Can anyone provide some insight on the 12 lead portion of the NYC test?
I mean, what kind of rhythms? Is it pretty basic dysrythmias? I have experience interpreting them, but I have never been very confident about the stickier ones.
I can't tell you what will be on the NYC REMAC Test, as I've never practiced in NYC. However, I can tell you what rhythms you should be expected to interpret...and that's any rhythm really.
For 12-Lead help (
disclaimer, I'm an associate editor), I strongly recommend you visit and follow the
EMS 12-Lead Blog.
For help with ECG's and interpretation,
Dr. Ken Grauer has a wonderful website and blog. He also has a nifty book that fits in your pocket. I can't say that I use it much, but I know a number of providers who carry it.
Dawn Altman has a wonderful ECG website, with case reports up weekly. She's a nurse and paramedic, and knows her ECG's.
Another wonderful resource I read through frequently is the
Alan E. Lindsay ECG Learning Center. Plenty of illustrative examples of rhythms both common and uncommon. There are also mini-quizzes for each of the sections.
If you like dead tree books, I'd cannot recommend
Garcia and Holtz's The Art of Interpretation enough.
Garcia also has a rhythm interpretation book by the same name. These are absolute must haves if you want to be good at reading ECG's.
A good reference to see if you're where you need to be is the
ACC/AHA Clinical Competence Statement on Electrocardiography and Ambulatory Electrocardiography. As much as folks may fight it, Paramedics are expected to perform at the same level as ED physicians when it comes to reading ECG's (why else would they put antiarrhythmics and cardioversion in our scope of practice...). The list of competencies is not long and you'll find that for the most part it is something you already know!
I hope this was helpful in at least pointing you in the right direction to study, and certainly ask any and all ECG questions you may have. There are a lot of folks here who would be eager to help. Good luck!
