Subspecialty Careers: Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology

The Discipline

Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology is a branch of cardiology that manages complex cardiac arrhythmias with the use of implantable pacemakers and cardioverter-defibrillators, and also applies other interventional techniques and treatments.

Procedures

Specialization in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology requires a physician to perform and interpret a number of noninvasive diagnostic procedures such as ambulatory ECG monitoring, event recording, telephone ECG transmission, signal-averaged electrocardiography, tilt table testing, assessment of heart rate variability, and other tests of the autonomic nervous system. Advanced training in temporary cardiac pacing, transesophageal atrial pacing, cardioversion, interpretation of invasive electrophysiologic study data, and complex arrhythmia ECG interpretation is also provided.

Training

Three years of Cardiovascular Disease fellowship training in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), including 24 months of clinical training, are required before entering a training program in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology. Training in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology involves an additional year of fellowship training, ideally pursued immediately following the prerequisite Cardiovascular Disease fellowship training.

Training Positions

For the 2015-2016 academic year, there are 104 ACGME-accredited training programs in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology and 161 trainees.

Certification

Successful Diplomates will be awarded an ABIM Subspecialty Certificate in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology. The certificate will bear dates limiting the duration of its validity to ten years, but is renewable upon successful completion of ABIM’s Maintenance of Certification program.

Major Professional Society

Major Publications

 

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