Electrocardiogram (ECG) TECHNICIAN PROGRAM
Syllabus
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................................ 1
Program Overview ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
Program Description .................................................................................................................................................. 1
Vision ................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
Mission ............................................................................................................................................................................. 2
PROGRAM GOAL AND COMPETENCIES .................................................................................................................. 2
Goal .................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Teaching Strategies ..................................................................................................................................................... 2
Program Competencies ............................................................................................................................................. 3
Knowledge and Skills Related to Coordinated Patient Care.................................................................. 3
Occupational Safety and Infection Control ................................................................................................... 3
Language and Communication Skills and Techniques ............................................................................ 4
Basic Cardiovascular Knowledge on Anatomy and Physiology ........................................................... 4
Basic Cardiovascular Pharmacology ............................................................................................................... 5
Basic Cardiovascular Pathophysiology .......................................................................................................... 5
Basic ECG Knowledge and Skills ....................................................................................................................... 5
Advanced Knowledge and Skills in ECG Interpretation and Monitoring ......................................... 6
PROGRAM SYLLABUS ..................................................................................................................................................... 7
ASSESSMENT AND GRADING CRITERIA................................................................................................................. 8
PROGRAM REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................... 9
Block I .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Block II......................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Block III .................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Block IV .................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Other Learning Resources:............................................................................................................................... 10
INTRODUCTION
Program Overview
Electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of the basic and primary diagnostic procedures that is used to
make a diagnosis of heart diseases for both adult and pediatric patients. A proper ECG strip
can provide the cardiologist with accurate details of the patient’s status and help to decide the
treatment plan. Most of ECGs are done by healthcare workers who are not properly trained to
perform and analyze ECG e.g. nurses, nurse aid, etc. To ensure accuracy and best outcomes,
ECG should be performed by professionals, who are adequately trained through a nationally
accredited ECG program that enables them to perform as well as analyze the strips to make
faster diagnosis and save time for appropriate treatment.
Program Description
The Electrocardiogram (ECG) Technician program aims to provide the theoretical knowledge
and the practical competencies required to perform the electrocardiographic exams necessary
for the identification of cardiovascular disorders and heart diseases (congenital or acquired).
With an overall length of 4 blocks (one year), the ECG Technician Program is a full-time course
that includes theoretical lectures, workshops and supervised clinical practice across several
inpatient and outpatient settings enhancing an overall comprehension of electrocardiography
in adult and pediatric patients.
With a clinical exposition throughout all the length of the program, the theoretical contents of
this course are divided into different modules allowing a progressive comprehension of the
several scientific and technological subjects.
Upon the successful completion of this program, the trainee(s) will be able to competently
perform electrocardiographic exams, correlating the findings with the clinical evidence and
enhancing the identification of several cardiovascular pathologies. The trainee(s) will also be
able to contribute to the organizational quality improvement projects, being competent to lead
or participate in research projects in this area.
This program is designed for those who hold a degree in Bachelor of Science.
Electrocardiogram (ECG) program: 4 blocks (1 year)
Vision
To provide a world-class training program in the field of electrocardiography technology.
Mission
To promote the profession of electrocardiography technology among Saudi men and women
interested in joining healthcare services to increase the workforce in healthcare and to serve
the national health system with graduates in electrocardiography technology.
PROGRAM GOAL AND COMPETENCIES
Goal
The goal of the program is to prepare competent entry-level ECG Technicians with strong
knowledge, skills and affective behavior learning domains who can fulfil the country-wide ECG
needs.
