Cardiovascular technologists and technicians assist physicians in diagnosing
and treating cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) ailments.
Cardiovascular technologists may specialize in any of three areas of practice:
invasive cardiology, echocardiography, and vascular technology. Cardiovascular
technicians who specialize in electro-cardiograms (EKGs), stress testing, and
Holter monitors are known as cardiographic technicians, or EKG technicians.
Cardiovascular technologists specializing in invasive procedures are called
cardiology technologists. They assist physicians with cardiac catheterization
procedures in which a small tube, or catheter, is threaded through a patient’s
artery from a spot on the patient’s groin to the heart. The procedure can
determine whether a blockage exists in the blood vessels that supply the heart
muscle. The procedure also can help to diagnose other problems. Part of the
procedure may involve balloon angioplasty, which can be used to treat blockages
of blood vessels or heart valves without the need for heart surgery. Cardiology
technologists assist physicians as they insert a catheter with a balloon on the
end to the point of the obstruction.
Technologists prepare patients for cardiac catheterization and bal-loon
angioplasty by first positioning them on an examining table and then shaving,
cleaning, and administering anesthesia to the top of their leg near the groin.
During the procedures, they monitor patients’ blood pressure and heart rate with
EKG equipment and notify the physician if something appears to be wrong.
Technologists also may prepare and monitor patients during open-heart surgery
and during the insertion of pacemakers and stents that open up blockages in
arteries to the heart and major blood vessels.
Cardiovascular technologists who specialize in echocardiography or vascular
technology often run noninvasive tests using ultrasound instrumentation, such as
Doppler ultrasound. Tests are “noninvasive” if they do not require the insertion
of probes or other instruments into the patient’s body. The ultrasound
instrumentation transmits high frequency sound waves into areas of the patient’s
body and then processes reflected echoes of the sound waves to form an image.
Technologists view the ultrasound image on a screen and may record the image on
videotape or photograph it for interpretation and diagnosis by a physician. As
the instrument scans the image, technologists check the image on the screen for
subtle differences between healthy and diseased areas, decide which images to
include in the report to the physician, and judge whether the images are
satisfactory for diagnostic purposes. They also explain the procedure to
patients, record any additional medical history the patient relates, select
appropriate equipment settings, and change the patient’s position as necessary.
(Information about diagnostic medical sonographers is presented later in this
chapter.)
Those who assist physicians in the diagnosis of disorders affecting the
circulation are known as vascular technologists or vascular sonographers. They
perform a medical history, evaluate pulses and assess blood flow in arteries and
veins by listening to the vascular flow sounds for abnormalities. Then they
perform a noninvasive procedure using ultrasound instrumentation to record
vascular information such as vascular blood flow, blood pressure, changes in
limb volume, oxygen saturation, cerebral circulation, peripheral circulation,
and abdominal circulation. Many of these tests are performed during or
immediately after surgery.
Technologists who use ultrasound to examine the heart chambers, valves, and
vessels are referred to as cardiac sonographers, or echo-cardiographers. They
use ultrasound instrumentation to create images called echocardiograms. An
echocardiogram may be performed while the patient is either resting or
physically active. Technologists may administer medication to physically active
patients to assess their heart function. Cardiac sonographers also may assist
physicians who perform transesophageal echocardiography, which involves placing
a tube in the patient’s esophagus to obtain ultrasound images.
Cardiovascular technicians who obtain EKGs are known as electro-cardiograph (or
EKG) technicians. To take a basic EKG, which traces electrical impulses
transmitted by the heart, technicians attach electrodes to the patient’s chest,
arms, and legs, and then manipulate switches on an EKG machine to obtain a
reading. An EKG is printed out for interpretation by the physician. This test is
done before most kinds of surgery or as part of a routine physical examination,
especially on per-sons who have reached middle age or who have a history of
cardio-vascular problems.
EKG technicians with advanced training perform Holter monitor and stress
testing. For Holter monitoring, technicians place electrodes on the patient’s
chest and attach a portable EKG monitor to the patient’s belt. Following 24 or
more hours of normal activity by the patient, the technician removes a tape from
the monitor and places it in a scanner. After checking the quality of the
recorded impulses on an electronic screen, the technician usually prints the
information from the tape for analysis by a physician. Physicians use the output
from the scanner to diagnose heart ailments, such as heart rhythm abnormalities
or problems with pacemakers.
For a treadmill stress test, EKG technicians document the patient’s medical
history, explain the procedure, connect the patient to an EKG monitor, and
obtain a baseline reading and resting blood pressure. Next, they monitor the
heart’s performance while the patient is walking on a treadmill, gradually
increasing the treadmill’s speed to observe the effect of increased exertion.
Like vascular technologists and cardiac sonoraphers, cardiographic technicians
who perform EKG, Holter monitor, and stress tests are known as “noninvasive”
technicians.
Some cardiovascular technologists and technicians schedule appointments, type
doctors’ interpretations, maintain patient files, and care for equipment.
