There’s an app for just about everything including a newly updated app that can take a medical grade EKG reading.
The app is called Kardia and it’s cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
NewsChannel 9 brought questions about the app to St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center’s cardiology team and the inquiry prompted them to try it out for themselves.
Not long after asking about this app and heart health apps in general, St Joseph’s Cardiology Director Dr. Russell Silverman took note of the new technology that could enhance the way he helps his patients
Kardia will tell you if your heart rhythm is normal or if atrial fibrillation is detected.
“It’s a really good application for something happening now,” Silverman explained. “It does not replace talking to somebody if you’re having chest pain, worsening short of breath, your heart is racing and you passed out. It does not replace any of that.”
While Silverman is optimistic about the advancement of technology for mobile heart apps, he says it needs to be clear and understood that consulting with your regular doctor or specialist needs to remain a part of your health outlook.
To use the app, you must download it from the app store on your phone. It costs $100 per year and a small touchpad that is required for the app is also around $100.
The touchpad immediately syncs with your phone and then you are able to record an EKG through the app by using the touchpad. The reading takes about 30 seconds and then you have the option to email it directly to your health care provider.
“It does not replace medically accepted interventions or evaluations,” Silverman said. “But it can, and I’m sure, will lead to diagnosis that were previously not discovered.”
The app can also record your EKG to a tablet or smartphone watch. The watch application, Kardia Band, would require an additional piece to be purchased in order for your smartphone watch to record the reading.
According to Silverman, the latest and best technology for implantable cardiac monitors is very effective, but is likely to cost thousands of dollars. An implant usually lasts for about three years, according to Silverman.
If you and your doctor decide together to try the app before an implant, if necessary for your health, then Silverman says it could be a viable option to spend $200 for a year and try something like Kardia. It’s important to note that using the app is not covered by insurance.
Silverman says he’s considering talking to his Cardiology Team at St Joe’s about potentially purchasing a few app downloads and touchpads to run a trial with a half-dozen patients to see how it can work hand-in-hand with patient care.
To learn more about the app, click here.