Care first: e-health application definitively in care offer

The e-health application TeleCheck-AF was developed by cardiologists from the Maastricht UMC+† The method and accompanying app, Fibricheck, is now standard used in patients who suffer from atrial fibrillation and other supraventricular heart rhythm disorders. Patients measure their own heart rhythm via the app. The measurement data is automatically and securely sent to the cardiologist, who analyzes the results and gives treatment advice remotely, via telephone or a video call consultation.

VGZ reimburses e-health application

As mentioned, the use of e-health applications is by no means new. Until now, however, the application of methods for remote care has remained largely experimental, part of research projects and without structural agreements on reimbursement by health insurers. The agreement that MUMC+ and VGZ have now concluded on the structural compensation of Telecheck-AF is a first for the Netherlands.

It is still a local agreement between hospital and health insurer. However, the NZa has now honored this agreement through a settlement. This offers scope so that other hospitals can also easily make agreements with the health insurer(s) about this form of digital care.

“The development and application of TeleCheck-AF is the largest project in the field of digital care in the corona crisis in Europe. At the moment 41 centers – with more than 4000 patients – participate and use the Fibricheck app for this. The MUMC+ is the initiator and initiator, but now also the first hospital in Europe to have definitive agreements about financing, thanks to the good and close collaboration with VGZ,” says MUMC+ cardiologist Dominik Linz.

The Fibricheck app, part of TeleCheck-AF, was developed in Belgium. The company has also been working with Fitbit for a long time. Together developed it is already an application that closely monitors the heart rhythm via the smartwatch.

Substantial savings on healthcare costs

The use of e-health applications offers many advantages. The well-known arguments have been reviewed here many times and range from fewer physical hospital visits for patients to a lower workload for healthcare staff. E-health applications and digital (remote) care in general is an important factor in the aim to keep healthcare affordable and accessible in the future.

In addition, e-health applications can also lead to structural savings on healthcare costs. This has been calculated for Telecheck-AF. Nationally, there are approximately 142,000 patients who visit a cardiologist annually and are eligible for the use of TeleCheck-AF. If all other hospitals use TeleCheck-AF, a saving of approximately €24 million in healthcare costs is possible, the MUMC+ and VGZ have calculated.

“The working method developed by MUMC+ is a very good example of digitally sensible care and we therefore see it as a ‘good practice’. Thanks to this step and thanks to the close collaboration between MUMC+ and VGZ, the working method can be further scaled up to other hospitals and in the near future even more of our members will be able to use this innovative care,” says Nils van Herpen, Healthcare Innovation Manager at VGZ.