Proficiency vs Deficiency… The Art Of Electrocardiography

Understanding the different types of  assessments, assessment tools, and findings acquired from these assessments, are all part of proper patient care in both acute and chronic emergency medicine management, in every realm of the term “PATIENT CARE”. One of the most important tools, in both the prehospital setting and long term care, is the 12 lead ECG, which just like any other tool, requires attention to detail, probably even more so than other tools. We have to know when to use it, why to use it, and be able to recognize the information given to use through its use. ECG INTERPRETATION IS MORE THAN A SKILL, IT’S AN ART! It’s an art which requires never-ending practice and will never reach a limit.  We will never know it all, and we will never be able to say, “I have seen it all”. Over the years we have seen providers and clinicians, in every setting and level of care, both being proficient and completely lacking ECG interpretation skill. Often, many clinicians, from Paramedics to Physicians, rely on the computerized ECG interpretation for proper patient care and management. But how do we truly define “PROPER”? Let’s discuss some scenarios… This 93 year old male has been brought to the Emergency Department by a family member after complaining of sudden dizziness spells. He is overall healthy considering the age, with minimal pertinent history and just takes daily vitamins, at least per the family. The follo...
Source: EMS 12-Lead - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: 12 lead ecg Source Type: research