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What could your customers be missing?
Have you ever fallen in love with a song, only to cringe when you heard it performed live? Professional musicians use editing technology to make their recordings clear – but when they overdo it, it’s hard to know if they’re really that good, or if it’s all editing.
It helps to think of ECGs the same way. Except we’re talking about heart health, not a missed note.
What is filtering?
To make ECGs easier to read and interpret, ECG filtering exists to remove noise from ECG recordings so physicians can see waveform data more clearly. An overly filtered ECG may look nice and clean – but too much filtering can distort or remove authentic waveform data physicians may need in order to diagnose correctly.
When it comes to overly filtered ECGs, the problem is this – physicians may not know what they’re missing.
Is filtering good or bad?
Filtering is generally good if the filters are set to an appropriate threshold, and if the interpretive algorithm still looks at the original vs. the processed waveform. Governing bodies like the ACC, AHA and HRS publish adult and pediatric guidelines providing guidance to:
- Limit filtering so not to sacrifice potentially life-saving waveform data
- Clearly disclose filtering so physicians can more easily identify original vs. processed waveform data
What do your customers need to know?
All major ECG providers offer filtering to reduce noise and provide clear ECG recordings, and most also offer an interpretive algorithm to aid in decision support. But physicians need to be aware of the filtering that takes place on any given ECG, and its potential impact on the interpretation.
Questions they should ask include:
- Are the filters set to the right threshold per ACC, AHA and HRS recommendations?
- How can I tell what is original vs. processed waveform data?
- Does the interpretation look at the original or the processed waveform?
You know what your favorite song should sound like, but your customers may not know what every ECG reading should look like. ECG technology should be carefully chosen to provide the best clinical decision support possible. It’s worth asking your customers about their ECG technology: What could they be missing?
And remember, we’re here to help. Contact your Welch Allyn representative to learn more about our full line of cardiopulmonary devices – including the new Connex® Cardio ECG. Because “good enough” technology isn’t good enough when it comes to an ECG. Learn more at www.welchallyn.com.
Suggested images – will send via WeTransfer:
The screen shot below could be used near this top picture, to show more clearly what the physician is reviewing on screen.
This could be used anywhere in the article. It’s the ECG in progress, not the review – but may help set the scene so it’s clear the article is talking about ECGs.