What Is the Job of a Cardiovascular Technician?
Cardiovascular technicians are medical professionals who perform diagnostic testing for diseases that affect the blood vessels, heart and circulatory system. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the need for cardiovascular technicians will increase by 26 percent through 2016, resulting in the creation 12,000 more jobs.
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Function
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Cardiovascular technicians operate the equipment used to perform electrocardiograms (EKGs). This type of testing measures the electrical activity of the heart in order to detect damage caused by heart disease or heart attacks.
Features
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Cardiovascular technicians explain the EKG process to the patient, and then answer any questions before administering the test. After the test is complete, the technician provides the cardiologist with the report produced by the EKG to interpret the results.
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Types
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Cardiovascular technicians work in cardiologist offices, hospitals and outpatient clinics.
Education
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For cardiovascular technicians, the minimum education required is typically a high school diploma or GED. Training occurs on-the-job and usually takes between six and eighteen weeks, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Compensation
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In October 2009, the average annual salary for cardiovascular technicians was $41,000, according to Indeed.com.
Considerations
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In some cases, cardiovascular technician may be used synonymously with cardiovascular technologists, who perform other types of cardiovascular testing, such as sonograms, catheterizations and tests to measure oxygen saturation. Technologists typically attend two to four year training programs in cardiovascular technology.
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