Requirements for a Telemedicine Center to Monitor LVAD Patients

E-health, especially telemedicine, has undergone a remarkably dynamic development over the last decade. Most experience is currently in the field of telemedical care for heart failure (HF) patients. However, HF patients with an implanted left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) have been more or less excluded from consistent telemonitoring until now. The majority of complications associated with LVAD therapy occur during the post-implantation phase. Effective outpatient management is therefore the key to improving long-term outcome of LVAD patients. Thereby, implementation of a telemedicine center for close monitoring could play an important role, e.g. through early detection of complications. This study provides insights into structural, staff and spatial requirements for a telemedicine center to monitor the special group of LVAD patients, based on comprehensive literature research and expert interviews.