FOAMed Resource Series Part I: The ECG
- Aug 25th, 2016
- Brit Long
- categories:
Author: Brit Long, MD (@long_brit, EM Attending Physician, SAUSHEC) //Â Edited by:Â Alex Koyfman, MD (@EMHighAK, EM Attending Physician, UTSW / Parkland Memorial Hospital)
One of the significant challenges in today’s medical world, particularly emergency medicine, is remaining abreast of current literature, as research and studies are growing at increasing rates. In order to match this, online resources have expanded, allowing learners of all stages to digest and understand the ever-increasing literature. This movement has been called “free open access medical education,” or FOAMed. Blogs and podcasts are responsible for the majority of FOAMed. Blogs such as emDocs.net, Life in the Fast Lane (http://lifeinthefastlane.com), ALiEM (http://academiclifeinem.com), EMCrit (http://emcrit.org), St. Emlyn’s (http://stemlynsblog.org), First10EM (https://first10em.com), and REBEL EM (http://rebelem.com) are several key free, online resources. Many residency programs and learning institutions are developing curriculum centering on FOAMed in conjunction with reading primary literature and textbooks.
Here at emDocs.net we live and breathe FOAMed. This is the beginning of a series evaluating FOAMed resources for learners, depending on subject matter. Today’s post will look at electrocardiogram (ECG) resources. Future posts will evaluate ultrasound, radiology, orthopedic, pediatric, critical care, education, and toxicology resources.
Part 1: The ECG
Emergency providers read thousands of ECGs, and ECG interpretation is essential to practice. There are many sites available for ECG assistance. Please understand this list is not all encompassing. These resources were chosen based on useful education pearls, post validity, impact on clinical practice, and clear citation of references and authors. All of the listed sites are free to use. We did not include paid resources, such as Dr. Amal Mattu’s amazing https://ecgweekly.com. Please comment if you have found other great ECG resources. This is just the beginning…
Dr. Ken Grauer’s blog is one of the first, established in 1998. This site provides a complete framework for ECG interpretation, with lessons in basic ECG concepts, videos on interpretation, and patient ECG’s with complete breakdown. This is a must for ECG learner’s everywhere.
The ultimate ECG resource by Dr. Stephen Smith at HCMC. Dr. Smith is a worldwide expert in ECG’s, as well as a prolific ECG researcher. His blog provides multiple resources, including links to other great websites, subtle STEMI calculator, and a link to his book in pdf format (free). Most importantly, his discussion of each case-based ECG always provides key learning points and a summary. He links many of his interpretations to literature supporting his interpretation.
LIFTL is one of the first FOAMed sites, with tremendous resources. This site’s ECG library is second-to-none, with hundreds of ECG’s, all from simple to expert. ECG’s with diagnoses are easily searchable, along with ECG basics, cases, and quizzes.
This site and parent blog contain awesome videos with modules for learning ECG interpretation, with a separate section on avoiding ECG errors. For learners requiring videos or those first beginning their path to ECG mastery, this resource is a must.
This site provides a weekly ECG, followed by interpretation broken into steps. The interpretations are clear and easy to follow. Complex ECG’s displayed generate discussion of key aspects of the ECG. Plus, the blog provides a structured framework on interpretation.
This blog by Tom Bouthillet provides great cases, as well as a podcast, detailing cases with breakdown of specific ECG components. Comments illuminate key parts of each post.
This site by Dr. Tim Henry and Tom Bouthillet (yes, a second site) provides fundamental learning in ECG interpretation. This site provides a “definitive, comprehensive source for ECG interpretation for every discipline.” The blog contains videos and patient cases, with literature references.
EMin5 established Anna Pickens as a great educator for learners of all levels, providing key lessons in short, 5 minute videos. The site’s archive page contains gold nugget videos for ECG interpretation. This is a great place to start for ECG learners.
As mentioned, we would love readers to list other great EM ECG resources below in the comments. Stay tuned for future EM FOAMed resource lists. Part II will evaluate FOAMed ultrasound resources.
A great list. I would also suggest Harvard’s ecg wave maven: https://ecg.bidmc.harvard.edu/maven/mavenmain.asp
The site contains basic to complex ecg’s that all contain a clinical stem with a multiple choice quiz to answer and can be searched by cases, diagnoses, and difficulty level. The explanations of the ecg interpretation are appropriately detailed. There are close to 500 cases, and this is a free resource, of course!
A great list. I would also suggest Harvard’s ecg wave maven: https://ecg.bidmc.harvard.edu/maven/mavenmain.asp
The site contains basic to complex ecg’s that all contain a clinical stem with a multiple choice quiz to answer and can be searched by cases, diagnoses, and difficulty level. The explanations of the ecg interpretation are appropriately detailed. There are close to 500 cases, and this is a free resource, of course!
Have you also seen
https://mobile.facebook.com/EMECG-1043588985666778/
Regards,
Seb
EM reg Cape Town
Have you also seen
https://mobile.facebook.com/EMECG-1043588985666778/
Regards,
Seb
EM reg Cape Town
In french you may found useful the resources created by Pr. Pierre Taboulet
e-cardiogram.com
In french you may found useful the resources created by Pr. Pierre Taboulet
e-cardiogram.com