An ECG reporting app, proudly developed by our specialists Dr Michael Nguyen and Dr Justin Ng was recently featured in The West – Health and Lifestyle section. The app is an innovative and first of its kind which allows GPs to get an opinion by a trusted and accredited cardiologist in real time. The app also provides specialist support to remote doctors and allied health professionals working with those patients in rural communities.

Real-time results

A Perth-developed app is helping patients get instant, specialist diagnosis from electrocardiogram tests. Developed by Nedlands-based Access Cardiology, the free ezdoc app connects GPs with cardiologists to give real-time opinions on patient ECGs. An ECG detects heart problems by measuring the electrical activity generated by the heart as it contracts. ECGs from a healthy heart have a characteristic shape but a different shape can signal a heart problem. GPs often recommend ECGs for those at risk of heart disease becuase of family history, or because they smoke, are overweight, have diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness, dizziness, fainting or fast or irregular heartbeats can also prompt a test. Cardiologist Michael Nguyen says the app allows a GP to get a second opinion immediately, which may prevent patients being sent to hospital or referred to specialists when they don’t need to be; or worse, not referred when they do have an abnormal ECG. Launched six months ago, the app has more than 100 GPs signed up. Dr Nguyen hopes to extend the scope of the app into other areas such as blood tests and X-ray for real-time specialist diagnosis in the future.