By
William Hale
An EKG technician is an unlicensed member of the healthcare team who works in the cardiac care unit under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed physician. Licensed personnel often delegate routine tasks to unlicensed assistants who are allowed to accept responsibility for tasks that do not require the advanced knowledge, judgment, or skill of a licensed medical professional. Delegation is an extremely important aspect of healthcare delivery because it allows nurses and physicians to focus their time on evaluating and treating complex patients. An increased dependence on unlicensed personnel over the past several years has resulted in many new career advancement opportunities for the EKG technician. Individuals who are well-suited to a fast paced medical environment can expect many years of strong job growth if they choose to pursue this career path.
The healthcare industry is one of the largest employment sectors in the United States and it offers many career paths from which to choose. A few of the main reasons for the expansion of unlicensed opportunities include a growing population, a higher prevalence of diet and exercise related illnesses, a shortage of licensed medical professionals, and the large number of individuals who belong to the Baby Boom generation who are now entering their retirement years. In addition to these factors, the recent expansion of Medicaid, Medicare, and federal health insurance mandates have resulted in greater demand for medical services in all areas of practice. The fact that it requires many years of education and training to add new nurses and doctors to the workforce means that there are not enough advanced medical personnel to meet the growing demand.
In order to manage the influx of patients, many healthcare facilities have begun hiring unlicensed assistants in record numbers. Within the cardiovascular department, these assistants are capable of performing electrocardiograms, Holter monitoring, telemetry, vital sign collection, medical history documentation, procedure preparation, and a variety of other routine tasks that pose little risk of harm to patients. The services that the EKG technician provides are an important part of patient care and they allow nurses and physicians to focus on evaluating test results as well as assessing and treating complex medical cases. The collaborative efforts of the technicians, nurses, and physicians results in higher quality care, better health outcomes, and improved access to care for the public.
No states have regulations that specifically outline education, training, and certification requirements for the EKG technician. For this reason, it is possible to enter the profession with nothing more than a high school diploma or GED. While some employers may consider hiring individuals who have no credentials or previous experience with patient care, they do prefer to offer jobs to applicants who have worked in a more generalized area of practice for a few years and who have developed an appreciation for the unique challenges of caring for patients. In addition, new state and federal patient care initiatives have increased the standards for competency in all medical fields and have led many employers to selectively exclude applicants who are inexperienced.
Those who are new to healthcare and who are struggling to compete with more qualified applicants are encouraged to consider completing either a two-year allied health degree or a few years of employment in a field that caters to the general medical needs of the public. Strengthening one's resume through education and experience is one of the best ways to demonstrate competence and often helps to get the attention of potential employers. A few years of employment as a nurse aide or medical assistant provides an excellent opportunity to acquire the skills one needs in order to compete for job openings and allows an aspiring technician to begin networking with influential individuals in the cardiovascular department.
An EKG technician is an unlicensed member of the healthcare team who works in the cardiac care unit under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed physician. Licensed personnel often delegate routine tasks to unlicensed assistants who are allowed to accept responsibility for tasks that do not require the advanced knowledge, judgment, or skill of a licensed medical professional. Delegation is an extremely important aspect of healthcare delivery because it allows nurses and physicians to focus their time on evaluating and treating complex patients. An increased dependence on unlicensed personnel over the past several years has resulted in many new career advancement opportunities for the EKG technician. Individuals who are well-suited to a fast paced medical environment can expect many years of strong job growth if they choose to pursue this career path.
The healthcare industry is one of the largest employment sectors in the United States and it offers many career paths from which to choose. A few of the main reasons for the expansion of unlicensed opportunities include a growing population, a higher prevalence of diet and exercise related illnesses, a shortage of licensed medical professionals, and the large number of individuals who belong to the Baby Boom generation who are now entering their retirement years. In addition to these factors, the recent expansion of Medicaid, Medicare, and federal health insurance mandates have resulted in greater demand for medical services in all areas of practice. The fact that it requires many years of education and training to add new nurses and doctors to the workforce means that there are not enough advanced medical personnel to meet the growing demand.
In order to manage the influx of patients, many healthcare facilities have begun hiring unlicensed assistants in record numbers. Within the cardiovascular department, these assistants are capable of performing electrocardiograms, Holter monitoring, telemetry, vital sign collection, medical history documentation, procedure preparation, and a variety of other routine tasks that pose little risk of harm to patients. The services that the EKG technician provides are an important part of patient care and they allow nurses and physicians to focus on evaluating test results as well as assessing and treating complex medical cases. The collaborative efforts of the technicians, nurses, and physicians results in higher quality care, better health outcomes, and improved access to care for the public.
No states have regulations that specifically outline education, training, and certification requirements for the EKG technician. For this reason, it is possible to enter the profession with nothing more than a high school diploma or GED. While some employers may consider hiring individuals who have no credentials or previous experience with patient care, they do prefer to offer jobs to applicants who have worked in a more generalized area of practice for a few years and who have developed an appreciation for the unique challenges of caring for patients. In addition, new state and federal patient care initiatives have increased the standards for competency in all medical fields and have led many employers to selectively exclude applicants who are inexperienced.
Those who are new to healthcare and who are struggling to compete with more qualified applicants are encouraged to consider completing either a two-year allied health degree or a few years of employment in a field that caters to the general medical needs of the public. Strengthening one's resume through education and experience is one of the best ways to demonstrate competence and often helps to get the attention of potential employers. A few years of employment as a nurse aide or medical assistant provides an excellent opportunity to acquire the skills one needs in order to compete for job openings and allows an aspiring technician to begin networking with influential individuals in the cardiovascular department.
Those who have a strong interest in patient care and who are
intrigued by the thought of specializing in cardiac care are encouraged
to learn more about a career as a technician by visiting http://www.ekgtechniciansalary.org/
where visitors will find additional details about state requirements
along with information about other important industry topics. Learning
about this career path before seeking employment is an excellent way to
get a feel for what is expected and to better decide if it is the
appropriate career choice.
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