Wiki EKG Interpretation

[pattywright]

I need some documentation/interpretation guidelines for EKG's. What is acceptable and recommended. Also, is there something in writing that I can refer to?

Thanks.

 

[jackson7591]

EKG medical necessity

http://www.welchallyn.com/documents...raphs/MC4596_20ECG_reimbursement_info_OLC.pdf

http://www.qrsdiagnostic.com/194044.ihtml

So long as the physician can demonstrate the need for an EKG as medically necessary for a specific visit, we have not had any problems.

A patient to arrives for evaluation of a sore throat, despite a documented history of hypertension, you would not reach the threshold of medical necessity for an EKG.

If that same patient arrives and c/o issues such as chest pain, shortness of breath or other sign(s)/symptoms(s) suspicious for cardiac, or exacerbation of a known cardiovascular risk issue an EKG would be warranted. This due to the fact that it achieves the threshold of medical necessity, which the medical decision making should demonstrate.

More difficult are "screening" ekgs for patients who have a family history but no clinically significant presentations of cardiovascular disease.

hope this helps. And I'm sure others have additional information resources to share.