A method for digitizing a two-dimensional ECG chart includes scanning the ECG chart. The ECG chart includes an ECG waveform that appears on a background grid having generally horizontal and generally vertical grid lines. The background grid is detected, and the number of pixels between grid lines is determined. The vertical axis of the scanned ECG chart is scaled in units of volts per pixel and the horizontal axis of the scanned ECG chart is scaled in units of time per pixel.