Cardiac Chart Review Part 2: Labs, Imaging, Telemetry, and Medications

Presented by Kristen Keech and Jessica Asiello

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Accurate interpretation of medical data is essential for safe and effective clinical decision-making in acute cardiac care. This course builds upon foundational chart review skills by training occupational therapy practitioners and other acute care providers to analyze lab results, telemetry, imaging, and medication data commonly encountered in cardiac patients. Participants will learn to apply a structured framework to prioritize safety, guide intervention timing, and support discharge planning. Key topics include identifying cardiac instability through abnormal lab values, interpreting electrocardiographic findings, understanding diagnostic imaging, and recognizing medication effects on function. Designed for providers working with complex patients in hospital settings, this course empowers clinicians to enhance care coordination and ensure timely, informed rehabilitation services.

Learning Objectives

Practice a structured approach to chart review that supports evaluation priorities, safety considerations, and early intervention planning
Analyze lab values, diagnostic tests, and their implications for the clinical stability of the acute cardiac patient
Analyze vital signs, telemetry data, and their implications for the clinical stability of the acute cardiac patient/li>
Deconstruct terminology commonly found in acute care medical records to analyze common cardiac medications that influence the context of patient care
Analyze the implications of each contextual component for patient safety, expected functional presentation, and typical prognoses in the acute care setting

Meet your instructors

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Kristen Keech

Dr. Kristen Keech is an occupational therapist passionate about advancing care and advocating for survivors of brain injury. She holds a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of New Hampshire and a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the MGH Institute of Health Professions. She is recognized as a…

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Jessica Asiello

Jessica Asiello is an assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the MGH Institute for Health Professions in Boston, Massachusetts. She primarily teaches in the online postprofessional OTD program. Her clinical practice is in acute care at…

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Chapters & learning objectives

1. Course Introduction: Cardiac Chart Review Considerations

This chapter outlines the complex landscape of cardiac chart review in acute care, emphasizing the importance of a structured approach to gather relevant information for clinical safety, evaluation planning, and discharge considerations. It also introduces the unique medical complexity of this population and frames how lab results, imaging, telemetry, and medication data can influence therapy decisions.

2. Interpreting Cardiac Labs

This chapter reviews key lab tests used in cardiac care, such as troponins, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), coagulation markers, renal function panels, and blood gases. Clinicians will learn how to identify abnormal findings, assess clinical trends, and consider implications for patient safety, functional tolerance, and therapy readiness.

3. Interpreting Cardiac Vital Signs and Telemetry

In this chapter, participants will develop skills for reading telemetry data and recognizing cardiac arrhythmias commonly seen in acute care. The content emphasizes how to monitor vital signs and activity responses, weigh risk–benefit considerations, and determine when to initiate or modify therapeutic engagement based on electrocardiographic findings.

4. Interpreting Cardiac Imaging and Other Diagnostic Tests

This chapter introduces noninvasive and invasive cardiac imaging and diagnostic modalities, including echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and positron emission tomography (PET). Providers will learn how to connect imaging and test findings to patient function, medical prognosis, and the rationale behind therapy precautions or progression.

5. Understanding the Role and Implications of Cardiac Medications

This final chapter provides an overview of common cardiac medications, including antiarrhythmics, vasodilators, diuretics, anticoagulants, and inotropes. Clinicians will explore how these medications can influence mobility tolerance, side effect monitoring, and discharge planning—particularly in relation to cognition, self-management, and safety in the home environment.