A cardiac event recorder is used to record abnormal heart rhythms that occur
infrequently. The monitor can be worn for days, weeks or up to a month. When
symptoms occur, you activate the recorder. The recording is then transmitted
by telephone to a receiving area to be read by a qualified technician 24 hours
a day, seven days a week.
These heart rhythm strips are then forwarded to the ordering physician. At
the conclusion of the test, a cardiologist will interpret the Electrocardiogram
(ECG) strips and a report will be forwarded to the ordering physician and any
referring physicians.
The recorder can be worn at any time. Several patches are applied to your
chest for this method. Using this application, you are required to change the
battery and patches numerous times throughout the ordered time frame. When
a symptom occurs, you will push a button to activate a timed saving of the
heart rhythm. It will usually save the rhythm for a few minutes just before
the button was pushed and a few minutes after the button is pushed. This is
then transmitted by phone to a technician on duty.
Another method is to apply wrist bracelets attached to a recorder upon feeling
any symptoms and activating the recorder. This is usually more comfortable
as you do not have to continuously wear the recorder. However, if the symptoms
occur for only a few seconds, they can be missed by the time the bracelets
are slid on and the monitor activated.
On the day of the test, you should register with Outpatient Registration on
the first floor of the Medical Center behind the Information Desk. Plan to
arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. Following registration,
the patient will be directed to Cardiopulmonary Services on the second floor.
