CVS Health’s Signify Health intros heart arrhythmia testing
Signify Health, a CVS Health company, has added a heart arrhythmia test to its Diagnostic and Preventive Services offering. This screening broadens the Signify Health range of in-home services designed to support earlier detection, diagnosis and management of the most prevalent medical conditions impacting people’s health.
The prevalence of heart arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeat, is expected to grow because of the aging U.S. population. Atrial Fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia with an estimated one-third of adults being asymptomatic and 1.26-1.52 million cases being undiagnosed. People with undiagnosed heart arrhythmias struggle with symptoms, such as chest pain, rapid and irregular heartbeat and shortness of breath, and other high-risk diseases, such as stroke and diabetes. Traditional monitoring methods, like the Holter monitor, can incur unnecessary costs and potentially extra steps such as multiple appointments and engagement with multiple providers, the company said.
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“Early detection of heart arrhythmias is critical to enabling treatment that can decrease the likelihood of a complication, like heart failure or stroke. Traditional methods of arrhythmia testing are costly, time-consuming with multiple doctor visits, and are less than optimal for members, which is why Signify Health has launched a proactive approach to help facilitate a timely intervention and reduce the risk of other cardiovascular events” said Heidi Schwarzwald, chief medical officer of Signify Health Home and Community Services.
Members at risk for heart arrhythmias who are eligible will be identified for a screening. From there, Signify Health licensed clinicians will screen members for contraindications, and ask for consent to apply the Continuous ECG patch, which provides real-time capture of cardiac activity. After 14 days of wear, the patch is shared with a cardiologist for review to determine if the member has an arrhythmia. All findings are also shared with the member and their PCP.
Screenings for heart arrhythmias via the Continuous ECG patch can improve the member experience and drive quality outcomes. Studies have shown that 94% of people found the patch more comfortable to wear versus 52% for a Holter monitor — and that a 14-day ECG is two times as effective as a Holter monitor, the company noted.
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Through this new offering, Signify Health aims to expand access to care, striving to connect health plan members to high-value healthcare services to potentially enhance health outcomes.