ECG Education Course: 12-Lead Placement & Interpretation for Prehospital Care

Join us for a focused, hands-on ECG education session designed to strengthen your confidence and accuracy in the field. This course emphasizes proper 12-lead ECG placement, improved acquisition techniques, and practical interpretation skills that directly impact patient outcomes in prehospital and emergency care settings.

Hosted by Sentara Healthcare and presented as an initiative of the VHAC Eastern Region, this course reflects a shared commitment to advancing cardiac care through education, collaboration, and clinical excellence.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how to recognize critical cardiac conditions, reduce common errors in ECG collection, and enhance clinical decision-making through real-world application.

Instructor:

Petra Lynch, MD

Sentara Cardiology Specialists

Dr. Petra Lynch is a board-certified cardiologist with extensive experience in cardiovascular diagnosis, ECG interpretation, and the care of patients with complex heart conditions. Her clinical and teaching background allows her to explain proper ECG lead placement, common placement errors, and how accurate placement affects tracing quality and clinical interpretation.

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your fundamentals or elevate your clinical performance, this session delivers practical knowledge you can immediately apply in high-pressure environments.

What You’ll Gain:

• Reinforcement of accurate 12-lead ECG placement techniques

• Strategies to reduce common acquisition errors

• Improved confidence in ECG interpretation

• Recognition of key cardiac abnormalities

• Enhanced communication and documentation skills

• Practical, scenario-based learning for real-world application

Who Should Attend:

• EMS Providers (EMT, AEMT, Paramedics)

• Prehospital clinicians and first responders

• Emergency department staff

• Nurses and clinical providers involved in cardiac care

This course was developed through the VHAC EMS Education Workgroup to support ongoing education and improve cardiac care across the region.