NHS England launches new mobile device to assist diagnosis of atrial fibrillation
AliveCor has developed a device approximately the size of a credit card that can measure electrocardiogram (ECG) data through the user’s fingertips. The device, KardiaMobile, is linked to an app on the person’s smartphone which records and processes the information and allows the user to view, save or share the readings with healthcare professionals.
The KardiaMobile technology is being distributed to the NHS via the UK’s Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) as part of an NHS England strategy to accelerate diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). It is claimed that the NHS could save up to £2 billion through use of the technology by reducing costs associated with diagnosing atrial fibrillation which often involve sending patients to hospital for an ECG.