Reuters reports that New Yorker Carol Kasyjanski has become the world’s first recipient of a pacemaker with Wi-Fi that allows her doctor to monitor her health over the Internet— and in real-time.
Three weeks ago the 61-year-old became the first person *in the world* to be implanted with a pacemaker that has a wireless home monitoring system that regularly transmits critical information to her doctor with Internet speed. So when she shows up for her routine check-ups at St. Francis Hospital in Rosyln, New York, her doctor will have logged into his computer, learned most of what he needed to know about his patient, and about 90 percent of the appointment will already be done.
Kasyjanski, who has suffered from a severe heart condition monitored by a pacemaker for more than 20 years, says the device has given her renewed confidence. Previously, a pacemaker malfunction was only noticeable when she passed out. Now, she can rest assured that someone would be alerted by the slightest change and could have it fixed quickly.
Dr. Steven Greenberg, the director of St. Francis’ Arrhythmia and Pacemaker Center, said the server and the remote monitor communicate at least once a day, downloading all the relevant information and will alert the doctor and patient if anything is unusual. “If there is anything abnormal, and we have a very intricate system set up, it will literally call the physician responsible at two in the morning if need be,” he said.
The wireless pacemaker, made by St. Jude Medical Inc., received FDA approval in July.
Kasyjanski, an account clerk, said it was frightening initially to be the first person to be implanted with the device but her fears have slowly been replaced by a sense of relief, knowing that her heart is under constant watch.