Teaching Strategies
• Interactive theoretical lecture and discussion
• Laboratory and practical field learning
• Bedside clinical skills competencies
• Case-based learning
• Problem Based Learning (PBL)
• Presentation by trainees
• Group discussion
• Seminar and tutorial
• Independent self-study
• E-learning
• Continuous assessment
✔ Quizzes
✔ Assignments
✔ Case Report
● Written Exam
✔ Multiple choice
✔ Essay questions
✔ Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
✔ Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE)
Program Competencies
Knowledge and Skills Related to Coordinated Patient Care
• Describe factors affecting healthcare environment and patient safety
• Understand the specifications for standard patient identification and patient privacy
• Demonstrate competency in applying the patient / procedure matching protocols
• Identify the patient rights and responsibilities
• Discuss key factor required to educate patients about the procedure
• Apply safe patient transfer and transport standards (e.g., body mechanics and
ergonomics)
• Discuss principles of effective communication and patient education
• Describe patient identification standards and documentation process
• Identify high-alert ECG findings and take the appropriate action
• Apply principles of medical ethics in clinical practice
• Demonstrate appropriate professional behavior towards patients
• Apply effective communication skills in the clinical settings
• Practice patient education skills in relation to the ECG procedure
Occupational Safety and Infection Control
• Explain the universal infection prevention and control precautions
• Identify medical procedure associated with risk of radiation exposure
• Demonstrate various strategies to handle and minimize radiation exposure
• Identify the human-machine environment relationship
• Apply work ergonomics as a tool for healthier and safer work conditions
• Participate in programs designed to ensure employee health and safety
Language and Communication Skills and Techniques
1. Healthcare Communication - General English
• Name common English grammar rules
• Identify common English grammar mistakes
• Understand English structure, sentence types, and part of speech
• Apply effectively the basic English language communication
• Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar
• Show of use of proper capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing
2. Medical Terminology
• Demonstrate the benefit of using medical terminology
• Identify the common medical terminology prefixes, suffixes, and word roots
• Recognize and match common Cardiovascular abbreviations and their meaning
• Describe the use of common cardiovascular medical terminologies
3. Computer Skills
• Understand the importance of utilizing electronic medical record in health care
setting.
• Demonstrate adequate communication skills using telephone or emails in
hospital setting
• Perform basic troubleshooting of cardiac information management system
related to ECG.
Basic Cardiovascular Knowledge on Anatomy and Physiology
1. Anatomy
• Describe the location and position of the heart within the body cavity
• Describe the internal and external anatomy of the heart
• Identify the tissue layers of the heart
• Relate the structure of the heart to its function as a pump
• Compare systemic circulation to pulmonary circulation
• Identify the veins and arteries of the coronary circulation system
• Trace the pathway of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood thorough the
chambers of the heart
2. Physiology
• Relate heart rate to cardiac output
• Describe the effect of exercise on heart rate
• Identify cardiovascular centers and cardiac reflexes that regulate heart function
• Describe factors affecting heart rate
• Distinguish between positive and negative factors that affect heart contractility
• Summarize factors affecting stroke volume and cardiac output
• Describe the cardiac response to variations in blood flow and pressure
• Describe the relationship between blood pressure and blood flow
• Summarize the events of the cardiac cycle
• Compare atrial and ventricular systole and diastole
• Relate heart sounds detected by auscultation to action of heart’s valves
Basic Cardiovascular Pharmacology
• Describe the general principles of pharmacology
• Identify and describe drugs that affect the cardiovascular system
• Explain drugs that affect the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
• Discuss drugs that affect the Central Nervous System
Basic Cardiovascular Pathophysiology
• Describe heart failure, underlying mechanism and signs & symptoms
• List types of heart failure and signs and symptoms
• Explain ischemic process and early & late changes in infarction
• Identify key complications and clinical presentations of myocardial infarction
• Discuss atherosclerosis process, stages of plaque development, risk factors and
complications of atherosclerotic plaques
• Identify cardiac disease that affect conduction system
Basic ECG Knowledge and Skills
• Apply the gained knowledge to perform ECG across various ECG machines
• Identify normal electrocardiographic rhythm
• Explain atrial activation and repolarization, P-wave, and heart rate variability
• Describe the atrioventricular node conduction and the PR-Segment
• Discuss the ventricular activation and the terminology for the QRS complex
• Understand the sequency of ventricular recovery, normal ST-wave, and normal
variant
• Demonstrate competency in analyzing normal ECG rhythm
• Define all the components of ECG graph
• Describe systematic interpretation of abnormal ECG
• Identify each abnormal ECG rhythms
• Explain the clinical significance of each abnormal ECG
• Define abnormal ECG rhythms associated with the SA Node, Atria, AV node,
ventricles
• Explain diagnostic criteria and clinical significance of ventricular hypertrophy,
various interventricular conduction delays, and myocardial ischemia or infarction
• Identify the localization of ischemia or infarction
• Demonstrate skills to analyze normal ECG Rhythm strips
• Apply the gained knowledge to read normal ECG rhythms
• Identify clinical criteria of normal ECG strips.
