Medical Careers Related to the Heart
Health care providers typically specialize in one organ or system of the body. Cardiovascular care providers possess expertise in ailments affecting the heart. With conditions such as high blood pressure and heart attacks affecting millions of Americans, there is a need for trained professionals who are able to effectively diagnose and treat diseases involving the heart.
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Cardiologist
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Cardiologists are medical doctors who specialize in treating heart conditions. A physician becomes certified in internal medicine and completes a cardiovascular residency as a prerequisite for earning certification in cardiovascular disease from the American Board of Internal Medicine. Cardiologists can work with specific populations, such as children or the elderly. They may be employed at a hospital or health care clinic, or start a private practice. The annual salary for cardiologists is between $184,200 and $231,691.
Thoracic Surgeon
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Thoracic surgery is a medical specialty that involves the operative care of conditions within the chest. This includes conditions that involve the heart arteries, valves and blood vessels. A subspecialty, congenital cardiac surgery, focuses exclusively on the surgical repair of abnormalities of the heart and blood vessels. The American Academy of Medical Colleges notes that training for thoracic surgeons consists of a six- to eight-year residency. Salaries for thoracic surgeons range from $245,000 to $621,000.
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Heart Failure Nurse
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Heart failure nurses are registered nurses who specialize in caring for patients who suffer from advanced cardiovascular disease. The American Association of Heart Failure Nurses grants certification to nurses who have two years of nursing experience, 1,200 hours of which must be with heart failure patients. Heart failure nurses assess patients for heart failure risk factors such as smoking or diabetes. They also assist in developing education and exercise plans for patients. As of May 2008, registered nurses earned a median annual wage of $62,450.
EKG Technician
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EKG technicians carry out diagnostic testing on patients. They attach electrodes to a patient's body that measure the heart's electrical activity; the test is done prior to surgery or as part of a physical exam. Technicians with advanced training attach portable EKG monitors to patients and administer treadmill stress testing. The testing done by EKG technicians is noninvasive and does not require inserting any instruments into a patient's body. EKG technicians need a minimum of a two-year degree and earned a median annual wage of $47,010 in 2008.
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References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Cardiovascular Technologist and Technicians
- American Association of Heart Failure Nurses: About Us
- American Association of Medical Colleges: Specialty Information: Thoracic Surgery
- American Board of Internal Medicine: Cardiovascular Disease Certification
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Registered Nurses
- Photo Credit Examination image by JASON WINTER from Fotolia.com
