Affinity Health System physicians implant new wireless pacemaker

October 8, 2009

Menasha, Wis. - Physicians practicing at both St. Elizabeth Hospital and Mercy Medical Center have implanted a new pacemaker equipped with wireless technology that can notify physicians of changes in their patients’ device or condition. The latest technology, developed by St. Jude Medical, improves patient care and makes device follow-up more efficient and convenient for both patients and physicians.

Dr. Zenoun Abouzelam at St. Elizabeth Hospital Heart, Lung  & Vascular Center in Appleton and Dr. Issam Al-Bitar, Mercy Medical Center’s Heart & Lung Center in Oshkosh, implanted the Accent RF pacemakers to monitor patients’ hearts and provide electronic stimulation when the heart beats too slowly.

The pacemaker enables Abouzelam and Al-Bitar to monitor their patients’ devices while patients are at home. On scheduled check-up dates, data from the pacemaker is wirelessly sent to the physician.

“The new pacemaker gives patients the convenience of care from home, while still allowing physicians to follow patients, “ says Abouzelam. “It demonstrates Affinity’s promise of personalized care, by giving the patient a more convenient way to have their health managed.”

In addition to regular device follow-up appointments, the wireless communication also enables the device to automatically alert physicians to important changes with the device or patient’s heart rhythm between scheduled device checks.

The Accent™ RF pacemaker is the first pacemaker with automatic test results and complete diagnostics that can be accessed via wireless communication in a clinic or from the patient’s home.

ABOUT ACCENT RF IMPLANTS: Cardiac pacemakers are used to treat bradycardia, which is a heart rate that is too slow. These devices monitor the heart and provide electrical stimulation when the heart beats too slowly for each patient's specific physiological requirements.

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Network Health has offered customized commercial and Medicare health insurance services to area employers, individuals and families since 1982, and through its strong reputation for providing quality health care coverage and excellent customer service has grown to serve thousands of people in Northeast Wisconsin and beyond. Each year since 2002, Network Health has received the highest possible "Excellent" accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its commercial HMO insurance plans, and annually since 2004 it has been ranked in the Top 50 Health Insurance Plans in U.S. News and World Report's NCQA Best Health Plans in America listing.