Zio XT Monitor

With Zio, WHS Cardiovascular Care Offers New Way to Detect Irregular Heartbeats

By Andrew Wilson

A cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, can be tricky. It’s quite common for an arrhythmia to go undetected during testing in a doctor’s office but occur only when a patient attempts to do one of his or her normal daily activities.

Washington Health System (WHS) Cardiac Diagnostics has a new diagnostic tool that records every beat of patients’ hearts while they stand, walk, or sleep. Once attached to the patient, this ambulatory cardiac monitor, called Zio by iRhythm, can be worn for up to 14 days while the patient is at home, work, or enjoying a leisure activity.

The concept of recording patients’ heart activity away from the doctor’s office is not new. Holter monitors – a portable device that monitors the wearer’s heart – have been around for decades but can be cumbersome and patients never forget that they have it on. In contrast, Zio is small, unobtrusive, and water-resistant – no bigger than a patch or a larger band-aid – and patients often report that they forgot they were wearing it. Best of all, the Zio system has a proven track record of detecting and diagnosing irregular heart rhythms better than traditional holter monitors. Data shows that 73 percent of patients who wore a Zio monitor were diagnosed with an arrhythmia vs. only 20 percent by a traditional monitor.

WHS Cardiac Diagnostics warns that arrhythmias may occur in patients of any age. Doctors may order a patient to wear a Zio monitor if the patient feels their heartbeat is too slow, too fast, or just beating irregularly. It may also be ordered if patients pass out, experience shortness of breath, or have a stroke, among other symptoms or issues.

Once an arrhythmia is diagnosed, there are a number of next steps that a WHS cardiologist may order. This may include additional, more invasive testing, medication management, or inserting a pacemaker, to name just a few. Because an arrhythmia may lead to much more serious issues, it should never be dismissed as nothing, and, if suspected, always should be mentioned to your doctor during physical examinations.

The WHS Heart and Vascular Program offers a comprehensive array of diagnostic and treatment services to residents of Allegheny, Washington, Greene and neighboring counties. WHS accepts most major insurance plans. If you have questions regarding Zio or other treatments, please call (724) 579-1575

What to Know About the Zio Monitor

There are 2 types of Zio monitors: Zio XT and Zio AT:

  • Zio XT is the long-term continuous monitor that is for asymptomatic or infrequent symptoms. It may be for the patient that is lower risk having palpitations, fluttering, afib management, or shortness of breath. This monitor is recording for 3-14 days and then mailed in to be analyzed. This may be ordered by a primary care physician.

  • Zio AT is the mobile cardiac telemetry. It is for more frequent symptoms and diagnosis such as passing out, suspect heart blocks, or stroke. This is for the higher risk patient and must be ordered by a cardiologist. This monitor is transmitted to iRhythm and monitored real-time while you are wearing it.

Zio XT is covered by many major commercial insurance providers in the US and Medicare due to its proven ability to help your doctor make confident care decisions. Zio AT may require an insurance authorization, which iRhythm will obtain. iRhythm has a team of dedicated patient advocates available at 1-888-693-2401 to answer any questions you may have about your potential cost.

Here's how it works:

  1. Your healthcare provider will prescribe a Zio monitor and schedule it at Washington Hospital or WHS-Greene Hospital. It will be applied to your chest at that appointment.

  2. If you feel anything that you think might be unusual, press the top of the Zio patch. Then briefly describe it in the provided symptom log booklet or on the MyZio mobile app.

  3. After your prescribed wear time, simply remove the monitor, put your log booklet, and monitor back in the same box it came in. Then drop it into any USPS mailbox.

  4. Once you ship your Zio monitor back, iRhythm will review the data and typically send a report to Washington Health System within one to four business days. Your healthcare provider will let you know when they are ready to review the results with you.lth.

To schedule a Zio Monitor call WHS cardiology scheduling at 724-579-1575.