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Coding Services

The Minnesota Code was created in response to the need for reporting ECG findings in uniform, clearly defined, and objective terms with the least risk of confusion regarding interpretation. As such, it provides an objective description of bio-electrical phenomena. It incorporates ECG criteria for classification which have been validated, widely employed and accepted by clinicians.

The Minnesota Code provides an objective ECG classification system free of impresssionist physician bias, by which different studies throughout the world can have a common standard to compare or pool ECG findings. It now includes objective procedures for defining significant pattern changes from serial ECG comparison. The Minnesota Code is the most widely used ECG classification system in the world for clinical trials and epidemiologic studies.

Minnesota Code procedures have been incorporated into a computer program, the Minnesota Code Modular ECG Analysis System (MC-MEANS) which has been extensively validated. MC-MEANS also includes logic for serial ECG comparison which was developed and validated at the Minnesota Coding Laboratory.

MN Central ECG Laboratory (CEL)

The Minnesota Central ECG Laboratory (CEL) provides the following services:

• Visual or computer assigned standard Minnesota Codes.
• Visual or computer determined amplitude, axis and duration measurements.
• Visual or computer serial ECG comparsions for documenting evolving Q-waves, evolving ST-T waves, evolving bundle branch block and progression or regression of ECG-LVH.
• Visual or computer determination or prolonged heart rate corrected QT or JT intervals.
• Visual or computer determination of:
  • Left ventricular mass index.
  • Heart rate variability.
  • QT dispersion.
  • T-wave axis.
  • ECG prognostic score.

In addition to these services, the CEL provides:

• Automatic logging, tracking and inventory of received ECGs
• Computerized billing based on the number of ECGs completed
• Standardized quality control procedures and transfer of data in computer compatible form
• Central training of ECG technicians, certification and quality assurance monitoring of technical staff.

For further information contact the Minnesota Central ECG Laboratory at 612-626-8591.