• Demonstrate essential skills to properly operate the ECG machine
• Demonstrate basic equipment hardware maintenance and troubleshooting
• Apply principle of cleaning and maintaining equipment and instruments such as
cardiac (ECG) monitor, telemetry transmitter cables, electrodes, and central
monitor, strip recorders, and central printers
• Demonstrate their ability to communicate with Bio Medical Engineering staff to
maintain and repair the equipment in case of emergency situations.
Advanced Knowledge and Skills in ECG Interpretation and Monitoring
• List types of ambulatory ECG monitoring and their diagnostic efficacy
• Describe when to use continuous ECG (Holter) monitoring, event monitoring, and
mobile cardiac outpatient telemetry (MCOT)
• List types of exercise testing, advantages and disadvantages
• Explain Indications, Contraindications, limitations
• Describe different stages of exercise test procedure
• Discuss the ECG abnormalities during exercise and during recovery
• Demonstrate skills to analyze normal ECG Rhythm strips,
• Apply the gained knowledge to read normal ECG rhythms
• Identify clinical criteria of normal ECG strips.
PROGRAM SYLLABUS
The required period for completion of this program is one calendar year
Module Name Total Total Contact Duration
Credit Theory Practical
Hour
1. Healthcare Communication 2 30 0 9 Weeks
Block I
2. Medical Terminology 2 30 0
3. Patient Care Skills 1 15 0
4. Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology 2 30 0 9 Weeks
Block II
5. Basic Pharmacology 1 15 0
6. Fundamental Principles of ECG 3 45 0
7. Pathophysiology 2 30 0 9 Weeks
Block III
8. ECG Rhythm Analysis 2 30 0
9. Clinical Practicum I 4 0 120
10. Advanced ECG Diagnostics 2 30 0 9 Weeks
Block IV
11. Clinical Practicum II 6 0 180
27 555
Internship 540 3 Months
Total 1095 hours 48 weeks
ASSESSMENT AND GRADING CRITERIA
Table 1: Assessment and Evaluation Scheme for Program Completion - Theoretical
Assessment and Assessment Tools Weight
Grading System Attendance and participation 10%
Continuous Assessment 20%
• 2 Quizzes (2 X 5 marks) 10%
• Assignments 10%
Midterm Exam 30%
• Written Examination
End of the Block Assessment 40%
• Final Written Examination
Total 100%
Passing Score 70%
Final Grading Pass/Fail
Table 2: Assessment and Evaluation Scheme for Program Completion - Practical
Assessment and Assessment Tools Weight
Grading System Attendance and participation 10%
Continuous Assessment 40%
• Bedside competencies 20%
• Case-based discussion 20%
End of Block Assessment 50% 50%
• Objective Structured Clinical
Examination (OSCE)
Total 100%
Passing Score 70%
Final Grading Pass/Fail
PROGRAM REFERENCES
Block I
Module 1:
1. Professional English in Use Medicine (Professional English in Use) by Eric Glendinning; Ron
Howard ISBN 13: 9780521682015 ISBN 10: 0521682010 Paperback; Cambridge University
Press; ISBN-13: 978-0521682015
2. English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy ISBN Number 9781108586627
3. Health Communication. from Theory to Practice by Schiavo, R. ISBN 9781118122198
Module 2
4. The Language of Medicine 11th Edition (Davi-Ellen Chabner)
5. The Language of Medicine by Davi-Ellen Channer, 11th edition; Manufacturer No, ISBN
Number 9780323370813
Module 3
6. Essentials of Sonography and Patient Care; Marveen Craig, 2nd Edition, 2016. ISBN:
139781416001706
Block II
Module 4
1. Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology, By Valerie C. Scanlon, Tina Sanders, 8th edition,
ISBN10 0803669372, ISBN13 9780803669376
2. Human Anatomy and Physiology, an Open Stax College resource, ISBN-13: 978-1-938168-
13-0 (Available as PDF Book).
