Choosing a technical career in the medical field has provided great job security through the years due to the high demand of medical technicians. One of the fast track careers in the medical field is employment as an EKG technician, this career choice is on the rise, and demand is expected to grow much faster than the average. Along with this high demand, one will receive excellent pay, benefits, and an exciting and very rewarding work environment. Technologist and technicians in this field of expertise with multiple professional credentials and are trained to perform a wide range of procedures will have the best prospects. There are some things to consider when deciding your career path, schooling, salary, and job description are some key aspects you should focus on.
EKG technician job description
An EKG technician is responsible for assisting physicians in diagnosing and treating cardiac or heart, and peripheral vascular or blood vessel ailments. The abbreviation EKG is short for electrocardiographic technician. Job duties include scheduling appointments, reviewing physicians’ interpretations of patient files, and monitoring patient’s heart rates. Technicians operate and are responsible for the care of test equipment, explaining procedures to patient, and comparing findings to a standard to identify any problems.
There are different areas that as an EKG technician you can specialize in such as invasive cardiology, non-invasive including echocardiography, or vascular technology. A basic EKG test involves the technician using electrodes on specific parts of the patient’s body such as the chest, arms and legs to determine if the patient has an irregular heartbeat. This procedure provides a print out for the physician to read and analyze to diagnose issues, and falls under a non-invasive procedure. Procedures such as these are typically preformed routinely and are done before other more invasive procedures like surgery.
A more specialized technician such as a cardiovascular technologist specializes in invasive procedures where they assist physicians with cardiac catheterization procedures in which a small tube is threaded through the patients’ artery to the heart. This procedure will determine if there is a blockage in the blood vessels that supply the heart and can help diagnose other issues. During the procedures the technician monitors the patients’ blood pressure and heart rate with EKG equipment and alert the physician is something appears abnormal. Some cardiology technologists prepare the patient as well as monitor patients during open-heart surgery and also are present for the insertion of pacemakers and stents during these procedures.
Technologists who specialize in using ultrasound to examine the heart chambers, valves, and vessels are called cardiac sonographers, or echo cardiographers. An Ultrasound technician creates an image with an ultrasound instrument which helps the physician diagnose and treat patients. This procedure is performed while the patient is awake and is either resting or is physically active. Technologist that assist the physician in the diagnosis of disorders affecting the circulation are called vascular technologists, they are responsible for completing the patient’s medical history, evaluate pulses and blood flow while checking for abnormalities. They also use ultrasound to record vascular information and are mostly preformed during or immediately after surgery. Then they provide a summary to the physician to aid in the patient diagnosis and treatment.
EKG Technician Training
To enroll in an EKG School, you will first need your high school diploma or GED and a training Certificate. To obtain this EKG certification you will need to complete a year of schooling and additional training. Most technicians receive this training on the job from an EKG supervisor or cardiologist.
Cardiovascular technologists typically need an associate degree for entry-level employment, and most employers also require professional credential, and most EKG technicians receive on the job training from their supervisor or cardiologist. EKG training courses are offered by technical schools and community colleges around the country.
The majority of technologists in this field complete a 2-year junior or community college program which generates an associate degree. In recent years 4-year training programs have become increasingly accessible. The first year is dedicated to core medical courses and is followed by a year of specialized training in either invasive cardiovascular, noninvasive cardiovascular or noninvasive vascular technology. Unlike most other cardiovascular technologist and technicians most EKG techs are trained on the job by a supervisor or a certified cardiologist. This specialized on the job training can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks, most employers prefer to train people that are already familiar in the medical field such as nursing aids.
Continuing education is required in most if not all ekg technician jobs to maintain your certification. Cardiovascular technologist and technicians must be reliable, have mechanical aptitude, and be able to follow orders and work in a team. Technicians must be able to ease the patients while explaining complicated procedures, as well as articulate technically with physicians.
EKG Technician Salary
Like any professional careers there are variables that determine your potential earnings, the same is true for EKG technicians and their annual salary. These variables include location, experience, job demand, and your schooling.
With a basic EKG certificate, and one year of schooling and training, you can expect to earn between $22,000 and $30,000 per year, with an average of $24,000 a year. With a more specialized career path and training in cardiovascular technology with the additional 2-4 year programs resulting in associate degrees you can expect to earn between $32,800 and $61,580. With such a degree and training the lowest 10 percent earned around $25,510 and the highest percent around $74,760.
Cardiovascular technologist and technicians along with EKG technicians operate sophisticated equipment that helps physicians diagnose and treat patients. Similar or related occupations in the medical field also include radiation therapists, radiologic technologist and technicians, along with respiratory therapy technicians.
