Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians typically perform the following tasks: • Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress testing, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments. • Explain testing procedures to patients to obtain cooperation and reduce anxiety. • Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate using electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures to notify the physician if something appears wrong. • Obtain and record patient identification, medical history, or test results. • Monitor patients' comfort and safety during tests, alerting physicians to abnormalities or changes in patient responses. • Prepare and position patients for testing. • Attach electrodes to the patients' chests, arms, and legs, connect electrodes to leads from the electrocardiogram (EKG) machine, and operate the EKG machine to obtain a reading. • Adjust equipment and controls according to physicians' orders or established protocol. • Check, test, and maintain cardiology equipment, making minor repairs when necessary, to ensure proper operation. • Supervise or train other cardiology technologists or students. • Compare measurements of heart wall thickness and chamber sizes to standard norms to identify abnormalities. • Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures. • Observe ultrasound display screen and listen to signals to record vascular information, such as blood pressure, limb volume changes, oxygen saturation, or cerebral circulation. • Assist physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac or peripheral vascular treatments, such as implanting pacemakers or assisting with balloon angioplasties to treat blood vessel blockages. • Assess cardiac physiology and calculate valve areas from blood flow velocity measurements. • Operate diagnostic imaging equipment to produce contrast enhanced radiographs of heart and cardiovascular system. • Observe gauges, recorder, and video screens of data analysis system during imaging of cardiovascular system. • Inject contrast medium into patients' blood vessels. • Transcribe, type, and distribute reports of diagnostic procedures for interpretation by physician. • Set up 24-hour Holter and event monitors, scan and interpret tapes, and report results to physicians.