A method for generating an ECG measurement associated with a point on a patient's body such as one of the precordial points is disclosed for use with an apparatus that cannot make contact with the leg and the point simultaneously. The method includes simultaneously recording a hand signal and a leg signal during a first time period. The hand signal is also measured during a second time period together with a chest signal corresponding to one of the precordial points. A signal representing the leg signal in the second time period is then computed from the first time period data. A reference signal is then generated from the hand signal and computed leg signal during the second time period. The reference signal is then combined with the chest signal to provide the corresponding precordial signal.