The phrase cardiac monitoring generally refers to continuous monitoring

Monitoring (medicine)

In medicine, monitoring is the evaluation of a disease or condition over time.It can be performed by continuously measuring certain parameters , and/or by repeatedly performing medical tests .Transmitting data from a monitor to a distant...

 with electrocardiography with assessment of the patients condition relative to their cardiac rhythm. It is different from hemodynamic monitoring, which monitors the pressure and flow of blood within the circulatory system. The two may be performed simultaneously on critical heart patients. A small monitor worn by an ambulatory patient is known as a Holter monitor

Holter monitor

In medicine, a Holter monitor is a portable device for continuously monitoring various electrical activity of the cardiovascular system for at least 24 hours...

. Transmitting data from a monitor to a distant monitoring station is known as telemetry

Telemetry

Telemetry is a technology that allows measurements to be made at a distance, usually via radio wave transmission and reception of the information. The word is derived from Greek roots: tele = remote, and metron = measure...

 or biotelemetry

Biotelemetry

Biotelemetry involves the application of telemetry in the medical field to remotely monitor various vital signs of ambulatory patients.-Application:...

.

Emergency Medical Services

Ambulance services and other emergency medical services

Emergency medical services

Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...

 providers utilize heart monitors to assess the patient's cardiac rhythm. Providers licensed or certified at the Intermediate or Paramedic

Paramedic

A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...

 level are qualified to interpret EKGs. The finding of a cardiac dysrhythmia (or for that matter, a normal sinus rhythm) may give additional information about the patients condition or may be a sufficient diagnosis on its own to guide treatment. Treatment for specific cardiac rhythms is guided by ACLS

Advanced cardiac life support

Advanced cardiac life support or Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support refers to a set of clinical interventions for the urgent treatment of cardiac arrest and other life threatening medical emergencies, as well as the knowledge and skills to deploy those interventions.Extensive medical knowledge...

. Basic EMT

Emergency medical technician

Emergency Medical Technician or Ambulance Technician are terms used in some countries to denote a healthcare provider of emergency medical services...

s are allowed to apply the electrodes and physically operate the monitor but not interpret the rhythm.