Good Samaritan Launches Advanced Remote Pulmonary Pressure Monitoring for Heart Failure–Litchfield Resident First Recipient

Following her same-day implantation procedure, first patient Janet Fletcher smiles alongside care provider Kirby Knuth, APRN, during a clinic follow-up visit at the CHI Health Clinic Heart Institute. Fletcher, who has already returned to her role as a clerk in the hospital’s Diagnostic Imaging department, noted that the process was quick, easy and provides invaluable peace of mind.

KEARNEY, NE – CHI Health Good Samaritan is enhancing cardiac care for the region with the introduction of remote pulmonary artery pressure monitoring, leading-edge technology designed to help patients manage heart failure from the comfort of their own homes.

The hospital's heart team recently completed its inaugural procedure in the cardiac catheterization lab, with Litchfield resident Janet Fletcher as the first recipient. 

“The procedure itself was so quick and easy, and I’m just so thankful. Having this technology locally is going to be life-changing for me. It provides such peace of mind knowing my team is keeping a close eye on my heart failure,” says Fletcher.

The technology uses a sensor roughly the size of a paperclip, which is implanted in the pulmonary artery. Once in place, the device wirelessly transmits daily blood pressure readings to the Fletcher’s clinical team, allowing for proactive, remote management of heart failure symptoms.

“It’s a game-changer for our patients,” says Kirby Knuth, APRN, CHI Health Clinic Health Institute (Kearney). “By monitoring pressure changes in real-time, we can identify signs of worsening heart failure before the patient decompensates enough to feel symptoms. Catching it early allows us to adjust treatment plans and prevent the need for hospital stays.”

Heart failure impairs the heart’s ability to circulate blood and oxygen effectively, leading to progressive cardiovascular damage and high rates of hospital readmission—with nearly 25% of patients returning to the hospital within 30 days. Standard monitoring methods, such as tracking weight and blood pressure, frequently fail to detect early warnings of worsening health. With remote pulmonary artery pressure monitoring, clinical teams can identify changes in real-time—prior to the onset of physical symptoms like weight gain or shortness of breath—preventing further heart damage, re-hospitalization and improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

CHI Health Good Samaritan has served as a leader in cardiac and vascular care since opening Nebraska's first outstate cardiac catheterization lab in 1990. As a regional referral center, Good Samaritan provides a comprehensive range of advanced procedures, many of which were previously available only in metropolitan areas. The hospital is home to the region’s first hybrid cardiovascular operating room, which uniquely combines advanced diagnostic imaging with full surgical capabilities. Currently, the facility is upgrading its four cardiac catheterization labs with state-of-the-art imaging and guidance technology, supported by a $12.6 million donation dedicated to advancing women’s health in the region.

CHI Health Clinic Heart Institute brings over 25 years of leadership in cardiovascular care, disease prevention and pioneering treatments, earning national acclaim for its outstanding quality as an award-winning program. Their extensive network includes more than 70 cardiology specialists and subspecialists delivering acute care across 14 CHI Health hospitals and providing comprehensive outpatient services at over 35 outreach sites spanning Nebraska, northern Kansas, and southwest Iowa.

To learn more about the CardioMEMS HF System: Advanced Heart Failure Monitoring, visit: https://www.cardiovascular.abbott/us/en/patients/treatments-therapies/pulmonary-artery-pressure-monitoring-for-heart-failure/managing-heart-failure.html