Therefore, the communication system provided recognizes the communication environment surrounding the IMD. As an example, the IMD recognizes when the communication system is being used, and during those times, such as during an in clinic visit, during a scheduled remote care follow-up, or during a patient initiated follow up, can increase the signal power level if the environment is noisy to improve the wireless connection and communication. Meanwhile, when communication is not active, and/or the environment is not noisy, the signal returns to a lower, or low, power level to decrease battery consumption and improve longevity.

The term “actual telemetry break”, as used herein, refers to a condition in which a communications link has at least temporarily ended due to one or more of return errors and/or bad packets received by an IMD.

The term “potential telemetry break”, as used herein, refers to a condition in which a communications link is maintained, but experiences a number of return errors and/or bad packets received by an IMD in excess of a threshold, thereby indicating a high likelihood that the communications link is about to end.

The term “telemetry break condition”, as used herein, refers to a condition of a communications link with respect to an actual or potential telemetry break.

The terms “l(fā)ow power” and “high power”, as used herein, do not refer to absolute power levels, but instead referred to power levels relative to one another.