Slide Number1 Obtaining an ECG Recording the ECG (see Procedure 48-1) Standardization, sensitivity, and speed Mounting an ECG tracing

Slide Number2 Artifacts The medical assistant must recognize and correct the most common types of artifacts on the ECG recording. Wandering baseline

Slide Number3 Artifacts Somatic tremor

Slide Number4 Artifacts Sixty-cycle interference

Slide Number5 Artifacts Interrupted baseline

Slide Number6 Sensitivity Standards Most machines have 3 sensitivity standards that can be selected

Slide Number7 Sensitivity Standards (cont’d)

Slide Number8 Typical ECG Rhythm Abnormalities Sinus arrhythmias Sinus bradycardia Sinus tachycardia

Slide Number9 Typical ECG Rhythm Abnormalities Atrial arrhythmias Premature atrial contraction (PAC) Atrial flutter Ventricular arrhythmias Premature ventricular contraction Ventricular fibrillation

Slide Number10 Typical ECG Rhythm Abnormalities

Slide Number11 Biochemical Arrhythmias Digitalis Potassium

Slide Number12 Stress Test Conducted to observe and record the patient’s cardiovascular response to measured exercise challenges.

Slide Number13 Holter Monitor A portable system for recording the cardiac activity of a patient over a 24-hour period or longer. The patient must keep a journal of all stressful events and activities during the entire time the monitor is worn. A medical assistant is often responsible for instructing the patient in applying and removing the monitor.

Slide Number14 Patient Education Heart disease and stroke account for more than one third of all deaths. Talk to the patient about factors that could be modified, and give him or her encouragement for any attempt at complying with these suggestions. Include visual aids, posters, brochures.