In-home cardiac monitoring system for cardiac patients during a pandemic such as COVID-19
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has direct and indirect health effects on patients with cardiac conditions. The Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) has recommended deferring any patients deemed ‘low risk’ for monitoring and health authorities across Canada have ordered that most patients in cardiac wards be sent home to minimize the risk of contracting COVID-19. However, there is no in-home cardiac monitoring system that can provide the necessary functionalities and capacities for these patients, leaving these them in a highly vulnerable situation. The current project aims at developing a smart wearable cardiac monitor device that at-home patients or their family members can use, with minimal assistance from healthcare professionals. The device will provide clinical-grade electrocardiogram (ECG) in non-clinical environment, identify key cardiac condition abnormalities and securely transmit the acquired signal to attending cardiologist(s) remotely. The ultimate goal is to provide cardiac patients, who are staying at home or long-term care facilities, with clinical-grade cardiac monitoring service even if they are not able to physically stay at clinical facilities, such as during the COVID‑19 crisis.
