Electrophysiology

 “As a teacher, one of my passions is helping cardiology fellows develop competence — and confidence — in their evaluation and management of cardiac arrhythmias,” says Hiroko Beck, a faculty member with subspecialty expertise in electrophysiology.

You’ll monitor devices and perform, assist with and observe numerous interventional and surgical procedures.

During this rotation, you’ll train primarily in the electrophysiology lab. Your responsibilities there include:

  • performing EP studies, including ablation procedures
  • implanting devices, including pacemakers and defibrillators

Your inpatient experience includes performing consultations to evaluate for syncope, arrhythmia and the need for EP studies or devices. Part of this experience includes performing cardioversion and managing anti-arrhythmic medications.

In the device follow-up clinic, you’ll care for outpatients, helping keep their rhythm management devices functioning optimally. You’ll learn basic device programming and how to recognize malfunctions.

You’ll also learn the indications, contraindications and potential complications of pacemakers, defibrillators and implantable loop recorders.

Caseload

Per four-week module:
 
  • 60 inpatient consults
  • 10 outpatients

Length and Year of Rotation

  • 2 four-week modules in year 2
  • additional modules available as electives, with a focus on procedural experience
  • to get ahead of the curve for an electrophysiology fellowship, you may take a total of 8

Clinical Sites

Patient Population

Patients with:

  • arrhythmias
  • ventricular tachycardia
  • sinus node dysfunction
  • EP syndromes
  • cardiomyopathy
  • heart failure
  • syncope