A Heartfelt Journey: How the Implantable Loop Recorder is Transforming Care for Veterans
Have you ever had to wear a heart monitor for two weeks? Was it uncomfortable? Did it truly capture the necessary information to ensure your heart's health?
Anna Jerrett, APRN and Retired Army Veteran, knows this experience all too well. She faced recurrent heart episodes, understanding the potential dangers lurking within each one. As a seasoned nurse, Anna tried several external heart monitors, but they always seemed to fall short—until her doctor introduced her to a revolutionary method for monitoring her heart.
“With all my nursing experience, I know all the tricks to care for and work with heart monitors,” shared Anna. “However, they would fall off or not last long enough to document the episodes.”
External heart monitors, while useful for short-term symptoms, are often cumbersome and uncomfortable. Typically worn for just two weeks, they require wires and patches, causing minor skin irritation and imposing restrictions like avoiding bathing, showering, or swimming to prevent inaccurate readings.
Dr. Riley Foreman, a cardiologist at the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO) presented Anna a solution that VHSO now offers: The Implantable Loop Recorder (ILR).
“They are inserted just under the skin on the left upper chest,” explained Dr. Foreman. “Ms. Jerrett is the third patient to receive the Implantable Loop Recorder at VHSO. This device will be able to detect complex arrhythmias and various other diagnostic conditions.”
Implantable Loop Recorders offer long-term heart rhythm monitoring, crucial for diagnosing intermittent or subtle abnormalities that short-term devices might miss. ILRs can record heart activity for up to six years, making them ideal for identifying elusive or sporadic issues that might evade shorter-term monitoring like Holter monitors.
“I knew I wanted to come home to Fayetteville VA Medical Center to have my procedure done,” said Anna. “VHSO provides the best care. The staff offers personalized care, are incredibly friendly, and follow up diligently with their patients.” Anna and her husband are traveling Veterans, meaning they can receive the same high-quality care while on the road as they would at home from the VA.
Just after her procedure, Anna expressed her gratitude, saying she feels fortunate to be a Veteran and blessed to receive such exceptional care. With the advent of ILRs, Veterans like Anna now have access to better information, fewer visits, and improved care, marking a significant step forward in heart health monitoring.
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