The present disclosure provides for methods and systems for determining heart rate of a patient. Based on motor current signals of a ventricular assist device (VAD), each of first, second and third events in the measured current signal may be detected, the first event being indicative of a rise or fall in the current signal, the second event being indicative of a rise or fall in the current signal in the opposite direction as the first event, and the third event being indicative of a rise or fall in the current signal in the same direction as the first event. A timer counter may be initiated upon detection of the first event, and an elapsed time may be measured upon detection of the third event. Heart rate may be determined based on the elapsed time of the timer counter.
