Getting the most from The EKG: Learn it well

The best starting place is the Table of Contents (TOC). It also gives you access to the indexing system.

Click on Chapter 1. Scroll down as you read the chapter, study the figures and read the figure legends. When you reach the end of the chapter click Back (on lower left) to return to the previous section, or click Next (on lower right) to proceed to the next Chapter, numbered Review or numbered Review Quiz.

When taking a numbered Review Quiz, answer all of the questions and then click Submit. Your answers, the correct answers and your score are provided. You can repeat a numbered Review Quiz as often as desired. Your Last 3 Results are recorded and can be accessed by clicking the area in the TOC.

After taking a numbered Review Quiz click Next to proceed to the next Chapter or return to the TOC to choose a numbered Chapter, numbered Review, numbered Review Quiz or use the Figure Index to find a numbered Figure or use the Alphabetized Index to find a subject of interest.

When you have finished Chapters 1-21 and the 14 numbered Reviews and the 14 numbered Review Quizzes click Next. This brings you to Chapter 22. Here you can use the EKG interpretation skills you’ve learned to work on diagnostic tracings called Cases. For each Case choose your answers from the 89 ABIM-style answer choices and click Submit. Your answers, the correct answers and your score are provided and followed by Learning Points. You can repeat the Cases as often as desired. Your Last 3 Results are recorded.

After you have completed the 22 Chapters, and answered all 67 Quiz Questions and all 10 Cases, proceed to Testing Core Competency and demonstrate your ability to recognize fundamental EKGs. Here there are 20 Cases, each presenting an EKG with a brief clinical history. A multiple choice question follows each case. Answer the question and submit. The correct answer and your answer are provided, along with a figure reference that links you to an explanation of how this EKG diagnosis is made.

Program directors can add their own Custom Cases for the benefit of their students or residents.

Students and residents are now able to use CXRs in Cardiovascular Disease to improve their ability to diagnose all types of cardiovascular disease from the CXR.

Scoring system for Chapter 22

1. Each correct answer that is chosen is worth +1 or +2 point(s).
2. Each correct answer that is unchosen is worth 0 (a mistake of omission).
3. Each incorrect answer is worth -0.2 point (a mistake of commission), except in d. below.
4. If a key correct answer is chosen and another contradictory answer is also chosen, the contradictory answer will nullify the key correct answer point(s).
5. Total score achieved for each case is the sum of positive and negative points.
6. Highest score for any case is the total number of available points for that case.
7. Lowest score for any case will never be lower than 0, even if the sum of positive and negative points is negative.

Using the Calipers in Chapter 22

To activate the calipers for an EKG click on the calipers icon in the upper left corner. The calipers icon will become shaded to indicate the calipers are active. Click on any two locations in the EKG to measure the distance between them. The result will be reported to the right of the icon. To make a new measurement, simply click on any two new locations on the EKG. When you are finished, click the calipers icon again to deactivate the calipers.

The sweep speed is 25 mm/s for every EKG presented.
Thus, on the X-axis 1 mm is reported as 40 ms and 25 mm is reported as 1000 ms.

Voltage is measured and reported in mm on the Y-axis, regardless of voltage standardization.
Thus, to determine voltage, it is important to make note of the standardization marker on every EKG.