- Cardiac monitoring
* The phrase cardiac monitoring generally refers to continuous
electrocardiography with assessment of the patients condition relative to their cardiac rhythm.* It is different from
hemodynamic monitoring which monitors the pressure and flow of blood within the circulatory system. The two may be performed simultaneously on critical heart patients.* It is different from neurological monitoring of
intracranial pressure andelectroencephalography * A small monitor worn by an ambulatory patient is known as a
Holter monitor * Transmitting data from a monitor to a distant monitoring station is known as Telemetry or
Biotelemetry Emergency Medical Services
Ambulance services and other
emergency medical services providers utilize heart monitors to assess the patient's cardiac rhythm. Providers licensed or certified at the Intermediate orParamedic level are qualified to interpret EKGs. The finding of a cardiac dysrhythmia (or for that matter, anormal sinus rhythm ) may give additional information about the patients condition or may be a sufficient diagnosis on its own to guide treatment. Treatment for specific cardiac rhythms is guided by ACLS. Basic EMTs are allowed to apply the electrodes and physically operate the monitor but not interpret the rhythm. The most common monitors used in the United States are made by Philips Healthcare (Heartstart Series) Physio-Control (Lifepak series) and ZOLL (E and M series), but other brands exist.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.