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Heart Screenings for Student Athletes
As part of Texas House Bill 76, families of student athletes throughout Texas have been informed that they have the option torequest an electrocardiogram (EKG) heart screening as part of their pre-participation athletic physical exam. We expect the number of requests primary care providers receive for this test to go up substantially, and we’d like to assure you that we are well prepared to meet the community’s need.
What is an EKG?
EKG is a safe, painless, noninvasive test that lasts approximately 10 minutes. Although EKGs cannot guarantee safety from sudden cardiac arrest and can produce false-positives, the latest research and recommendations suggest that an EKG may increase thedetection of athletes at risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
Why refer to us?
With more than six decades of experience caring for some of the rarest and most complex pediatric heart cases, Texas Children’s Heart Center has been ranked #1 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for numerous years in a row.
We offer walk-in EKGs at 7 locations throughout the Greater Houston area, making it easy and convenient for your patients toenter the competitive season with greater peace of mind. Please note that in order for us to perform the EKG, your patients must have an EKG order sent to and received by Texas Children’s or must bring a copy of the order when they walk in. We also provide Cardiac Sports Clearance Clinics for student athletes at our community locations. We continue to perform all tests and procedures for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and have implemented numerous safety measures to protect our patients and staff.