Afib Flow: Addressing unmet needs in the post-stroke pathway

Aug 05, 2023 - 6 min. read time

In this new blog post, we’ll have a closer look at our cardiology Flows (specifically AFib Flow), exploring its unique features and benefits for cardiologists, hospitals, and patients.

Vinoy Vijayan
Medical Stakeholder Ambassador

Afib Flow: Addressing unmet needs in the post-stroke pathway

Aug 05, 2023 - 6 min.

In this new blog post, we’ll have a closer look at our cardiology Flows (specifically AFib Flow), exploring its unique features and benefits for cardiologists, hospitals, and patients.

Reach out to our experts

*Please note that CardioCare Afib is now known as Afib Flow.*

This is part two of a three-part series on the role of remote patient monitoring in the post-stroke pathway.

In our previous blog post, we delved into the transformative potential of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and its application in post-stroke care, specifically for patients who have experienced cryptogenic stroke. We examined the shortcomings of current stroke care pathways, notably the delays and discomfort caused by existing heart monitoring devices such as Holter monitors and implantable loop recorders. We highlighted the critical need for longer-term cardiac monitoring to improve early detection of cardiac risk factors like atrial fibrillation, leading to more timely intervention and improved patient outcomes.

We also introduced Afib Flow which Byteflies developed to address these gaps in post-stroke care. Building upon the Byteflies platform, we created a robust, patient-centric cardiac monitoring service that addresses the limitations of conventional systems while enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of patient care. Crucially, this innovative system possesses the flexibility to adapt to surges in demand — a necessity underscored by the recent pandemic.

In this new blog post, we’ll have a closer look at our Cardiology Flows (specifically AFib Flows), exploring its unique features and benefits for cardiologists, hospitals, and patients. We delve into the details of our innovative pay-per-use model, end-to-end logistics, and on-demand service, and how these elements combine to extend the reach of healthcare providers and improve the overall quality of cardiac care.

Flows: remote patient monitoring that can be tailored to your patients

Our Flows work in five steps:

  1. Prescription: Healthcare Providers (HCPs) prescribe the remote monitoring solution.
  2. Distribution: Byteflies ensure the corresponding hardware is delivered to patients or HCPs.
  3. Usage: Patients, possibly with caregiver assistance, utilize the monitoring tools at home.
  4. Data processing: The platform processes received patient data every day to derive clinically relevant insights.
  5. Reports: HCPs can generate on-demand reports, allowing them to adjust the monitoring period and make informed diagnostic decisions based on near real-time data.

Afib Flow: The first of many

Our cardiology Flows are a prime example of the versatility of our services. We took our core Byteflies platform technology, added specific requirements from cardiology, and developed Afib Flow. From there, we tailored it for three different service levels:

  • AFib Flow
  • Plus Flow
  • 24h Flow

AFib Flow

AFib Flow is designed for cryptogenic stroke patients. It’s an advanced monitoring solution that continuously monitors the heart, identifies potential cardiac risk factors and shares this crucial data with the healthcare provider. This enables quicker, more accurate therapeutic decision-making, potentially reducing severe complications. Additionally, our Flows enable collaboration, connecting all care providers to the patient and data.

How the Cyptogenic stroke care path changes with the incorporation of CardioCare@Home

As an alternative to traditional 1–7 day ECG monitoring for cryptogenic stroke patients, Afib Flow enables faster diagnosis, more responsible usage of hospital resources, and a more patient-centric home monitoring system.

How Do our Cardiology Flows Work?

Our Flows are prescribed by a healthcare provider, and offers continuous at-home screening for cardiac rhythm risk factors, typically spanning 1–4 weeks.

The solution puts the patient at the center and gathers more data than other technology, allowing healthcare providers to improve the efficiency and efficacy of their care.

This integrated end-to-end system consists of:

  1. A wearable Cardiac Patch: Continuously records ECG and motion.
  2. Docking Station: Securely transfers recorded data from the patient’s patch to the Byteflies Cloud.
  3. Byteflies Cloud: Securely stores the recorded encrypted data, analyzes the input, and generates insights. Byteflies is fully GDPR compliant.
  4. Data Annotation Workflow: Marks the recorded data to highlight events of interest for the healthcare professional team to review.
  5. Cardio Flow Pro: A web-based dashboard allowing HCPs to interact with the data and annotated events. It also generates reports that can be integrated into the medical record system of the providers.

A responsive solution for a dynamic healthcare landscape

Flows address the challenges of the healthcare landscape by leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, improve outcomes, and manage costs, effectively supporting the development of a value-based care model.

Minimizing costs and enhancing system resilience with a device-on-demand approach and logistics.

The Byteflies approach turns the traditional financial model on its head, offering relief from substantial device procurement and maintenance costs. Instead of hospitals making large upfront investments — such as purchasing Holter monitors and their associated software, which can cost up to €10,000 each and quickly become outdated — we offer devices on demand.