Technologists and technicians generally work a 5-day, 40-hour week that may
include weekends. Those in catheterization laboratories tend to work longer
hours and may work evenings. They also may be on call during the night and on
weekends.
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians spend a lot of time walking and
standing. Heavy lifting may be involved to move equip-ment or transfer patients.
These workers wear heavy protective aprons while conducting some procedures.
Those who work in catheterization laboratories may face stressful working
conditions because they are in close contact with patients with serious heart
ailments. For example, some patients may encounter complications that have
life-or-death implications.
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians held about 45,000 jobs in 2004.
About 3 out 4 jobs were in hospitals (private and government), primarily in
cardiology departments. The remaining jobs were mostly in offices of physicians,
including cardiologists or in medical and diagnostic laboratories, including
diagnostic imaging centers.
Although a few cardiovascular technologists, vascular technologists, and
cardiac sonographers are currently trained on the job, most receive training in
2- to 4-year programs. The majority of technologists complete a 2-year junior or
community college program, but 4-year programs are increasingly available. The
first year is dedicated to core courses and is followed by a year of specialized
instruction in either invasive, noninvasive cardiovascular, or noninvasive
vascular technology. Those who are qualified in an allied health profession need
to complete only the year of specialized instruction.
Graduates of the 33 programs accredited by the Joint Review Committee on
Education in Cardiovascular Technology are eligible to obtain professional
certification in cardiac catheterization, echocardiography, vascular ultrasound,
and cardiographic techniques from Cardiovascular Credentialing International.
Cardiac sonographers and vascular technologists also may obtain certification
from the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.
Most EKG technicians are trained on the job by an EKG supervisor or a
cardiologist. On-the-job training usually lasts about 8 to 16 weeks. Most
employers prefer to train people already in the health care field—nursing aides,
for example. Some EKG technicians are students enrolled in 2-year programs to
become technologists, working part time to gain experience and make contact with
employers. One-year certi-fication programs exist for basic EKGs, Holter
monitoring, and stress testing.
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians must be reliable, have
mechanical aptitude, and be able to follow detailed instructions. A plea-sant,
relaxed manner for putting patients at ease is an asset.
Employment of cardiovascular technologists and technicians is expected to
grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2014.
Growth will occur as the population ages, be-cause older people have a higher
incidence of heart problems and use more diagnostic imaging. Employment of
vascular technologists and echocardiographers will grow as advances in vascular
technology and sonography reduce the need for more costly and invasive
procedures. However, fewer EKG technicians will be needed, as hospitals train
nursing aides and others to perform basic EKG procedures. Individuals trained in
Holter monitoring and stress testing are expected to have more favorable job
prospects than are those who can perform only a basic EKG.
Some job openings for cardiovascular technologists and technicians will arise
from replacement needs as individuals transfer to other jobs or leave the labor
force. However, job growth and replacement needs will produce relatively few job
openings because the occupation is small.
Median annual earnings of cardiovascular technologists and technicians were
$38,690 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $27,890 and $50,130.
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $21,790, and the highest 10 percent
earned more than $59,000. Median annual earnings of cardiovascular technologists
and technicians in May 2004 were $36,890 in offices of physicians and $38,150 in
general medical and surgical hospitals.
All Healthcare Jobs - (
http://www.allhealthcarejobs.com/ ) Search job ads, post your
résumé or receive email job alerts on sites specific for CT technologists,
cardiac cath techs, Radiology techs, mammography, MRI technologists, nuclear
medicine, PET, radiologic technologists and ultrasound.
Alliance of Cardiovascular Professionals (ACVP) - Thalia Landing Offices,
Bldg. 2, 4356 Bonney Road, #103, Virginia Beach, VA 23452-1200; 757/497-1225.
For all specialties in cardiovascular service. Provides credentialing. Web site
has career information and a message board for networking. Job Board has ads and
allows you to post your résumé. (
http://www.acp-online.org/,
peggymcelgunn@comcast.net
)
Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) - 1500 Sunday Drive, Suite
102, Raleigh, NC 27607; 800/326-0268. Credentialing information, online job
listings and links to educational programs. (
http://www.cci-online.org/
)
Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology (JRC-CVT) -
1248 Harwood Rd, Bedford, Texas 76021-4244; 214/206-3117. (http://www.jrccvt.org/)
Web site has a directory of accredited education institutions.
The Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP) - 1500 Sunday
Drive, Suite 102, Raleigh, NC 27607; 919/861-4546.
( http://www.sicp.com ,
membership@sicp.com )
Subscription to Cath-Lab Digest, for the non-physician cardiac catheterization
lab professional, is free to qualified personnel. No jobs on the web site.
Resume Writing Service - Professionally package your health care resume
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Cardiovascular technologists and technicians operate sophisticated equipment
that helps physicians and other health practitioners to diagnose and treat
patients. So do diagnostic medical sonographers, nuclear medicine technologists,
radiation therapists, radiologic technologists
and technicians, and respiratory therapists.
Health Care Jobs, Cardiovascular Technologist Jobs, Medical Jobs, Nursing Jobs
