Preventing Cardiac Surgery Readmission With Patient Activity Tracking Technology

The aim of this study is to detect decreased patient activity level after discharge after cardiac surgery to prevent readmissions. Cardiac surgery is associated with a high chance of readmission within 30 days, common reasons being volume overload, arrhythmia, pulmonary complications, and infections. A decreased activity level often precedes those complications. Measuring patient activity levels using wearable activity trackers (Fitbit) may detect complications early and prompts the surgical team to contact the patient before a visit to the Emergency Room is warranted.