Practicing EKGs for Physician Assistants

Practicing EKGs for Physician Assistants

I get a lot of requests about EKG/ECG courses in preparation for PA school or the PANCE and numerous people searching for EKG courses are re-routed to my blog, so I put a list of them together for your convenience. I hope that pre-PA students, PA-S, and PA-C are all able to utilize these resources and find one convenient, affordable, and suitable to their situation. I’ve tried to list costs and details about some of them, but they’re all very different and some of them are so new they don’t have reviews yet. They range from basic to intermediate and advanced ECG interpretation. Later, I talk about in-person courses and even free resources. There are also books that you can purchase to help you study, which is how I studied EKGs and I found it most helpful to practice strips - lots and lots of them. If you’re feeling ambitious or you work in cardiology, you might consider becoming certified in EKGs, and I provide information about that below as well. Good luck in your studies to becoming a better PA and understanding these rhythms!

Online Resources

• ProMedical Education
• $27 for 90 days of unlimited access
• $90 for 1-year of unlimited access
• EKG Boot Camp Presented by Jennifer Carlquist, PA-C (CME4LIFE)
• $135 for a 2-DVD set covering:
• Triage to approach EKGs and use it as a screening tool
• STEMI mimics
• 7 lethal findings and subtle AMI findings
• Palpitation case studies
• John Beilinski’s YouTube Channel - features some EKG concepts
• ECG Academy.com
• Unlimited ‘ChalkTalk’ sessions for $7.95/month
• Basic - $14.95/month (9-hour course)
• Intermediate - $19.95/month (14-hour course)
• Advanced - coming soon
• Basic, intermediate, and advanced courses, including options for certificates
• Free demo of arrhythmia workshops to advanced level subscribers
• SkillStat
• Highlights: EKG monitor stimulator
• Quickly learn to identify 27 of the most common ECG rhythms or challenge yourself to the Six Second ECG game, cardiac trivia
• Courses: Six Second ECG Essentials, Six Second ECG Mastery, 12 Lead ECG & ACS, 12 Lead ECG Advanced
• Cost: $275 (one day course in various locations), $675 (3-day course)
• Advanced ECG Course.com - Houston, TX
• Features Advanced ECG Interpretation Boot Camp ($1,649) and a Dysrhythmia Boot Camp ($1,249) with Category 2 CME credits
• Private VIP tutoring
• ECG Course.com
• Courses: 12-Lead ECG ($311), Animated Rhythms ($58)
• 50 Online Case Studies ($50)
• “Free” tracing of the week
• HelpZebra.com
• 2 Modules: Arrythmias and 12-Lead EKG
• $19.95 for 12 months of access for each module
• Udemy EKG Technician Certification Exam Review
• Instructed by Dale Bingham, PA-C
• 3-hour course with 15 lectures and lifetime access
• Digital Medical Media
• 12-Lead ECG Interpretation Course
• 20-hours of Category I CME
• Student price: $49
• PA-C price: $199
• Free ECG Reviews
• Lecture Captures - a composite of online ECG lectures
• The PA Life (Stephen Pasquini, PA-C) - PDF from a Recertification course by Carol Sadley, PA-C with a 2-hour video lecture series by Jeffrer Tabas
• Dr. Harb’s Seminars on EKGs
• Practical Clinical Skills
• EKG Interpretation, self tests, reference guide, arrhythmia drills (practice strips), 12-lead EKG, ECG quizzes, monitor quizzes, including a spanish version
• AHA Quiz - password: compression

In-Person EKG Review Courses

• Marquette University - offers a Basic ECG Interpretation for Advanced Practice Providers course in February of each year
• 6.5 hours Category I CME
• 8-hour course
• $120-140 with food included
• American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine
• 12-Lead ECG Course - Houston, TX, Lakewood, CO, Ft. Meyers, FL, Austin, TX
• Cost: $125-129
• Center for Medical Education ECG Boot Camp
• 2-half day workshops

EKG Books for Physician Assistants

• Rapid Interpretation of EKGs, 6th edition - Dale Dubin
• Probably one of my favorites - this book is ideal as a supplement and is long, but an easy, fast read.
• Basic Arrhythmias, 7th edition - Gail Walraven
• This was the first book of reference I used in our EKG course. It was very detailed, had lots of practice questions and more test strips than you could imagine. Most of them come with practice CDs as well. You don’t need the newest edition though. The 7th edition has the convenience of having the answer key on the same page, though.
• The Only EKG Book You’ll Ever Need Ever - Malcolm S. Thaler
• EKGs for the NP and Physician Assistant - Maureen Knechtel, PA-C

EKG Board Certification for Physician Assistants

If you’re feeling really ambitious and you know your EKGs like the back of your hand, you might consider becoming board certified in them. Sounds crazy, right? The American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine offers a certification for physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. More information here. The exam is $350 and is ideal for PAs working in cardiology.

• Challenger EKG Interpretation Basics & Special Cases by Challenger CME ($229)

Sources:

http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/index.php?/topic/16878-ekg-course/