Philips rolls out ePatch and AI across Spanish hospitals
Royal Philips has rolled out its wearable ePatch and AI system for heart monitoring in a pilot programme across 14 hospitals in Spain.
The wearable ePatch from Philips is paired with its AI-driven Cardiologs analytics platform to monitor heart arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation (AF) and is a key part of the transformation of Philips to a healthcare focus.
The system provides reliable data for up to 14 days of continuous monitoring and has been proven to detect heart arrhythmias missed by traditional Holter monitors as well as addition to reducing overall costs.
AF significantly increases the risk of stroke, dementia, and heart failure, yet often goes undetected due to its lack of noticeable symptoms and infrequent occurrence intervals.
“The key advantage for healthcare professionals lies in its user-friendly interface and high-quality 14-day continuous recording capabilities,” said Dr. Jorge Pagola, Neurologist Postdoctoral Researcher at University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
“Applied as a chest patch in just a few minutes, it seamlessly integrates an analysis program, facilitating swift examination of recordings. Thanks to its AI-based analysis assistant, AF events can be classified for rapid review by our team. Patients experience enhanced comfort as they are free from cumbersome cables of the conventional Holter, allowing them to dress, shower, and carry out their daily activities without any hindrance.”
“Using the ePatch program, we expedited hospital discharge for 80 patients in 2023. This initiative led to a reduced average length of stay, relieved emergency room pressure, and an estimated total cost reduction of € 28,800 in 2023.”
In addition to Hospital Vall d’Hebron, where Philips’ ePatch is being used to detect post-discharge AF in patients, pilot projects demonstrating the device’s effectiveness in cardiology and neurology are being conducted at other major hospitals in Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Alicante, Madrid, Cadiz, and Navarra. Applications include monitoring patients for AF after cardiac ablation therapy or heart valve replacement procedures, and studies of the link between magnesium insufficiency and AF.
In some Spanish hospitals, the ePatch is helping reduce waiting lists that built up during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 1500 patients are currently being monitored with Philips ePatch devices in Spain.
“This innovative new service allows clinical teams to conveniently monitor patients as they go about their everyday activities for extended periods of time, collecting the real-life data that helps reveal the patient’s true condition,” said Miquel Barras, Ambulatory Monitoring & Diagnostics Lead for Philips in Spain.
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