3. CARDIAC DRUG THERAPY, Seventh Edition by M. GABRIEL KHAN, MD, FRCP, FACC,
Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Ottawa, and Cardiologist, The Ottawa
Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (Available as PDF Book).
Module 5
3. Brenner and Stevens’ Pharmacology, 5th Edition, Craig Stevens George Brenner, eBook
ISBN: 9780323391689, Paperback ISBN: 9780323391665
Module 6
1. The ECG Made Easy, By John R. Hampton, Churchill Livingstone, 8th Edition, 2013.
2. ECG interpretation made incredibly easy, 5th ed.by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. © 2011
ISBN 978-1-60831-289-4
3. The Only EKG Book You’ll Ever Need, 8th edition. Thaler. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
2015
4. Rapid Interpretation of EKG's, Sixth Edition 6th Revised ed. Edition by Dale Dubin (Author)
ISBN-13: 978-0912912066
Block III
Module 7
4. Pathophysiology of Heart Disease, A Collaborative Project of Medical Students and Faculty,
Editor Leonard S. Lilly, 5th Edition, ISBN 978-1-60547-723-7 (Available as PDF Book).
5. Pathophysiology of Heart Disease, 4th ed. Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007.
6. Heart Physiology and Pathophysiology, 4th Edition, Yoshihisa Kurachi Andre Terzic Michael
Cohen, eBook ISBN: 9780080533889, Hardcover ISBN: 9780126569759
Module 8
5. Goldberger’s Clinical electrocardiography, A simplified approach, ninth Edition.
6. ECG Diagnosis: A Self-Assessment Workbook, Edward K. Chaung, M, Thomas Jefferson
University Hospital, ISBN: 0-86542- 587-6 (available as PDF Book).
7. Cardiac Pacemakers and Defibrillators, Second Edition. Charles J. Love, M.D. Ohio State
University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio. ISBN: 1-57059-691-3 (available as PDF Book).
Block IV
Module 10
1. Braunwald’s Heart Disease A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. Volume 1. Ninth Edition
2. Chareonthaitawee. P., Askew. W.J, (2021) Exercise ECG testing: Performing the test and
interpreting the ECG results. UpToDate. Retrieved May 22, 2021 from
https://www.uptodate.com
3. Crawford. H. Michael et al. ACC/AHA Guidelines for Ambulatory Electrocardiography:
Executive Summary and Recommendations. Originally published 24 Aug
1999https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.100.8.886 Circulation. 1999; 100:886–893
4. NAHQ. HQ Solutions: Resource for the Healthcare Quality Professional. Wolters Kluwer
Health. Kindle Edition.
5. Pelletier. R. Luc., Beaudin. L. C. (2017) HQ Solutions: Resource for the Healthcare Quality
Professional. Wolters Kluwer Health.
6. Prutkin. M. Jordan, (June 10 2019). ECG tutorial: Basic principles of ECG analysis.
UpToDate. Retrieved May 22, 2021 from https://www.uptodate.com
7. Sandau, E.K et al. (2017). Update to Practice Standards for Electrocardiographic
Monitoring in Hospital Settings: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart
Association, Circulation; 136:e273–e344. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000527
8. Tighe A. Dennis. (2020). Pocket Guide to Stress Testing (2nd Edition). Wiley.
Other Learning Resources:
1. Clinical Procedures for Safer Patient Care. https://opentextbc.ca/clinicalskills/
For more information, please visit COAMS Library Website
2. http://ecg.bidmc.harvard.edu/maven/mavenmain.asp
3. http://en.ecgpedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
4. http://ecg.utah.edu/
5. http://www.ecglibrary.com/ecghome.php
6. http://www.clinicalskills.pitt.edu/electrocardiogram-interpretation/
7. http://www.practicalclinicalskills.com/
