IBHRE Launches Certification Program in Cardiac Device Remote Monitoring

Sept. 16, 2020, Washington, DC – In keeping with International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiner’s mission of setting global standards in heart rhythm management, IBHRE announces the launch of a certification program to validate the competency and skill level of practitioners who employ Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) in caring for patients with heart rhythm disorders. In doing so, IBHRE instituted its newest credential, the Cardiac Device Remote Monitoring Specialist (CDRMS) certification, which is designed for technicians, nurses, and other allied professionals who have adopted RPM as a routine component of their healthcare delivery process.

IBHRE’s Board of Directors identified a need to develop a standard and to verify competencies of practitioners who monitor cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDS). Subject matter experts (SMEs) determined the body of knowledge required for this specialty in collaboration with the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME).  The exam was developed by subject matter experts serving on the Device Remote Monitoring Test Writing Committee, all of whom are actively practicing in the device monitoring field. These experts also determined the qualification requirements in order to apply for the CDRMS certification. The outcome was the development of a comprehensive exam blueprint which serves as a guide for identifying core content areas, designing the CDRMS certification examination. A task team of various professionals assisted in providing feedback on marketing initiatives.

“As the adoption of RPM continues to increase, IBHRE determined that there was indeed a growing need for a global standard that outlines the skills and competencies required by practitioners who specialize in remote monitoring of CIEDs,” said Dr. Charles J. Love, IBHRE president and director of Cardiac Rhythm Device Services at Johns Hopkins Hospital. “Consequently, the launch of the CDRMS is quite timely as it comes at a time when RPM has become a rapidly growing and essential component of our healthcare delivery system,” Love added.

For decades, RPM has expanded practitioners’ ability to bypass scheduling patients for many routine in-person visits.  Through remotely accessible information, it also helps to reduce hospital admissions, morbidity and mortality due to late recognition of abnormal heart rhythms and device malfunctions, and provides a more rapid response to patient inquiries regarding device function.

According to a survey conducted by the health insurance industry, the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a surge in telemedicine and RPM, with virtual physician visits increasing by 300% among older patients since March of 2020.

The CDRMS certification mark will recognize individuals who have successfully achieved a passing score on IBHRE’s CDRMS certification examination and maintain certification requirements, as set by IBHRE for providing the remote monitoring of CIEDs.  The CDRMS is not designed specifically for individuals who have already earned the Certified Cardiac Device Specialist (CCDS) certification, as the CDRMS exam represents a subset of the knowledge tested in the CCDS examination. The CCDS credential is a higher-level certification than CDRMS.

About IBHRE
Since 1985, IBHRE has set the standard for global certification in heart rhythm management and recognizes cardiac care professionals who are skilled in this unique specialty.  The global credentialing board is a self-governing organization that provides competency certification in the fields of cardiac rhythm device therapy, cardiac electrophysiology, and cardiac device remote monitoring. Certification exams are developed and administered to assess the scientific foundation, clinical skills, and technical knowledge practitioners and industry experts require to provide safe quality patient care in the management of arrhythmias.

By earning IBHRE certification, heart rhythm professionals have demonstrated professional excellence in their field. These professionals make up more than 10,000 physicians and allied professionals worldwide who have earned one or more of the following credentials:

• Certified Cardiac Device Specialist (CCDS)
• Certified Cardiac Device Specialist – Japan Device Representative (CCDS-JDR)
• Certified Electrophysiology Specialist (CEPS)
• Certified Electrophysiology Specialist – Adult (CEPS-A)
• Certified Electrophysiology Specialist – Pediatric (CEPS-P)
• Cardiac Device Remote Monitoring Specialist (CDRMS)

Learn more about IBHRE’s certification programs at IBHRE.org.