DALLAS – The diagnosis and treatment of cardiac problems have come a long way since a French anatomy professor first described the structure of the heart’s chambers and vessels in 1706.
Two centuries later, in 1903, a Dutch physiologist developed the electrocardiograph.
And innovations have continued to emerge so that today cardiovascular technologists and technicians are at the heart of patient care.
Employment in the field is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012. The Bureau of Labor attributes this to the needs of an aging population and advances in technology, reducing reliance on invasive procedures.
Opportunities await technicians skilled in stress testing and Holter monitoring, which records heart rate and rhythm via a battery-powered device worn on the shoulder or waist for at least 24 hours. Prospects are less rosy for basic EKG techs as nursing assistants and other workers receive training in simple procedures.
Overall, “the need for imaging personnel will continue to increase,” said Javaid Ajmal, chairman of cardiovascular technology at Sanford-Brown Institute in Dallas, formerly Ultrasound Diagnostic School (www.uds-dallas.com/cardiovascular.asp). The reason: expansion of hospital imaging labs and addition of these facilities to cardiology clinics.
Where to prepare
Preparation is offered at vocational schools, community colleges and four-year universities, said Peggy McElgunn, executive director at the Alliance of Cardiovascular Professionals.
“These programs are growing due to the shortages and the need to fill positions lickety-split,” McElgunn said.
Sanford-Brown has 21 participants in the day program and 18 in the evening school.
Admission is “extremely competitive because of our successful placement rate,” with fewer than half of applicants accepted to ensure a better faculty-student ratio, said Dr. Ken Terrell, the institute’s director of education.
The certificate program takes 1,860 clock hours, or about 18 months, and costs an estimated $30,000.
Clinical experience accounts for 920 of those hours, said Ajmal, who trained as a medical doctor in Pakistan.
Technicians learned these skills on the job until the field became much more complex, said Rick Rigling, co-chairman of the council on cardiac sonography, part of the American Society of Echocardiography.
Today, cardiovascular techs must complete a formal program to acquire scientific knowledge and apply it to producing images and data.
“They work with sophisticated computer monitoring equipment to detect abnormalities,” said Rigling, cardiology clinical manager at Danbury Hospital in Danbury, Conn. Some techs also assist in procedures to improve circulation of the heart’s blood supply. And they may help implant devices to restore and stabilize its electrical activity.
Demand greater than supply
Despite innovations, the demand for techs continues to outstrip supply. An industry survey conducted three years ago indicated there weren’t enough workers to fill full-time positions in more than 25 percent of labs.
“The shortage is great, and the job market is wide open,” Rigling said.
But the situation seems to be improving. Last year, 122 techs became registered cardiac sonographers, compared with 61 in 2003.
This designation is awarded by Cardiovascular Credentialing International, whose members earn about $41,000 to $61,000 a year.
Money helps draw recruits, Ajmal said.
Salaries range from $20,000 for EKG techs to more than $75,000 for invasive professionals, the alliance’s McElgunn said. “Management, of course, attracts even higher salaries,” she said.
Making the equipment
Techs in the equipment business tend to make 20 percent to 40 percent more than their clinical counterparts, said James Chapman, director of product marketing in the Dallas area for Biosound Esaote Inc.
The Indianapolis company, which manufactures and sells ultrasound machines, employs about 100 workers.
It caters to cardiologists, vascular surgeons, hospitals and mobile-imaging companies.
Career opportunities for techs span sales, applications, marketing and customer service.
These jobs are intended for seasoned professionals, not entry-level workers, Chapman said.
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“We look for experience in cardiovascular scanning with a strong clinical foundation and in-depth understanding of ultrasound physics and engineering principles,” he said. “Applications specialists must possess excellent people skills and be able to clearly articulate and demonstrate the ultrasound system within a limited time frame.”
Techs at Biosound and other companies are exposed to the latest technology and practices alongside some of the field’s best practitioners, Chapman said.
“They have a dynamic and exciting work environment, which is always changing,” he said. “They get to attend many scientific and educational conferences, and they get to travel while being very well compensated.”
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