Use of the Retrospective 30-day cardiac event recorder:

First and foremost...
The recorder is designed to document symptoms and is not an intervention device. If you feel in peril, you should follow whatever emergency precautions given to you by your physician. Push the Symptom button first, then seek help.

When to wear the recorder...
During daytime and sleeping hours, but not during bathing or showers. When bathing, the electrodes (only) may be left on. Water will not hurt them.

When to remove the recorder...
Only during bathing. The purpose of the test is to capture unexpected cardiac arrhythmias that occur before the push of the button. If the recorder is not in place before the button is pushed, the data will be missed. Thus, it must be worn continuously to ensure its availability at the time of need.

When to push the button...
Whenever you feel the symptom your doctor is trying to document. Obviously, unrelated symptoms are not useful, but anything you feel that may be heart related is a valid event. Push the button and call us.

How many times should I transmit?
The typical patient will make 5-10 transmissions during the 30-day period, but there is no limit. On some, we�ll catch the event within the first few transmissions. Others will be caught later, maybe even on the 30th day.

When should I make the transmission?
After every push of the button, as soon as you can reasonably get to a phone.

What are the hours that calls can be made?
Receiving personnel are available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Even Sundays and holidays.

What number should I dial?
800-327-7366. cec/CDC uses a double back-up telephone receiving system to minimize potential problems. Our primary receiver is in Milwaukee and our secondary center is in Cleveland. This provides us redundancy in the even of power or communication failures in a particular city. Our patient database is duplicated at both sites.

What if I receive no answer, or an answering machine?
That should never happen, unless you�ve misdialed. Try calling again. You should reach a real, live person at one of the two centers. None of our patient lines are unattended or have an answering machine.

If you get the message:

We're sorry, all circuits are busy. Please call again later.

That means that the telephone company circuits are busy; not ours. Please wait a few minutes and try calling again. Your ECG data will remain in the recorder for hours or days (providing the battery is not removed), so it is not mandatory that it be transmitted immediately.

If you get our 24-hour back-up answering service:

That means that all of our receiving lines are busy, and your call was diverted to a message center. This should rarely occur, if ever at all. Please leave your name and phone number with the person answering the phone and the first available nurse will return your call. Stay off your phone so we can reach you (unless, of course, you are calling for emergency help).

If you do not receive a call back within 15 minutes, please call again as we may be having trouble reaching you. Make sure you give the operator the phone number you are currently at, especially if not at home.

When should I return the recorder?
At the end of the 30-day period, or when your doctor advises. Remember, like a library book, it is your responsibility to return the recorder or the monthly service charges will continue. Loss of the recorder is also the patient�s responsibility, so please do not let it out of your possession.