Competency ID

Medical Knowledge

All Clinical Cardiologists

Selected Cardiologists Based on Practice Focus

L-TEST-ECG-MK1

Know the principles of electrocardiography and the use of instruments to acquire, display, and store ECGs.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-MK2

Know the principles underlying the surface ECG and the effects of the autonomic nervous system on cardiac electrical activity.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-MK3

Know the normal values for electrical axis and ECG intervals and voltage.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-MK4

Know the anatomy of the specialized conducting tissue and the spread of excitation in the conduction system and myocardium.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-MK5

Know the mechanisms of re-entry, automaticity, and triggered activity in cardiac arrhythmias.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-MK6

Know the types and mechanisms of aberrant cardiac conduction.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-MK7

Know capture and fusion complexes and the ECG criteria for distinguishing supraventricular arrhythmias with aberrancy, accessory pathway conduction, pacing, and artifact from ventricular arrhythmias.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-MK8

Know the concepts and ECG manifestations of concealed conduction and exit block.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-MK9

Know the characteristic ECG patterns of key clinical diagnoses. (See Appendix 3.)

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-MK10

Know the ECG patterns commonly seen in trained athletes and the challenges of distinguishing normal from abnormal findings.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-MK11

Know the indications for and limitations of continuous ambulatory (Holter) and intermittent (event) ECG recordings.

X

 

 

Patient Care and Procedural Skills

All

Practice Focused

L-TEST-ECG-PC1

Technical skill to record and interpret standard 12-lead ECG tracings and to incorporate the findings in patient care.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-PC2

Skill to identify normal ECG patterns, variants, and artifacts (including lead misplacement).

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-PC3

Skills to identify and interpret ECG signs of atrial abnormalities and right and left ventricular hypertrophy or enlargement.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-PC4

Skills to identify and interpret intraventricular conduction delay or block including aberrant conduction abnormalities.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-PC5

Skills to identify and interpret atrioventricular dissociation.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-PC6

Skill to identify first-degree, second-degree (types I, II, and 2:1), and third-degree atrioventricular block.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-PC7

Skills to identify the ECG patterns and localization of myocardial ischemia and infarction.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-PC8

Skill to identify the ECG patterns associated with electrolyte imbalance, metabolic abnormalities, and drug effects.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-PC9

Skill to identify non-specific QRS and ST-T wave abnormalities.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-PC10

Skill to identify atrial, atrioventricular, nodal, and ventricular arrhythmias.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-PC11

Skill to integrate ECG findings into the clinical assessment and management of patients with known or suspected heart disease.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-PC12

Skill to select and interpret ambulatory ECG recordings and integrate the findings in the evaluation and management of patients with known or suspected heart disease.

X

 

L-TEST-ECG-PC13

Skills to identify ECG patterns associated with normal and abnormal pacemaker function and consult an electrophysiologist when advanced interpretation is necessary.

X