Credits Hours: 1.50

Course Description:
This course provides a review of acute coronary syndromes, including presentation, ECG findings, the use of 12-lead ECGs in the prehospital setting, and screening patients for eligibility for potential fibrinolytic therapy. This course is not intended to make the user an expert in 12-lead ECG interpretation. Information is provided regarding hospital care options for acute MI patients, including fibrinolytic therapy and angioplasty.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Evaluate the signs and symptoms of a patient with chest pain to differentiate between stable and unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, and non-cardiac related conditions.
• Analyze an ECG for the presence of abnormal findings (including T wave inversion, ST segment deviation, and pathologic Q waves).
• List contiguous leads of a 12-lead ECG and corresponding anatomical locations on the heart.
• Describe the benefits and risks associated with the use of 12-lead ECG and fibrinolytic screening.