Common question · Tests
Can you get an ECG (electrocardiogram) done at home?
Read: 5 minUpdated: 2026-07-02
Quick answer
Yes. An electrocardiogram (ECG) can be done at home using a portable device, by a qualified nurse, on prescription. The trace is then shared with your treating doctor for interpretation. In Marrakech, SAMU Marrakech arranges the test at home and coordinates the transmission of results.
An ECG at home is possible
An electrocardiogram records the heart’s electrical activity. Thanks to modern portable devices, it is no longer confined to the clinic or hospital: a qualified nurse can perform it at home, placing the electrodes and recording the trace in a few minutes. It is especially useful for an elderly person hard to move, a patient in convalescence, cardiac treatment follow-up, or a tourist feeling palpitations at their hotel. The test is painless, quick and done in the comfort of the home or riad.
A test performed by a qualified professional
The quality of an ECG depends on it being done properly: precise electrode placement, patient at rest, a usable trace. This is why SAMU Marrakech entrusts the test to a qualified nurse, trained to use the device. They prepare the patient, perform the recording and ensure the trace quality. A home ECG does not replace a full cardiology work-up when needed, but it provides valuable first information, quickly, without imposing a painful trip on a fragile person.
Results shared with your treating doctor
An ECG trace only has value if interpreted by a doctor. This is a key point of our approach: the trace done at home is sent to the treating doctor or cardiologist, who analyses it and decides what comes next. We handle this coordination — secure transmission, referral if needed. If a trace is clearly abnormal alongside signs of severity (intense chest pain, faintness), the nurse applies emergency instructions and refers without delay to the appropriate services (141 / 150).
When to request a home ECG
A home ECG can be relevant on prescription: follow-up of cardiac treatment, a check before a procedure, an elderly person’s work-up, palpitations or unusual fatigue to assess, in a non-urgent context. Warning: faced with intense chest pain, major breathing difficulty or faintness, do not request a scheduled ECG — call emergency services immediately (141 / 150), as it may be a life-threatening emergency. For a scheduled, coordinated test, call SAMU Marrakech: we arrange the visit and follow-up.
Related questions
A qualified nurse, trained on the portable device, performs the home ECG: electrode placement, recording, trace-quality check. The trace is then sent to the treating doctor for interpretation.