An EKG (electrocardiogram) is a recording of the heart's electrical activity. It is usually ordered in the event of unexplained chest pain or other symptoms which may be related to heart disease (shortness of breath, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, etc.). Specific changes in the electrical pattern associated with each heartbeat can be caused by specific conditions, ranging from blockage of blood flow to the heart (heart attack) to problems with the conduction of nerve signals through the heart to medication side effects. Many of these heart conditions share symptoms with unrelated conditions originating in other parts of the body, and the EKG is a relatively quick and inexpensive way to determine whether the heart is involved.
Source(s):
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/electrocardiogram

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A doctor would have an EKG done, generally by a radiologist, if they needed to see what was going on with a person's heart. EKG stands for electrocardiogram, and is also called an ECG in some places.

Some possible problems with the heart include atrial fibrillation, tachycardia (fast heart rate), bradycardia (slow heart rate), and myocardial infarction (heart attack).
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