ECG ASSESSMENT: AN

INTRODUCTION FOR HEALTHCARE

PROVIDERS

ST. GEORGE’S, UNIVERSITY OF
LONDON

WEEK 1 RECORDING AN ECG

WELCOME TO WEEK 1


Welcome to the ECG Assessment, an Introduction for Health Care Providers

course. This two-week interactive programme is intended to enhance your
knowledge and understanding of ECGs and support the further hands-on
training you will need to become competent to record an ECG in your practice
area.

The ECG is an important diagnostic tool for assessing people with known or
suspected heart disease. It is frequently used in a variety of settings, because
it is quick and noninvasive. However, training and experience is essential to
ensure that errors aren't made which can potentially lead to misdiagnosis and
inappropriate patient care.

In this first week of the course, we will start to explore the electrical activity of
the heart, and we'll also look at how and why an ECG is performed, focusing in
detail on each step of the process. Later on in week two, we'll focus on some of
the problems you may face in obtaining a high-quality recording and how you
can address these. We will also look in more detail at the heart's normal
electrical activity, known as sinus rhythm, and how to recognise normal and
abnormal rhythms on the ECG.

I hope you enjoy the programme.

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