Pacemaker Technician Course

Lesson 1 • Common Cardiac Pathologies Overview

Surveys bradyarrhythmias, heart block, and sick sinus syndrome as primary pacing indications. Links pathology to clinical need for device therapy.

Lesson 2 • Heart Structure and Chambers

Covers the four chambers, valves, and major vessels of the heart. Establishes anatomical vocabulary needed for all subsequent pacemaker concepts.

Lesson 3 • Cardiac Electrical Conduction System

Explains the sinoatrial node, AV node, bundle of His, and Purkinje fibres. Connects normal conduction pathways to pacemaker dependency scenarios.

Lesson 4 • The Normal Cardiac Cycle

Details systole, diastole, and pressure-volume relationships during each phase. Provides the physiological baseline for recognising abnormal rhythms.

Lesson 1 • Pacemaker Leads and Electrodes

Describes lead construction, fixation mechanisms, and electrode configurations. Connects lead design to sensing and pacing performance outcomes.

Lesson 2 • Regulatory and Safety Standards Overview

Introduces device approval processes, quality standards, and electromagnetic compatibility requirements. Establishes the compliance framework technicians must operate within.

Lesson 3 • Pacemaker Types and Classifications

Differentiates single-chamber, dual-chamber, biventricular, and leadless devices. Prepares students to match device type to clinical indication.

Lesson 4 • Core Pacemaker Components

Identifies pulse generator, battery, circuitry, and lead system as functional units. Builds component-level understanding required for troubleshooting.

Lesson 1 • Programmer Interface and Workflow

Introduces the external programmer device, telemetry wand, and session workflow. Builds procedural confidence before hands-on programming practice.

Lesson 2 • Rate Response Programming

Explains accelerometer and minute ventilation sensors used for rate-adaptive pacing. Prepares students to optimise rate response for active patients.

Lesson 3 • Sensing and Pacing Modes

Distinguishes asynchronous, inhibited, and triggered pacing modes and their clinical uses. Connects mode selection to patient safety and haemodynamic goals.

Lesson 4 • Basic Programmable Parameters

Covers lower rate limit, upper rate limit, AV delay, and output settings. These parameters form the foundation of every pacemaker programming session.

Lesson 1 • Identifying Pacemaker Artefacts

Teaches recognition of atrial and ventricular pacing spikes on ECG tracings. Distinguishes paced morphology from intrinsic beats across lead configurations.

Lesson 2 • ECG Basics and Lead Placement

Reviews ECG waveform components, intervals, and standard lead placement. Establishes the measurement skills needed to evaluate paced rhythms.

Lesson 3 • Pacing Abnormalities on ECG

Identifies failure to pace, failure to capture, and failure to sense on ECG. Connects each abnormality pattern to its likely underlying cause.

Lesson 4 • Fusion and Pseudofusion Beats

Explains fusion and pseudofusion as normal phenomena in demand pacing. Prevents misdiagnosis of these benign patterns as device malfunction.

Lesson 1 • Stored Electrograms and Event Logs

Teaches retrieval and analysis of stored electrograms, mode switches, and episode logs. Connects stored data to patient symptoms for clinical correlation.

Lesson 2 • Pre-Interrogation Patient Assessment

Covers patient history review, symptom documentation, and device identification before interrogation. Ensures safe and efficient clinic workflow.

Lesson 3 • Conducting a Device Interrogation

Details the step-by-step process of connecting the programmer and retrieving device data. Builds procedural accuracy for routine and urgent interrogations.

Lesson 4 • Interpreting Battery and Lead Data

Explains battery voltage, impedance trends, and lead integrity indicators in reports. Enables early detection of battery depletion and lead failure.

Lesson 1 • Sensing Threshold Optimisation

Covers sensitivity programming to prevent oversensing and undersensing in varied conditions. Balances noise rejection with reliable intrinsic beat detection.

Lesson 2 • Capture Threshold Testing and Management

Teaches systematic threshold testing and safety margin programming for reliable capture. Directly impacts patient safety and device longevity.

Lesson 3 • AV Delay and Interval Optimisation

Explains haemodynamic optimisation of AV delay for maximum cardiac output. Applies echocardiographic and device-based optimisation methods.

Lesson 4 • Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy Programming

Addresses biventricular pacing optimisation including LV offset and VV timing. Prepares students for the added complexity of CRT device management.

Lesson 1 • Troubleshooting Framework and Methodology

Introduces a structured problem-solving approach for pacemaker malfunction analysis. Prevents random trial-and-error by establishing a reproducible diagnostic process.

Lesson 2 • Sensing Malfunction Diagnosis

Diagnoses oversensing and undersensing causes including lead fracture and electromagnetic interference. Applies targeted corrections to restore reliable sensing.

Lesson 3 • Pacemaker-Mediated Tachycardia

Explains the mechanism, ECG recognition, and termination of pacemaker-mediated tachycardia. Includes programming strategies to prevent recurrence.

Lesson 4 • Failure to Capture Diagnosis and Resolution

Identifies causes of capture failure including lead dislodgement, perforation, and exit block. Guides corrective programming and escalation decisions.

Lesson 1 • Long-Term Follow-Up Scheduling

Establishes evidence-based follow-up intervals for stable and high-risk device patients. Integrates remote and in-person visits into a comprehensive care plan.

Lesson 2 • Setting Up and Managing Remote Monitoring

Covers patient enrolment, transmitter setup, and alert configuration in monitoring platforms. Ensures reliable data flow from patient home to clinic.

Lesson 3 • Remote Monitoring Technology Overview

Describes home transmitter systems, cellular connectivity, and data transmission protocols. Establishes the technical foundation for remote follow-up workflows.

Lesson 4 • Reviewing and Triaging Remote Transmissions

Teaches systematic review of incoming transmissions and alert prioritisation by clinical urgency. Builds efficient workflow for high-volume remote monitoring clinics.