In a move that promises greater freedom and flexibility for many of the nation's veterans with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), Medtronic announced that it has reached an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs to equip its medical centers with the Medtronic CareLink Network, the first Internet-based service that connects cardiac device patients and physicians for "virtual office visits."

The announcement was made at the 24th Annual Scientific Sessions of the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology, the country's largest meeting of physicians specializing in heart rhythm disorders.

"The VA's adoption of the Medtronic CareLink Network demonstrates the government's commitment to providing veterans with the most advanced patient care available," said Reggie Groves, vice president and general manager of Medtronic Patient Management. "The system is an especially important benefit for the many VA patients who regularly travel hundreds of miles to have their ICD checked. We look forward to working with the VA to expand the availability of the Medtronic CareLink Network throughout the nation's largest integrated healthcare system and extend its benefits to even more veterans as additional implantable Medtronic devices are approved for use with the network."

Patients can use the Medtronic CareLink Monitor to collect data about their heart and ICD activity from home or while on vacation anywhere in the 50 states by holding a small "antenna" over their implanted device. The monitor automatically downloads the data and sends it through a standard telephone connection directly to the secure Medtronic CareLink Network. Clinicians access their patients' data by logging onto the clinician website from any Internet-connected computer 3/4 in their office, home or while traveling. Patients also can view information about their device and condition on their own personalized website, and family members or other caregivers can view this information if granted access by the patient.

The Medtronic CareLink Network is currently available to approximately 100,000 patients in and outside the VA network with various Medtronic GEM model ICDs and the Medtronic Marquis DR ICD, which detect and stop fast heart rates and revive patients from sudden cardiac arrest. In the future, many more thousands of people with other implantable Medtronic cardiac devices potentially could benefit from Medtronic's innovative system.

The Medtronic CareLink Network is a medical information system that combines the patient's portable monitor, a website for clinicians and a website for cardiac device patients and their families or caregivers. The network provides powerful applications that enable the review and analysis of device and physiologic data, giving clinicians the information they need to make prompt, informed decisions when and where needed. In addition, the network provides clinical data management and health information to both clinicians and patients.