Philips ePatch and AI analytics platform rolled out to 14 hospitals across Spain to monitor heart patients
Philips has launched its wearable ePatch and AI-driven Cardiologs analytics platform in 14 hospitals across Spain.
The ePatch, a 14-day continuous Holter monitor, helps detect life-threatening heart arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation (AF).
Dr. Jorge Pagola of University Hospital Vall d'Hebron highlighted its benefits, including enhanced patient comfort and reduced hospital stays, which saved approximately €28,800 in 2023.
More than 1500 patients are currently being monitored using ePatch devices, reducing wait times and improving care access.
Studies show the ePatch detects 2.5 times more arrhythmias over 14 days compared to traditional 24-hour Holter monitors.
- Successful nationwide rollout of ePatch in 14 hospitals.
- 14-day continuous monitoring provides reliable data.
- AI-driven Cardiologs analytics platform improves arrhythmia detection.
- Enhanced patient comfort compared to traditional monitors.
- Reduced average length of hospital stay and emergency room pressure.
- Estimated cost reduction of €28,800 in 2023 at University Hospital Vall d'Hebron.
- 1500 patients currently monitored, improving care access and reducing wait times.
- ePatch detected 2.5 times more arrhythmias over 14 days compared to traditional 24-hour Holter monitors.
- The press release doesn't provide specific financial impacts on Philips overall revenue or profit.
- No detailed performance metrics beyond the University Hospital Vall d'Hebron provided.
- The cost benefits and efficiencies are primarily anecdotal and not broadly quantified.
Insights
Philips' rollout of the ePatch and AI analytics platform across 14 hospitals in Spain marks a notable advancement in ambulatory cardiac monitoring. Historically, traditional Holter monitors have been limited by shorter monitoring periods and patient discomfort due to cumbersome cables. Philips' ePatch, boasting 14 days of continuous monitoring coupled with an AI-powered analytics platform, can potentially transform how heart arrhythmias, especially atrial fibrillation (AF), are detected and managed.
The ePatch's extended monitoring duration is particularly significant. Traditional Holter monitors, limited to 24-hour periods, often miss intermittent AF episodes, which can be critical for timely diagnosis and intervention. In contrast, the 14-day monitoring capability of ePatch greatly enhances the likelihood of capturing such events. Moreover, the AI-driven analysis platform enables faster and more accurate diagnostics, reducing the workload on clinical staff and potentially improving patient outcomes.
From a cost perspective, reducing emergency room congestion and shortening hospital stays—as evidenced by the €28,800 cost savings at Vall d’Hebron Hospital in 2023—can lead to substantial financial benefits for healthcare facilities. These efficiencies may also translate into reduced overall healthcare costs and improved patient throughput.
Philips' strategic expansion of its ePatch and AI analytics platform into the Spanish healthcare market signals a potentially lucrative business move. The successful integration of these technologies in 14 major hospitals across Spain showcases Philips' ability to secure high-value contracts and penetrate new markets. This rollout could lead to increased revenue streams from both the sale of devices and ongoing service contracts for data analytics and support.
The financial implications of improved healthcare outcomes and operational efficiencies are significant. Reduced hospital stays and emergency room visits directly correlate with lower operational costs, thereby enhancing the financial performance of healthcare providers. This aspect is particularly appealing to hospital administrators and policymakers focused on cost containment and efficiency improvements.
Investors should also consider the long-term benefits of widespread ePatch adoption. As Philips demonstrates the clinical and economic advantages of their system, other regions and countries may follow suit, broadening the market for these solutions. This could potentially drive sustained growth and solidify Philips' position as a leader in the medical device and health tech industry.
The introduction of Philips’ ePatch and AI analytics platform in Spain highlights a growing trend towards digital health solutions and remote patient monitoring. The healthcare industry is increasingly turning to technology to address challenges such as patient monitoring, especially in the context of chronic conditions like AF. This trend is likely to continue, driven by the dual pressures of aging populations and the need for more efficient healthcare delivery systems.
