Perspectives Spring 2015

PERSPECTIVES • SPRING 2015 41 “First-Degree AV Block”…“wrong.” “Team 2, your turn”…“Second-Degree AV Block - Mobitz Type I - Wenckebach Phenomenon”…”correct,” the moderator an- nounces. And so it goes at the Fort Lauderdale Department of Physical Therapy ECG Olympics—also known as the Name it and Claim it Games . PT students enrolled in the course PHT 1625 – Cardiovascular and Pulmonary PT now compete against each other in their annual class ECG identification com- petition. Competitors are challenged to rapidly and correctly identify ECG heart- rhythm strips as they are flashed on a projection screen. The students are organized into eight groups of six, with each group competing against the others round-robin style. Each team selects its own name like the Bradycardic Bunch or The Heart Breakers , and all team members wear a hat of their own design. Groups with the most rhythm strips correctly identified win. Plastic gold, silver, and bronze medals, in keeping with the Olympic spirit, are awarded to first-, second-, and third-place teams, respectively. Although the intent of the ECG Olympics is to have fun, it also has a very serious purpose. Physical therapists are increasingly present in emergency departments and intensive-care units, which means the ability to quickly iden- tify life-threatening heart rhythms is critical to patient safety and subsequent medical intervention. 1. Dr. Shaw introduces the rules for the ECG Olympics. 2. Fearless leaders Dr. Shaw and Dr. Kevin Kunkel. 3. Pictured in the heat of competition is Team Afibfabulous vs. Wacky Wenckebach. 4. Dr. Stanley Wilson, CHCS dean, congratulates first-place team Afibfabulous. 5. Team RRRRR Waves…thinking hard. FUN ...THE FOCUS OF ECG OLYMPICS FIRST-PLACE – TEAM 6 (AFIBFABULOUS) Members: Eric Otero, Brianne Hucek, Angie Powell, Rachel Word, Seena Kuruvilla, and Marie Nardozza SECOND PLACE – TEAM 8 (MOBITZ MO’ HITZ) Members: Kelly Cartwright, Talitha Wood, Alexandra Torres, Nicholas Smith, Rachel Reid, and Jessica Wright THIRD PLACE – TEAM 5 (INFARCTION COMMANDERS) Members: Mallory Hager, Muriel Noe, Mike Urena, Betsy Kreymer, Kaylee Naj, and Brain O’Malley 1 2 3 4 5 By Donald Shaw, Ph.D., D.Min., PT, FAACVPR, Professor of Physical Therapy