What is Wagner EKG Reader Certification (WERC)?
Wagner EKG Reader Certification is currently the answer to the following need expressed by the AHA and ACC in 2001 (3): “Board certification in cardiology requires passing a separate portion of the board certification examination in cardiology that deals only with ECG interpretation. Thus, those individuals that are board certified in cardiology have demonstrated their competence in a standardized examination… We recommend that by 2005 (standardized ECG examination) become the primary pathway, apart from cardiology board certification, to demonstrate competence when granting initial ECG over-reading privileges to physicians.” Started 35 years ago, Wagner EKG Reader Certification was borne out of a need to train non-cardiologists to read EKGs with equal proficiency as Cardiologists. As Coronary Care Units (CCUs) were being established and cardiac care continued to advanced rapidly, the demand for expert EKG interpretation exceeded the supply of available Cardiologists. Dr Galen Wagner,
