An aspect relates to an implantable medical system. An embodiment of the system comprises a baroreflex stimulator, a cardiac event detector, and communication circuitry. The stimulator includes a pulse generator to apply baroreflex stimulation therapy. The detector includes a sensor to detect electrical signals indicative of cardiac events, and a controller connected to the sensor to determine an occurrence of a cardiac event from the electrical signals using an event detection routine. The communication circuitry communicates between the baroreflex stimulator and the cardiac event detector to account for applied baroreflex stimulation therapy and enable the cardiac event detector to discriminate the electrical signals indicative of the cardiac event from the applied baroreflex stimulation therapy.