Medical device firm Covidien is to fund non-profit Heartbeat Trust to support R&D into the use of mobile technology to allow remote monitoring of heart patients.
The company will also provide funding to Heart Children Ireland to develop an information leaflet for parents of children suffering from congenital heart defects.
“Heart-related illnesses impact a high number of the Irish population and access to supportive, helpful and practical information is essential,” the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald, TD, said.
“Through the funding by Covidien, the Heartbeat Trust and Heart Children Ireland will be better able to support patients, allowing remote patient monitoring through the use of new mobile phone technology,” Fitzgerald said.
The Heartbeat Trust supports research and special services in the Heart Failure Unit in St Vincent’s University Hospital Group, Dublin. Through the funding provided by Covidien, the trust intends to develop its ‘Heart Phone Project’ allowing remote patient monitoring through the use of new mobile phone technology.
“Creating and delivering innovative healthcare solutions is core to our mission statement as a company, and we’re delighted to share the passion of Heartbeat Trust and Heart Children Ireland in helping to improve the health and well-being of people in our communities,” said Donal Balfe, vice-president in charge of manufacturing, respiratory and monitoring solutions at Covidien.
