Our new system will help area providers to more effectively treat their patients at risk for sudden cardiac death. An added value to our new process is the use of GE-exclusive algorithms that provide additional cardiac information with no additional time, protocols, or electrodes.”
A release from General Electric states that its medical products are relied on by healthcare providers worldwide for medical technology, services, and productivity solutions. GE Medical Healthcare is located in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
“The Holter monitor captures and stores every heartbeat of the patient,” explains Billie Jo Sickler, Director of Laboratory and Respiratory Services. “With that information, a computerized analysis is made using a full suite of algorithms that measure abnormalities that could help clinicians make early treatment decisions and interventions.”
SVH performs thousands of EKGs every year that require follow-up with additional monitoring by a 24-hour or 48-hour ambulatory observation. Use of the Holter monitor may ensure that many of these patients receive the information they need to lead healthier lives – a much-needed benefit for a region of Maine with staggering levels of heart disease.
“It’s a win-win for central Maine and for SVH,” adds Peterson.
SVH is a progressive 25-bed critical-access hospital in Pittsfield, Maine. It was established in 1963 by a group of community leaders, and has been an integral member of the communities it serves ever since. SVH is accredited by The Joint Commission, and is a proud member of the Eastern Maine Healthcare System. |
|
