This thesis examines the reconfiguration and (de)personalization of the doctor-patient relationship by studying long-term experiences with remote cardiac monitoring in Switzerland. The growth of telecare raises the question of the spatial uncoupling of the doctor-patient relationship. The example of algorithm-driven cardiac monitoring studied in this thesis adds a new issue: temporal uncoupling. The present study explores the multiple dimensions of temporality involved in diagnosing heart arrythmias from the perspectives of patients, physicians, and caregivers.

Results are based on ethnographic observations in two university hospitals in Switzerland and semi-structured interviews with patients, cardiologists, nurses, and company representatives. The present case study illustrates how remote cardiac monitoring dissociates the collection, transmission, and interpretation of medical data. This not only affects how, when and where the diagnosis is made, but also the conditions of doctor-patient relationships.