Young Hearts for Life Screening Process

Young Hearts for Life screenings are conducted during the school day, usually during PE classes. A signed parent permission form is required for a student to participate.

The electrocardiogram (ECG) records the electrical activity of the heart using stickies (electrodes) attached to the skin with a mild adhesive. The entire ECG screening takes approximately 3 minutes.

Screening echocardiograms are available on site at no cost for selected students who have an inconclusive screening ECG. This screening provides the cardiologist additional information to determine if further evaluation with a primary care physician is necessary.  

Throughout the entire process, students’ confidentiality, privacy, and individual modesty are rigorously ensured. Only female technicians will test girls and they will be screened in an area separate from boys.

Cardiologists from Midwest Heart Specialists volunteer their time to interpret each ECG.

Approximately three weeks after the screening, parents receive their child’s test results. Parents of children whose screening ECG indicates further evaluation is needed are instructed to follow up with their primary care physician for follow up.

Why the Screening Program is So Important

Through the Young Hearts for Life Cardiac screening program, over 1,300 families have been notified of screening ECG results that required further evaluation and testing. Conditions that have been detected after further evaluation include HCM, Atrial Septal Defect, Long QT Syndrome, Wolff-Parkinson White (WPW) syndrome, and atrial fibrillation.

Without this program these students’ parents would not have had the information they needed to make proactive decisions about their children’s health and welfare.