An Investigation on How to Optimize Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Through a Service Model

Student: Carlos Muñoz, 2018-2019

Sponsor: Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN

Heart failure is a disease that affects 950,000 people in the US every year. In patients with advanced heart failure, Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) is a viable procedure to monitor and improve symptoms. CRT procedure involves the implant of a pacemaker (CRT-P) or defibrillator (CRT-D). However, current techniques do not optimize these devices and are costing patients to have to be readmitted at a high rate. Readmission increases patient cost and reduces patient outcomes. My work with Medtronic will develop a strategy around a service model to optimize CRT-P and CRT-D both at implant of device and follow-up. Our team will be exploring the individual disease states that would benefit from programmer optimization. In particular, I will be exploring the intersection of operations, provider and patient needs and make recommendations around a model that will optimize the service and technology.