Cardiology Technologists and Electrophysiological Diagnostic Technologists

Nature of work

Cardiology technologists use medical imaging technologies to record cardiac activity of patients to help diagnose and treat heard disease. Electrophysiological diagnostic technologists use diagnostic equipment to help physicians diagnose, injuries, and abnormalities. Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists who are supervisors or instructors are included in this group. They work for clinics, hospitals, and medical laboratories.

Job duties

Cardiology technologists:

• Use equipment to record cardiac activity of patients.
• Complete cardiovascular procedures and tests like electrocardiograms, exercise tolerance tests, ambulatory monitoring, and scanning of tapes, holter arrhythmia scanning, pacemaker analysis and follow-up.
• Record and assess cardiac activity and provide preliminary reports of tests.
• Provide patients with care during procedures and tests.
• Prepare reports for interpretation by cardiologists.
• Reprogram pacemakers according to required standards.
• Check, calibrate, and maintain cardiology equipment to make sure it works properly.
• May analyze tests and notify physician or other health care professionals of abnormalities.
• May administer certain drugs under direct supervision of physician.
• May document and record pacemaker implant threshold measurements under direct supervision of cardiac surgeon.
• May supervise and train students, other cardiology technologists and nurses.

Electrophysiological technologists:

• Review patient's case history and assess nature of problem to determine procedures and tests required.
• Attach diagnostic equipment to patients and ensure their comfort and safety.
• Use diagnostic equipment to record the electrical activity of the brain and cranial and central nervous systems.
• Use electromyographic equipment to carry out electrophysiological nerve conduction velocity tests and to help physicians complete tests like muscle strength and repetitive stimulation.
• Take notes on the recorded graph to identify interference like poor electrode contact or patient movement.
• Prepare recordings and reports of findings for physicians to help diagnose neurological disorders.
• Check, calibrate, and maintain diagnostic equipment.
• Train and supervise students, technicians, or other electroencephalograph technologists.

Sample job titles

• cardiology technician
• cardiovascular technologist
• echoencephalography technician
• electrocardiographic (ECG) technologist
• electrocardiology technician
• electroencephalograph (EEG) technologist
• electromyography (EMG) technician
• vascular technologist

Skills

You should be interested in medicine and health. Manual dexterity and good coordination are necessary. You must be able to deal with people in a mature, tactful, and professional way. You should also be comfortable working with instruments, apparatus, and technology. A background in science would be helpful.

Job requirements

• Cardiology technologists require a two-year college diploma program in cardiology technology and supervised practical training.
• Cardiology technologists require registration with the Canadian Society of Cardiology Technologists in Nova Scotia.
• Electroencephalograph and other diagnostic technologists require a two-year college or hospital-based program in electrophysiology technology and supervised practical training.
• Registration with the Canadian Board of Electroencephalograph Technologists is available for electroencephalograph technologists and is usually required by employers.
• Registration with the Association of Electromyography Technologists of Canada is available for electromyography technologists and is usually required by employers.

Other considerations

While most people in these jobs work full-time, part-time and casual work arrangements are common.

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