We supply hospitals with an initial limited inventory of devices based on their immediate projected usage. As the devices are used, our system monitors stock levels and promptly dispatches replacements when supplies dwindle. This approach not only saves hospitals from heavy initial investments but also eliminates ongoing maintenance expenses linked to conventional devices. This nimble approach not only allows for easier adoption of telemonitoring tools, but also adaptability in the face of fluctuating patient volumes — a need underscored by the recent pandemic. The continuous refurbishment and replacement process ensures that hospitals always have access to up-to-date hardware and software, minimizing maintenance overhead and saving costs.

Tailored to patient needs: fostering value-based healthcare

Our pay-per-use pricing model allows physicians to pay exclusively for the required monitoring days, making them cost-effective. For instance, if atrial fibrillation (AF) is detected after just 8 days, patient monitoring can be promptly concluded. This not only reduces hospital expenditure, but it also lowers the burden on recovering patients.

Furthermore, unlike conventional devices that limit monitoring to one or two weeks, our Flows allow extended periods of observation based on an individual patient’s needs. Longer periods let clinicians make better decisions as they get a better view of a patient’s health and have more chances of seeing infrequent AF events.

Continuous improvement and rapid innovation: reimagining healthcare

Rather than persuading hospitals to make costly, one-off, upfront device purchases, our device-on-demand and pay-per-use model underscore our commitment to continual value delivery. This pledge fosters trust and encourages clinicians to choose our cardiology Flows consistently.

In the past two years, we’ve made over a hundred refinements to our solution, thanks to invaluable insight and feedback from healthcare professionals. These enhancements, which include optimizing the dashboard for faster use and clarifying patient instructions, mean Byteflies integrates seamlessly into clinical workflows, saving time for healthcare providers and improving the patient experience.

Our dedication to rapid innovation, albeit unusual in the slow-paced healthcare industry, mirrors the dynamic ethos of sectors like automotive and IT. By combining the prudence of healthcare with the agility of other sectors, we’re transforming healthcare delivery without compromising on clinical value or efficacy. This harmonious blend of safety and speed results in a sustainable model for the overall healthcare system.

In our final instalment of this series, We will share real-world data demonstrating the adoption of our cardiology Flows within Belgium and how it aligns with the ongoing global shift towards value-based healthcare. Finally, we will touch on our efforts towards securing reimbursement, a crucial step in integrating our solution into the Belgian healthcare system and making it accessible to more patients.

Meanwhile, we invite you to explore our website and discover our Flows, along with the wide range of services we offer.

The information contained in this article represents the views and opinions of the writer(s) and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of other parties referenced or mentioned therein.

The article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you read in this article.

Subscribe to our newsletter and follow our journey:

Request sample patient reports:

Full reports available for all flows.

See what you can expect from our data & insight collection.

Patient demo report

*Please note that CardioCare Afib is now known as Afib Flow.*

This is part two of a three-part series on the role of remote patient monitoring in the post-stroke pathway.

In our previous blog post, we delved into the transformative potential of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and its application in post-stroke care, specifically for patients who have experienced cryptogenic stroke. We examined the shortcomings of current stroke care pathways, notably the delays and discomfort caused by existing heart monitoring devices such as Holter monitors and implantable loop recorders. We highlighted the critical need for longer-term cardiac monitoring to improve early detection of cardiac risk factors like atrial fibrillation, leading to more timely intervention and improved patient outcomes.

We also introduced Afib Flow which Byteflies developed to address these gaps in post-stroke care. Building upon the Byteflies platform, we created a robust, patient-centric cardiac monitoring service that addresses the limitations of conventional systems while enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of patient care. Crucially, this innovative system possesses the flexibility to adapt to surges in demand — a necessity underscored by the recent pandemic.

In this new blog post, we’ll have a closer look at our Cardiology Flows (specifically AFib Flows), exploring its unique features and benefits for cardiologists, hospitals, and patients. We delve into the details of our innovative pay-per-use model, end-to-end logistics, and on-demand service, and how these elements combine to extend the reach of healthcare providers and improve the overall quality of cardiac care.

Flows: remote patient monitoring that can be tailored to your patients

Our Flows work in five steps:

  1. Prescription: Healthcare Providers (HCPs) prescribe the remote monitoring solution.
  2. Distribution: Byteflies ensure the corresponding hardware is delivered to patients or HCPs.
  3. Usage: Patients, possibly with caregiver assistance, utilize the monitoring tools at home.
  4. Data processing: The platform processes received patient data every day to derive clinically relevant insights.
  5. Reports: HCPs can generate on-demand reports, allowing them to adjust the monitoring period and make informed diagnostic decisions based on near real-time data.

