Jennifer Whitney , Editor05.03.06
There are no words to properly describe the feelings from seeing your mother in a coma, hooked to a ventilator, not knowing whether she will live or die. The image still haunts me today, more than six years later. At 56, a healthy woman who had never been seriously ill suddenly almost died—well, technically she did, since her heart had to be revived that day.
I’m very blessed to tell you that Mom is alive and well, thanks to advanced medical technology—and, I like to think, her family’s love and support.
People always ask, “What happened…a heart attack? A stroke?” It was neither. To date, her doctors are unsure about what caused my mother’s heart to stop. Because of this uncertainty, the medical team decided to implant a defibrillator in my mother’s chest.
This amazing device has remained inside her, giving us all some peace of mind. Therefore, I was intrigued by the news that Medicare recently approved reimbursement for the use of Cambridge Health’s testing equipment (after being on the market for several years). This machinery, industry insiders say, could potentially impact the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) market as the test helps reveal the most appropriate candidates in need of ICD technology. (For more details about this, read our news item on page 14.)
Since some experts believe the test has the potential to limit the number of ICDs used in cardiac patients (though, to be fair, not everyone shares this viewpoint), I wanted a patient viewpoint on this news. I asked Mom, if she were tested and it appeared she didn’t need the ICD after all, would she want it permanently removed when her battery needs to be replaced?
“Not at all,” she said. “This defibrillator gives me a sense of security…peace of mind.” Frankly, I’m not surprised by her response.
Since reimbursement is of major interest to device manufacturers, I wanted to share this story to offer new perspective. I understand the ICD cost is quite high, and any surgery comes with inherent risk.
However, wisdom—and Mom’s viewpoint—leads me to believe that you can never put a price on peace of mind. A sense of security is truly priceless.
Mother’s Day is approaching, and I am forever thankful that my mom is still with me to celebrate this joyous occasion. For that, I have to take a moment to share my gratitude toward all the medical product innovators who may not truly grasp just how greatly they impact an individual benefiting from advanced technology…or the extended impact on that person’s loved ones. I am so very proud to serve all of you and read about all the strides you make every day. Keep up the good work.
Oh, and Mom says thanks, too!