Cardiovascular Techician: Duties & Job Market

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians help doctors in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac (heart) and vascular (blood vessel) difficulties and diseases. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians can choose from three areas in which to specialize: invasive cardiology, echocardiography, or vascular technology. Invasive cardiology requires the insertion of a catheter. Echocardiography and vascular technology involve noninvasive techniques that include ultrasound, sonograms, and electrocardiograms, or EKGs.

Duties of a cardiovascular technologist or technician
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians are responsible for a variety of duties that include: scheduling appointments for patient procedures; interpreting information in patients' files; monitoring patients' heart rates; testing equipment; explaining test procedures; and analyzing and comparing patients' exam results.

Where to find jobs in cardiovascular technology
About 75 percent of cardiovascular technologists and technicians work in the cardiology departments of public and private hospitals, while the remainder work in doctors' offices and medical or diagnostic laboratories.

Cardiology technologists and technicians employed in larger medical organizations may have the chance to advance to positions of greater responsibility, such as supervisor or manager. Additionally, technicians with years of experience can teach others to become cardiology technologists or conduct research in laboratories.

Cardiovascular technology programs
Most cardiovascular technologists and technicians have earned associate degrees. Many complete two-year degree programs at a community or junior college, but there are a number of four-year program options as well. For those already qualified in an allied health profession, only one year of specialized instruction is necessary to become a cardiovascular technologist or technician. Additionally, some states may require cardiology technologists and technicians to be licensed for employment.

EKG technicians are usually already part of the health care industry, such as nursing aides or students studying to become cardiovascular technologists. Cardiologists or EKG supervisors usually train technicians on-site for eight to 16 weeks. Certification programs are available for EKGs, Holter monitoring, and stress testing.

Demand for cardiovascular technologist and technician jobs
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities for cardiology technologists and technicians are expected to soar by 26 percent by 2016. Older people are more likely to be afflicted by heart disease and other heart and vascular complications so, as the population ages, the demand for cardiovascular technologists will increase.

Insurance plans sauch as Medicaid have lessened the restrictions on cardio and vascular exams, so trips to the cardiologist have become more common. As a result, hospitals and cardiologists' offices are in need of cardiology technologists and technicians to help meet the growing demand of patients for heart exams and heart monitoring.

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