Zio iRhythm Technologies

Both my husband and I worked in health care for many years - he as a surgeon; me as a nurse - mostly in administration. We both visited our cardiologist yesterday - he for tachycardia; me for another abnormal EKG. In the old days there used to be halter monitors that you would wear for a week or so to check for arrhythmias. It was like wearing a purse attached to many wires that were attached to patches on the skin. It was clunky, but that was the technology back then. So the cardiologist wanted to monitor my husband’s heart rhythm for a week. What he was set up with is so much nicer than the old days. It’s a patch that is worn on the skin on the left side of the chest. You can wear the patch in the shower, just not swimming. If you notice any palpitations or tachycardia, you push the button and will hear a click. Whatever is going on gets recorded and there is a diary you fill in that describes what is happening during the event. You can write in the journal, on the website, or the app called “myzio.” We downloaded the app and entered the serial number on his device. When the week is done, you take off the patch, stick it in the booklet, and mail it all to iRhythm Technologies somewhere in Illinois for interpretation. The results are then sent to the doctor who then determines any next steps. So far my husband has not needed to push the button or make any comments. I’m hoping he will never have to. It’s just amazing how medicine and nursing have changed since we were practicing. It’s so much easier all the way around.