Cardiovascular technologists assist physicians with invasive and non-invasive procedures related to the cardiovascular system. Different types of jobs include vascular technologists, echocardiographers, and electrocardiograph technicians, each with specific responsibilities and training requirements. Salaries vary depending on the work setting.
Cardiovascular technologists help physicians with invasive and non-invasive procedures that involve the cardiovascular system, including the heart and blood vessels. Different types of cardiovascular technologist jobs include vascular technologists, echocardiographers, and electrocardiograph technicians. Each of these cardiovascular technologist job types focuses on the use of a specific device in the hospital or advanced knowledge of a specific medical instrument or equipment.
Specifically, vascular technologists assist physicians in diagnosing patients with circulatory disorders. Vascular technologists order the appropriate vascular tests by evaluating a patient’s medical history and observing abnormalities in a patient’s vascular blood flow during an exam. Then they use ultrasound equipment to complete the vascular test, usually during or after surgery. Vascular testing usually measures a patient’s vascular blood flow, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, peripheral circulation, cerebral circulation, and abdominal circulation. Vascular technologists summarize these findings and present them to the physician to aid in the diagnosis.
Echocardiographers are jobs of cardiovascular technologists who use ultrasound instruments to perform echocardiograms, which use sound waves to create images of the heart chambers, valves, and blood vessels. These trained sonographers perform echocardiogram tests on resting or physically active patients by placing an instrument called a transducer on the patient’s ribs, close to the breastbone and toward the heart. This instrument picks up the echo of the sound waves and then the echocardiography machine develops a moving image of the heart. This type of test is used to help doctors diagnose, treat, and evaluate patients with heart murmurs, abnormal heart valves, congenital heart disease, or pulmonary hypertension.
Electrocardiograph (ECG or EKG) technicians specialize in performing electrocardiography on cardiac patients. EKG technicians work in emergency rooms, doctor’s offices, or cardiology clinics and perform ECG tests on patients who have experienced chest pain or other symptoms of heart problems. These technicians are also responsible for properly maintaining the EKG machine to ensure that it is working effectively and that its results are accurate. Some EKG technicians may also be responsible for explaining the EKG procedure to patients and for assisting with subsequent stress tests in cardiac patients.
Most cardiovascular technologist jobs require a two-year associate degree from an accredited junior or community college, plus relevant on-the-job training through an internship. For example, most EKG technicians receive hands-on training from an EKG supervisor or cardiologist before they qualify to work professionally in the field. Salaries for cardiovascular technologist jobs vary greatly depending on whether an individual is practicing in a private practice or in a hospital setting, with cardiovascular technologists working in private settings generally making more money.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
