An innovative way of teaching electrocardiograms; EKG of the week

Introduced more than 100 years ago by William Einthoven, Electrocardiograms (EKG) remain an essential tool for doctors in diagnosing a variety of conditions. An abnormal EKG remains part of the criteria for diagnosing and activating the response for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), one of the most important causes of mortality nationwide [1]. Interpretation of EKGs is an essential tool for any physician, especially in the field of internal medicine, often one of the first lines of defense for diagnosing EKG abnormalities. It is a skill that is learned during medical school and residency training [2]. Despite this, the diagnosis of life-threatening pathology on EKG remains suboptimal in trainees [3]. This poor performance may be attributed to a lack of a standard methodology of teaching EKGs across the United States [3]. Also, with the introduction of computerized interpretation, this may have led to over-reliance on automated readings and less effort to interpret and teach EKGs [4]. Furthermore, internal medicine trainees have competing responsibilities [5] and work across different subspecialties, which may interfere with studying and attendance at academic conferences. A survey sent to our internal medicine residents at Southern Illinois University showed that over 50% of internal medicine residents do not feel comfortable interpreting EKGs. Low confidence in EKG interpretation was seen in residents from all academic years. In response to this, the internal medicine residency, in conjunction with the cardiology fellowship, developed an innovative way to teach EKGs through a group chat using the WhatsApp platform.