Afib Flow: The first of many

Our cardiology Flows are a prime example of the versatility of our services. We took our core Byteflies platform technology, added specific requirements from cardiology, and developed Afib Flow. From there, we tailored it for three different service levels:

  • AFib Flow
  • Plus Flow
  • 24h Flow

AFib Flow

AFib Flow is designed for cryptogenic stroke patients. It’s an advanced monitoring solution that continuously monitors the heart, identifies potential cardiac risk factors and shares this crucial data with the healthcare provider. This enables quicker, more accurate therapeutic decision-making, potentially reducing severe complications. Additionally, our Flows enable collaboration, connecting all care providers to the patient and data.

How the Cyptogenic stroke care path changes with the incorporation of CardioCare@Home

As an alternative to traditional 1–7 day ECG monitoring for cryptogenic stroke patients, Afib Flow enables faster diagnosis, more responsible usage of hospital resources, and a more patient-centric home monitoring system.

How Do our Cardiology Flows Work?

Our Flows are prescribed by a healthcare provider, and offers continuous at-home screening for cardiac rhythm risk factors, typically spanning 1–4 weeks.

The solution puts the patient at the center and gathers more data than other technology, allowing healthcare providers to improve the efficiency and efficacy of their care.

This integrated end-to-end system consists of:

  1. A wearable Cardiac Patch: Continuously records ECG and motion.
  2. Docking Station: Securely transfers recorded data from the patient’s patch to the Byteflies Cloud.
  3. Byteflies Cloud: Securely stores the recorded encrypted data, analyzes the input, and generates insights. Byteflies is fully GDPR compliant.
  4. Data Annotation Workflow: Marks the recorded data to highlight events of interest for the healthcare professional team to review.
  5. Cardio Flow Pro: A web-based dashboard allowing HCPs to interact with the data and annotated events. It also generates reports that can be integrated into the medical record system of the providers.

A responsive solution for a dynamic healthcare landscape

Flows address the challenges of the healthcare landscape by leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, improve outcomes, and manage costs, effectively supporting the development of a value-based care model.

Minimizing costs and enhancing system resilience with a device-on-demand approach and logistics.

The Byteflies approach turns the traditional financial model on its head, offering relief from substantial device procurement and maintenance costs. Instead of hospitals making large upfront investments — such as purchasing Holter monitors and their associated software, which can cost up to €10,000 each and quickly become outdated — we offer devices on demand.

We supply hospitals with an initial limited inventory of devices based on their immediate projected usage. As the devices are used, our system monitors stock levels and promptly dispatches replacements when supplies dwindle. This approach not only saves hospitals from heavy initial investments but also eliminates ongoing maintenance expenses linked to conventional devices. This nimble approach not only allows for easier adoption of telemonitoring tools, but also adaptability in the face of fluctuating patient volumes — a need underscored by the recent pandemic. The continuous refurbishment and replacement process ensures that hospitals always have access to up-to-date hardware and software, minimizing maintenance overhead and saving costs.

Tailored to patient needs: fostering value-based healthcare

Our pay-per-use pricing model allows physicians to pay exclusively for the required monitoring days, making them cost-effective. For instance, if atrial fibrillation (AF) is detected after just 8 days, patient monitoring can be promptly concluded. This not only reduces hospital expenditure, but it also lowers the burden on recovering patients.

Furthermore, unlike conventional devices that limit monitoring to one or two weeks, our Flows allow extended periods of observation based on an individual patient’s needs. Longer periods let clinicians make better decisions as they get a better view of a patient’s health and have more chances of seeing infrequent AF events.

Continuous improvement and rapid innovation: reimagining healthcare

Rather than persuading hospitals to make costly, one-off, upfront device purchases, our device-on-demand and pay-per-use model underscore our commitment to continual value delivery. This pledge fosters trust and encourages clinicians to choose our cardiology Flows consistently.

In the past two years, we’ve made over a hundred refinements to our solution, thanks to invaluable insight and feedback from healthcare professionals. These enhancements, which include optimizing the dashboard for faster use and clarifying patient instructions, mean Byteflies integrates seamlessly into clinical workflows, saving time for healthcare providers and improving the patient experience.

Our dedication to rapid innovation, albeit unusual in the slow-paced healthcare industry, mirrors the dynamic ethos of sectors like automotive and IT. By combining the prudence of healthcare with the agility of other sectors, we’re transforming healthcare delivery without compromising on clinical value or efficacy. This harmonious blend of safety and speed results in a sustainable model for the overall healthcare system.

In our final instalment of this series, We will share real-world data demonstrating the adoption of our cardiology Flows within Belgium and how it aligns with the ongoing global shift towards value-based healthcare. Finally, we will touch on our efforts towards securing reimbursement, a crucial step in integrating our solution into the Belgian healthcare system and making it accessible to more patients.

Meanwhile, we invite you to explore our website and discover our Flows, along with the wide range of services we offer.

The information contained in this article represents the views and opinions of the writer(s) and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of other parties referenced or mentioned therein.

The article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you read in this article.

Additional Audio resources:

Subscribe to our newsletter and follow our journey:

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