The OMRON Healthcare mission to eliminate cardiac events is not unlike the Heart Rhythm Society’s vision to end death and suffering due to heart rhythm disorders. Both objectives underscore the importance of education for doctors and patients alike; but as technology and healthcare converge at a rapid pace, staying ahead of the academic curve is more important for medical professionals than ever before.
This past May, the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) hosted their 40th annual educational conference in San Francisco, offering a variety of academic sessions for attendees covering innovations in cardiac pacing, defibrillation, clinical arrhythmia management, ablation, pharmacology, genetics, basic science, health policy, and more. OMRON sponsored a complimentary symposium entitled, “Navigating the Patient-Driven World of Cardiac Recordings: From Guidelines to Real-World Practice” during which attendees received Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits. The symposium explored the benefits and potential challenges of consumer-based EKG recordings for optimally managing Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) patients. Leading faculty experts from around the globe reviewed strategies for empowering patients, consumer-driven and physician-initiated screening for AFib, as well as opportunistic detection of AFib at home. The recording of the symposium is available for viewing through June 2020.
Jim Li, Executive Director of Medical Affairs at OMRON Healthcare, stressed the importance of offering these types of educational opportunities at leading-edge conferences like HRS, particularly in relation to AFib.
“With the aging of the U.S. population, AFib is a growing concern because the stroke risk for people with the condition is five times higher than average,” said Li. “The symposium OMRON is sponsoring is being made available to meet the educational needs of electrophysiologists, cardiologists, fellows and other healthcare professionals who are dedicated to the management of patients with AFib.”
OMRON Healthcare President and CEO, Ranndy Kellogg, participated in two crucial guest panels during the conference as well. The first, titled “The Role of Tech Giants in Healthcare”, generated discussion on the importance of accurate, clinically-validated, FDA-cleared medical devices to enhance patient care as opposed to new health technologies that have not undergone rigorous testing. The second featured a virtual visit with an AFib patient, in which Kellogg explained the importance of getting the right data to the right people at the right time.
“Every patient is different, so OMRON offers a range of medical tech and digital health tools to give every one of them the power to personalize what works best for them,” said Kellogg. “Data is an important conductor for the patient-doctor conversation. OMRON is making it easier to store, track and share—on your terms—so that data can be a central part of better heart-health outcomes.”
During the conference, OMRON Healthcare also featured its newest innovations in heart health technology – Complete™, the first at-home blood pressure monitor with EKG capability, and HeartGuide™, the world’s first wearable blood pressure monitor – a testament to its dedication to the Going for Zero™ mission of eliminating heart attacks and strokes.
As the number of AFib patients in the United States continues to grow, there is a clear and present need for doctors and patients to remain vigilant in their healthcare research. Through educational events like the 2019 HRS Conference, and in tandem with innovative health tech companies like OMRON Healthcare, doctors have the knowledge and tools to better collaborate with their patients, opening a new pathway to more individualized healthcare.