EKG Interpretation Course

The first section of this CME course will focus on the evaluation of the EKG including intervals, waves, hypertrophy, heart blocks, and infarction patterns. The second section will apply these principles to the interpretation and evaluation of the EKG and its relationship to clinical abnormalities such as pericarditis, electrolyte effects, as well as technical problems, lead reversal, and errors in the EKG tracing.

The third section will include both unknown EKG’s as well as interactive clinical case discussions. This course assumes the learner understands the basics of EKG’s, however, brief reviews will ‘‘refresh’’ concepts for each topic and discussion will be more in-depth.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this activity, the participant should be better able to: 

• Compute the mathematical evaluation of the resting EKG, e.g., rates, interval lengths (blocks), QRS vectors (axis), etc.

• Identify EKG abnormalities and review proper treatment and management.

• Correctly interpret composite EKG findings and relate to clinical situations.

• Analyze cardiac arrhythmias and summarize the proper treatment.

• Differentiate non-pathologic from pathologic abnormalities frequently seen on the EKG, e.g., lead reversal, technical errors.