Cardiology Education Level One

Instructor:  Dr. Joel Okner M.D
Course Dates: Open-ended
Enrollment Dates: Enroll Anytime
Who can Enroll: Registered users.
Course Language: English
Price:  FREE

Curriculum Structure

Cardiac Role in a SNF


SBAR is an acronym for Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation a technique that can be used to facilitate prompt and appropriate communication. This communication model has gained popularity in healthcare settings, especially amongst professions such as physicians and nursing. SBAR promotes quality and patient safety, primarily because it helps individuals communicate with each other with a shared set of expectations. Staff and physicians SBAR to share patient information in a clear, complete, concise and structured format; improving communication efficiency and accuracy.

Chest Pain

In general, chest discomfort related to a heart attack or another heart problem may be described by or associated with one or more of the following: Pressure, fullness or tightness in your chest. Crushing or searing pain that radiates to your back, neck, jaw, shoulders and arms — particularly your left arm.

Shortness of Breath

Shortness of breath known medically as dyspnea is often described as an intense tightening in the chest, air hunger or a feeling of suffocation. 

CHF (Congestive Heart Failure)

Congestive heart failure: Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it, with a failure of the heart to pump blood with normal efficiency. When this occurs, the heart is unable to provide adequate blood flow to other organs, such as the brain, liver, and kidneys.


Syncope, also known as fainting, is defined as a short loss of consciousness and muscle strength, characterized by a fast onset, short duration, and spontaneous recovery. It is due to a decrease in blood flow to the entire brain usually from low blood pressure.

How to Interpret your lab results
Basics of EKG

An electrocardiogram EKG or ECG is a test that checks for problems with the electrical activity of your heart. An EKG shows the heart's electrical activity as line tracings on paper. The spikes and dips in the tracings are called waves.

Left Ventricular Assist Devices


Dr. Joel Okner M.D
Dr. Okner is a Board Certified Cardiologist who completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan in 1982. He received his Medical Degree in 1987, and proceeded to complete his internship, residency, and cardiology fellowship at Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago, IL. Dr. Okner was appointed Chief ...