Patient comfort and compliance are critical factors in the success of such devices. The ePatch’s design, which allows patients to maintain their daily activities without the inconvenience of cables, marks a significant improvement over traditional monitors. This could lead to higher patient compliance rates and more accurate data collection, further driving the adoption of similar technologies.
The competitive landscape in the cardiac monitoring market is evolving, with numerous players introducing advanced solutions. However, Philips' combination of extended wearability and AI-driven analytics offers a strong competitive edge. Their established brand reputation and existing relationships with healthcare providers also provide a significant advantage in gaining market share.
May 22, 2024
- Philips wearable ePatch and AI analytics platform help detect potentially life-threatening irregular heartbeats
- The solution helps University Hospital Vall d’Hebron achieve reduced average length of stay, relieve emergency room pressure, and reduce costs
Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Madrid, Spain – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced the successful nationwide rollout of its ambulatory cardiac monitoring service in Spain using its unique wearable ePatch paired with its AI-driven Cardiologs analytics platform. 14 Spanish healthcare providers across the country are now using the company’s ePatch extended wear Holter monitors to detect life-threatening heart arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation (AF). The solution has been proven to detect heart arrhythmias missed by traditional Holter monitors, enhance patient comfort, improve care access, and potentially better clinical outcomes, in addition to reducing overall costs.
Philips’ ePatch provides reliable data for up to 14 days of continuous monitoring. When paired with Philips’ AI-driven Cardiologs analytics platform, the solution empowers the hospitals’ cardiology and neurology teams with an end-to-end solution that enhances their ability to detect and diagnose AF – a potentially life-threatening [1] cardiac arrhythmia and also the world’s most common. 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."
Dr. Jorge Pagola further explains, “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
Pilot programs in major hospitals across Spain
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 [3]. 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 ease-of-use and cost benefits of Philips ePatch are helping reduce waiting lists that built up during the COVID-19 pandemic, making a tangible difference to people’s access to care. In total, more than 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.
In a recent US study comparing the diagnostic abilities of 7-day and 14-day monitoring with Philips’ extended wear ePatch compared to conventional 24-hour Holter monitoring, the ePatch detected 2x more clinically significant heart arrhythmias during 7 days of monitoring and more than 2.5x as many over 14 days [4].
[1] Heart.org
[2] Data on file in hospital Vall d'Hebron
[3] Madrid: Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Hospital Universitario Infanta Elena, Hospital de La Princesa, University Hospital Quironsalud Madrid, Hospital Universitario Rey Juan Carlos. Barcelona: Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Hospital de Sant Joan Despí Moisès Broggi, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospital de Sant Pau. Bilbao: Hospital Universitario Cruces. Alicante: Hospital General Universitario de Elche. Cadiz: Hospital Universitario De Jerez. Navarra: Hospital General de Navarra.
[4] Parikh, P, Grigoriadis, C, Dunn, A. et al. Diagnostic Yield of 24-hour Holter vs 7-day and 14-day ePatch Extended Wear Holter. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2023 Mar, 81 (8_Supplement) 149. Research conducted by Philips ECG Solutions.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1097(23)00593-4
For further information, please contact:
César García Requena
Philips Ibérica
Tel: +34 670 264 471
Email: cesar.garcia.requena@philips.com
Joost Maltha
External Relations
Tel: +31 6 10 55 8116
Email: joost.maltha@philips.com
About Royal Philips
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being through meaningful innovation. Philips’ patient- and people-centric innovation leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver personal health solutions for consumers and professional health solutions for healthcare providers and their patients in the hospital and the home. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, image-guided therapy, monitoring and enterprise informatics, as well as in personal health. Philips generated 2023 sales of EUR 18.2 billion and employs approximately 69,100 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.
Attachments
- Woman wearing Philips ePatch
- Philips ePatch
- Dr. Jorge Pagola Val dHebron
- Philips Cardiologs AI analytics platform
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