Telemetry outside critical care units: patterns of utilization and influence on management decisions

Guidelines for the use of telemetry in hospitalized patients have been proposed by the American College of Cardiology (ACC). However, there have been only a few studies which have investigated the usefulness of these guidelines in clinical practice.

This study assessed the role of telemetry in the decision making process outside the critical care units.

The observational study, lasting 4 weeks, was conducted in the telemetry unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital and included 61 male patients (age range 40-61 years). They had been directly admitted to the telemetry unit or transferred from a critical care unit and were followed for as long as telemetry was active. Indication for telemetry and the contribution of telemetry to management decisions were assessed by a physician not involved in the care of the patient.

Cumulative number of telemetry days was 379 with a mean of 6.2 days per patient. Total number of telemetry events was 297. According to the ACC classification, 14 patients (22.9%) had class I indication, 21 patients (34.4%) had class II indication, and 26 patients (42.6%) had class III indication. Telemetry events were seen in 18.2% of class I patients, in 39.7% of class II patients, and in 42.1% of class III patients. Only 12 telemetry events (4%) resulted in patient management, with none belonging to class III.

Telemetry findings in patients outside the critical care units are not usually responsible for major therapeutic changes. The value of telemetry in such patients may be overrated.