Medtronics

[cabinfever]

Has anyone else had the computer doctor from Medtronics and if so - what do you think of it?

They sent me home with one after covid last July and so far - only missed one day. I think that is is a brilliant idea because all of the vitals and specifics are sent to the Doctors and Nurses who monitor the numbers and contact you if there is a possible problem with blood pressure or heart rate or weight or oxygen and blood sugar - also different medical information that is quite useful.

Until I had one I had never heard of them but now I wonder if it would be a good idea for everyone to have one.

The main reason - I have 100% more awareness now about my physical health and am 100% more informed than I would have been had I not had this machine but for me - the best effect is that I am "tuned in". Before this - I would do something like stop drinking coffee and eventually I would forget why I stopped and start again - and then rinse and repeat. Now - I am tuned in to what I eat - exercise and how the decisions I make affect my health in real time instead of hindsight and as a direct result I changed some habits I think permanently because I could correlate them daily when I saw the effect they have.

I now see this as a positive from having covid because I am far healthier now in large part because of the Medtronic machine.

Has anyone else had one and if so -what do you think about it?

 

[Rickrock]

I had never heard of it before. No, I don't have one.

 

[cabinfever]

I had never heard of it before. No, I don't have one.

You aren't alone. No one I know has heard of it before.

The thing is - it would be a great way to bring medical care to alot of people with fairly minimal cost (or at least I am assuming it is minimal and preventative compared to actual in person care)

 

[xyxyxy]

I work at a Medtronic, if that matters.

 

[cabinfever]

I work at a Medtronic, if that matters.

Are they a good company to work for?

I am amazed with the machine and I think about the capabilities and how many lives it might save or money it might save so many people.

What got me thinking about it - recently a nephew and also a lady who used to work for me both had some serious diabetes problems. My nephew wasn't aware he was diabetic and my former employee was passed out (I think in some kind a coma) because of diabetes. Had either of them or I assume millions of people had access to daily information they could potentially become aware and change their habits.

Do you know if their machines will ever be more widely available and mainstream.

 

[KaraBulut]

...Do you know if their machines will ever be more widely available and mainstream.

There's been some good articles in Time about this phenomenon. It's a new flavor of "telemedicine".

We think of telemedicine as being phone and video calls with physicians but this new flavor is designed to be home monitoring that replaces the need for the patient to come to the office or to have a home health provider come to the home.

Like in your experience, COVID-19 has pushed the growth of telemedicine. Because hospitals are now wanting to get patients out of the hospital quickly, we're going to see more and more patients receiving hospital-level care at home.

 

[cabinfever]

There's been some good articles in Time about this phenomenon. It's a new flavor of "telemedicine".

We think of telemedicine as being phone and video calls with physicians but this new flavor is designed to be home monitoring that replaces the need for the patient to come to the office or to have a home health provider come to the home.

Like in your experience, COVID-19 has pushed the growth of telemedicine. Because hospitals are now wanting to get patients out of the hospital quickly, we're going to see more and more patients receiving hospital-level care at home.

Thanks for the articles/links. They answered alot of my questions and the most amazing thing - it is the first time ever I can say I approve of the trump administration for pushing and expanding this.

I know my nurse who is in charge of overseeing the program for me told me in order to qualify for continued service I needed to show up a minimum of 70% of the time or it would end. I only missed one day so I am at least 99% on time.

Another nice thing and why I think it will be a normal thing in the future - my data goes to all of my doctors so when I go to my GP I don't have to tell him alot of "stuff" - it is right there for him to see - same with my Neurologist and Coagulation Clinic and Heart Specialist - I think it is an excellent innovation.

I do wonder with the insurance providers and coverage - it would seem to be less expensive to cover this than a hospital visit but admittedly I don't know how they assign costs or what basis they use.

 

[BillyT]

I have a Loop Recorder from Medtronic. It is implanted in my chest and transmits info daily to my cardiologist.

 

[cabinfever]

I have another interesting benefit to the Medtronics ritual.

When it ended - I had a habit of recording my vital signs and Medtronics helped me become aware of things I hadn't thought about before as I have enjoyed fairly good health most of my life.

The side effect/benefit is due to the Medtonics routine I was in - at the suggestion of my doctor I started doing it all manually every morning and so I have a current and actual awareness of my health and daily stats I never had before which is nice as it helps me help myself.

It would be great if it becomes a mainstream "thing"