#cardiovascular technologist

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Acquiring Formal Credentials as an Unlicensed Technician in Cardiac Care

Unlicensed medical personnel are an essential component of the healthcare system that allows facilities to operate in an efficient manner and provide comprehensive care to the public. Within the cardiac unit, administrators often hire unlicensed technicians to help administer cardiovascular exams such as Holter monitoring, electrocardiograms, and telemetry. The fact that most states do not require technicians to become licensed in order to provide care means that it is often possible to find entry-level employment with nothing more than a high school diploma or GED. Because allied health providers often lack formal credentials, several organizations have been created in order to develop certification exams designed to ensure the competence of individuals who belong to a specific profession. Those who are considering a career as a cardiac care technician are encouraged to become familiar with their certification options.

In general, individuals who are employed as a technician in the cardiovascular department will need to have a broad understanding of the different types of medical procedures and services that are used to evaluate and treat patients who suffer from heart disease. While previous experience in the specialty is viewed favorably, training is often provided in-house or through a local community college. Following the training process, a period of hands-on experience is usually acquired prior to sitting for a national certification examination. There are a handful of exam options available within the industry and it is very important to make sure the exam of interest has been approved by the employer.

A couple of the most popular national exams include the Certified EKG Technician offered through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) and the Certified Cardiographic Technician offered through the organization known as Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI). These two tests are general in nature and were created to assess whether or not an individual is capable of performing a broad set of activities within the cardiac care unit. Most technicians take one of these exams or a similar option that is offered through another company within the first few years of beginning work. While not every facility requires employees to become certified, voluntary completion is encouraged given the many benefits that come with formal credentials.

National certification is an important step in demonstrating that an individual is qualified to provide care and is often viewed favorably by both patients and peers. Allied health professionals who are subject to few state and federal regulations are more susceptible to changes in legislation that are designed to cut medical costs by paying less for services performed by unlicensed personnel. Through credentials, the cardiac technician can show insurance agencies and governmental bodies that the services they provide are a legitimate and necessary component of the provision of care process. In addition, administrators understand the value of being certified and are often willing to offer a more competitive compensation package to applicants who have formal credentials.

Those who want to acquire credentials that are more specific to certain areas of cardiac care such as telemetry certification may need to complete a nursing degree. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) is a great example of an organization that offers credentials for advanced providers. Two exams that they offer include the Progressive Care Nurse Certification (PCCN) exam and the Adult Tele-ICU Acute / Critical Care Nurse Certification (CCRN-E) exam. Since these exams generally require a nursing degree in order to become eligible, they are typically not available to unlicensed technicians.

Readers who would like to learn more about credentialing opportunities within cardiac care and the effect that they can have on the EKG technician salary are encouraged to contact employers directly. Many administrators are willing to offer insight and advice to individuals who are considering the specialty and who demonstrate a proactive attitude towards patient care. This approach can also help accelerate the career advancement process and lead to more fulfilling work experiences.

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How Unlicensed Assistive Personnel Contribute to Cardiac Care

Cardiac care is one of the largest and fastest growing branches of the medical industry within the United States due to the widespread adoption of poor dietary and exercise behaviors. Heart disease in the US has become one of the most common causes of chronic morbidity and has placed tremendous pressure on the healthcare system because there are not enough licensed providers to deliver the kind of quality care that individuals have come to expect. In order to help manage the influx of patients, administrators in several organizations have begun hiring unlicensed assistive personnel known as cardiac technicians, cardiovascular technologists, or EKG technicians to help perform many of the routine tasks that are an important part of diagnosing and treating cardiac illness. This has resulted in more employment options for those who want to provide patient care and who have a basic understanding of the responsibilities they will have as a technician in the cardiovascular department.

The evaluation and treatment of heart disease often begins with the administration of cardiac studies such as the electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and stress test. These procedures monitor the heart as it is exposed to both resting and active conditions. The data that is provided can then be used to observe how the heart is functioning and determine if any abnormalities exist. Since the delivery of these exams does not require advanced medical knowledge or skill, it can generally be delegated to an unlicensed assistant who has demonstrated competency in the operation and monitoring of cardiac equipment. A technician in the cardiovascular department is also typically responsible for collecting patient histories, answering questions, setting the patient up for monitoring, and supervising the exam process. When an abnormal event is observed by the technologist, it is generally reported to an advanced provider.

Although routine heart studies constitute the bulk of the cardiac technician’s work activities, some other tasks that may be found in the EKG technician job description include things like creating and maintaining sterile fields, helping physicians with invasive surgical procedures, following up with patients post-operatively, helping patients understand the diagnostic and treatment process, training new technicians, and much more. A specific employment opportunity is likely to have unique requirements based on the services offered by the department, the resources available to the facility, the patient population being managed, and the qualifications of the employee. The details associated with a particular opening should be evaluated as an individual is interviewing for the position and prior to the signing of a long-term contract.

Unlicensed assistive personnel are a critical component of all branches of the healthcare system and are highly valued by both advanced providers and administrative staff. While a technician working in cardiac care is not required to become licensed by the state, it is common for an employer to have employees complete both a training program and a national certification exam. These standards are widely adopted as a way of demonstrating competence and ensuring that both federal and private insurance agencies will continue to reimburse the facility for services performed by unlicensed personnel. Individuals who have worked in the profession for a few years and who have shown an interest in managerial activities may be asked to accept responsibility for training new employees, providing performance reviews, and supervising other technicians. An administrative promotion may come with a significant increase in pay, but may not be the best option for those who have little interest in the business side of patient care or who do not want to deal with the added stress.

Readers who would like to learn more about a career as an unlicensed assistive provider in the cardiovascular department are advised to visit www.ekgtechniciansalary.org where they will discover details about the regulatory requirements in their state as well as the common education, training, and certification expectations shared by many employers. A detailed review of this information will better prepare individuals for the job search process and will show employers that an applicant understands what they are getting into and is committed to providing the highest levels of patient care.