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ECG Interpretation Courses for Emergency Clinicians: The HEARTS Approach

Bridge the Gap: Confidently Master ECG Interpretation and Clinical Decision-Making

The HEARTS ECG Course is a live, interactive medical education program developed by University of Toronto emergency physicians. We teach clinicians — from medical students to attending physicians — a systematic, evidence-based approach to interpreting ECGs and acting on the findings in real clinical scenarios.
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What Is the HEARTS Approach to ECG Interpretation?

HEARTS is a systematic, evidence-based framework for ECG interpretation developed by Dr. Jesse McLaren, Emergency Physician and Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. The acronym guides clinicians through each step of ECG analysis: Heart Rate, ECG intervals, Axis, Rhythm, T-waves and ST changes, and beyond. Unlike rote memorization, the HEARTS approach builds clinical reasoning, so you understand *why* an ECG looks the way it does — and what to do about it. The approach has been published in peer-reviewed literature and presented at the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP) national conference.

Who Are Our Courses For?

Our courses are designed for healthcare professionals at every stage of training who want to interpret ECGs faster and more accurately in clinical settings. Whether you’re a medical student encountering your first 12-lead, a paramedic managing cardiac emergencies in the field, or an emergency physician who wants to catch subtle occlusion MI patterns that standard STEMI criteria miss, there’s a HEARTS course for you.

Advanced Clinicians
HEARTS ACS & Arrhythmia
Medical Students & Residents

HEARTS Foundation

Paramedics & EMS

HEARTS EMS

Physicians & Nurse Practitioners
HEARTS Emergencies

We aim to educate the next generation of Emergency Medicine providers on mastering ECG interpretation and its clinical applications

Our team of experienced physician educators are dedicated to providing engaging HEARTS ECG courses that everyone can learn from – whether you are a physician, nurse practitioner, resident, paramedic, ECG tech, or medical student. Our HEARTS courses emphasize active learning, with highly interactive small group discussions complemented by pre-workshop reading and post-workshop questions.

Real

clinical case breakdowns

Small

interactive cohorts

Sample interpretation workflow

Rate

Rhythm

ST-T changes

Clinical context

Why Choose the HEARTS ECG Course?

Most ECG courses teach pattern recognition. HEARTS teaches clinical reasoning. Our evidence-based systematic approach means you won’t just memorize ECG findings — you’ll understand their physiological basis and know how to respond. Our courses are live, interactive, and capped at small cohort sizes so every participant gets to practice, ask questions, and build real confidence. Every course includes a HEARTS ECG Manual tailored to your level, pre- and post-course self-assessments, and real patient cases drawn from emergency department practice.

Our HEARTS courses emphasize active learning, with highly interactive small group discussions complemented by pre-workshop reading and post-workshop questions.

View Upcoming Courses

Taught by Emergency Physicians with Peer-Reviewed Research

The HEARTS ECG Course is led by Dr. Jesse McLaren and Dr. Mazen El-Baba, emergency medicine physicians at the University of Toronto. Dr. McLaren has published multiple peer-reviewed studies on ECG interpretation and cardiac emergency management, including research on Occlusion MI beyond traditional STEMI criteria. Our educational consultant, Dr. Anton Helman, is the host of Emergency Medicine Cases, one of the world’s leading emergency medicine podcasts.

Dr. Jesse McLaren

Dr. Mazen El-Baba

What you get from the HEARTS Course?

  • Systematic approach to ECG interpretation to enhance skills and confidence
  • Evidence-based advances in ECG interpretation
  • Practice with real ECG cases, with a range of emergencies
  • Interactive, small group format
  • HEARTS ECG Manual, designed specifically to experience level
  • Pre-course self-assessment
  • Post-course self-assessment with answer guide

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Testimonials from course participants

Excellent diversity of presentations including the most common to the rare ones!

Facilitator did an amazing job with fostering a safe learning environment.

Both very knowledgeable. Created a friendly environment for participation.

Everyone was given an equal chance to apply their new knowledge in a safe space that he created. I had a wonderful and informative time and certainly would recommend the course.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the HEARTS ECG Course?
Dr. McLaren and Dr. El-Baba, U of T EM physicians
Primarily Zoom; in-person available for groups

Foundation, EMS, Emergencies, ACS, Arrhythmia

Yes, HEARTS Foundation is specifically designed for students

Yes, HEARTS Courses are CME-eligible

Toronto, Canada; courses available globally via Zoom
The HEARTS ECG Course is based in Toronto, Canada. Our Zoom-based courses welcome participants from across Canada, the United States, and internationally.