Medical Assistants are responsible for knowing how to and assisting in correctly operating the GE MAC 5500 to ensure accurate EKG recordings.
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š Resources Needed
- GE MAC 5500
- Patient information
- Properly placed electrodes and lead wires
- besa EHR
- Printer / Scanner
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š Tips & Tricks
- āAutoā (or Start/Acquire) is used for a standard 12-lead EKG.
- āRhythmā is used for a continuous rhythm strip (longer monitoring).
- If youāre unsure which to use ā ask the provider before starting.
- Watch all the videos below!
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š Instructions
Be sure to follow the steps listed below.
Powering On the Machine
Press the Power button and allow the system to load.
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Entering Patient Information
Press āNew Patientā or āPatient Dataā.
Enter:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Patient ID (if applicable)
Press Confirm/Accept to save.
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Verifying Leads
Ensure all electrodes are placed correctly.
Check screen for:
- No lead disconnect warnings
- Stable waveform
ā ļø Fix any lead issues before proceeding.
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Running a Standard 12-Lead EKG
Instruct patient to remain still and not talk.
Press the āAutoā / āStartā / āAcquireā button.
The machine will:
- Record automatically
- Stop on its own
Review tracing once complete.
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Running a Rhythm Strip (Using āRhythmā Button)
Press the āRhythmā button to begin continuous recording.
This is used when:
- Provider wants longer monitoring
- Irregular rhythm needs to be observed
To stop recording:
Press the āRhythmā button again or press Stop (depending on setup).
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Saving & Printing
Press Save to store the EKG.
Press Print if a physical copy is needed.
Scan to upload the results to the Patient record.Ā
Confirm patient info is correct on the report.Final Check
Before finishing, confirm:
- Correct mode was used (Auto vs Rhythm)
- Patient info is accurate
- Tracing is clear
- Results are saved/printed
ā ļø Using the wrong mode may result in incomplete or incorrect data.
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Training Videos
Done!

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