Abstract: An implantable medical device for use in a patient management system is described including a housing, a first communications unit, and a second communications unit. The first communications unit can establish a first communications link within short range telemetry communication range of an external local device. The second communications unit can establish a second communications link over a pervasive wireless communications network with a remote computer. A pervasive wireless communications network can include a cell phone network. The device further includes an antenna that is configured to be operatively connected to both the first and second communications units.

Abstract: An implantable medical device for use in a patient management system is described including a sensor, a processor, and a first communications unit. The first communications unit can deliver notification of significant events to a host computer using a short-range telemetry first communications link. A second communications unit can deliver notification of the significant events to the host computer over a second communications link, which is over a pervasive wireless communications network, such as a cell phone network. The device includes an antenna that is operatively connected to both the first and second communications units.