EKG Career
Electrocardiograph technicians monitor a patient’s heart. They hook up patients to a heart monitor, interpret the read and give it to a doctor for review. By monitoring the heart, a doctor can identify if the patient has an irregular heartbeat, a lack of blood flow, inflammation or birth defects.
EKG technicians help diagnose arrhythmias, or abnormal beatings of the heart. Also known as cardiovascular technicians, they work daily with the public and must possess good communication skills and a friendly demeanor.
EKG
1. The basic EKG test is performed by placing electrodes on a patient’s body, recording the electrical activity of the heart on a machine and printing the information out for a doctor to review.
Holter Monitor
2. Portable EKG devices record heart activity for a 24 to 48 hour period. Technicians explain the process to patients, place electrodes, connect wires to the recorder and print out the results for a doctor to analyze.
Treadmill Test
3. Treadmill stress tests are performed on individuals suspected of having arrhythmias after physical stress. Technicians review patients’ medical histories, hook them up to a monitor and record their heart rate and activity while they exercise on the treadmill.
Education
4. Some EKG technicians are in two-year associate’s degree programs to become cardiovascular technologists and have learned their skills through on-the-job training, explains the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Others complete a yearlong certification program.
Job Outlook and Pay
5. Job growth is expected to increase faster than other occupations through 2016, reports the Bureau, which estimated yearly salaries in May 2006 as a low of $23,670 to an average of $42,300.
Technicians take EKGs, which trace electrical impulses transmitted by the heart, attach electrodes to the patient’s chest, arms, and legs, and then manipulate switches on an EKG machine to obtain a reading. An EKG is printed out for interpretation by the physician. This test is done before most kinds of surgery or as part of a routine physical examination.
EKG technicians with advanced training perform Holter monitor and stress testing. For Holter monitoring, technicians place electrodes on the patient’s chest and attach a portable EKG monitor to the patient’s belt. Following 24 or more hours of normal activity by the patient, the technician removes a tape from the monitor and places it in a scanner. After checking the quality of the recorded impulses on an electronic screen, the technician usually prints the information from the tape for analysis by a physician. Physicians use the output from the scanner to diagnose heart ailments, such as heart rhythm abnormalities or problems with pacemakers.
For a treadmill stress test, EKG technicians document the patient’s medical history, explain the procedure, connect the patient to an EKG monitor, and obtain a baseline reading and resting blood pressure. Next, they monitor the heart’s performance while the patient is walking on a treadmill, gradually increasing the treadmill’s speed to observe the effect of increased exertion. Like vascular technologists and cardiac sonographers, cardiographic technicians who perform EKGs, Holter monitoring, and stress tests are known as “noninvasive” technicians.
Cardiovascular technologists typically need an associate degree for entry-level employment. Most employers also require a professional credential. Technicians also receive on-the-job training.
