CARDIOVASCULAR TECHNOLOGIST

Job Definition:

• Health professionals conduct research; improve or develop concepts, theories and operational methods; and apply scientific knowledge relating to medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and promotion of health. Competent performance in most occupations in this sub-major group requires skills at the fourth ISCO skill level.

Job Description:

• Conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic purposes. May conduct or assist in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary-functions, lung capacity, and similar tests.

Duties and Tasks:

• 1) Monitor patients’ blood pressure and heart rate using electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in order to notify the physician if something appears wrong.
• 2) Monitor patients’ comfort and safety during tests, alerting physicians to abnormalities or changes in patient responses.
• 3) Explain testing procedures to patient to obtain cooperation and reduce anxiety.
• 4) Prepare reports of diagnostic procedures for interpretation by physician.
• 5) Observe gauges, recorder, and video screens of data analysis system during imaging of cardiovascular system.
• 6) Conduct electrocardiogram, phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress testing, and other cardiovascular tests to record patients’ cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, and laboratory instruments.
• 7) Prepare and position patients for testing.
• 8) Obtain and record patient identification, medical history and test results.
• 9) Attach electrodes to the patients’ chests, arms, and legs, connect electrodes to leads from the electrocardiogram (EKG) machine, and operate the EKG machine to obtain a reading.
• 10) Adjust equipment and controls according to physicians’ orders or established protocol.
• 11) Check, test, and maintain cardiology equipment, making minor repairs when necessary, to ensure proper operation.
• 12) Supervise and train other cardiology technologists and students.
• 13) Assist physicians in diagnosis and treatment of cardiac and peripheral vascular treatments, for example, assisting with balloon angioplasties to treat blood vessel blockages.
• 14) Operate diagnostic imaging equipment to produce contrast enhanced radiographs of heart and cardiovascular system
• 15) Inject contrast medium into patients’ blood vessels.
• 16) Observe ultrasound display screen and listen to signals to record vascular information such as blood pressure, limb volume changes, oxygen saturation and cerebral circulation.
• 17) Assess cardiac physiology and calculate valve areas from blood flow velocity measurements.
• 18) Compare measurements of heart wall thickness and chamber sizes to standard norms to identify abnormalities.
• 19) Activate fluoroscope and camera to produce images used to guide catheter through cardiovascular system.
• 20) Enter factors such as amount and quality of radiation beam, and filming sequence, into computer.
• 21) Conduct tests of pulmonary system, using spirometer and other respiratory testing equipment.

Activities:

• 1) Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• 2) Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• 3) Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• 4) Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• 5) Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• 6) Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests
• 7) Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• 8) Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• 9) Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• 10) Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• 11) Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• 12) Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• 13) Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• 14) Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• 15) Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• 16) Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• 17) Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• 18) Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• 19) Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• 20) Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things
• 21) Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• 22) Interperting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• 23) Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• 24) Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• 25) Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• 26) Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• 27) Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• 28) Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• 29) Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Abilities:

• 1) Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand
• 2) Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• 3) Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• 4) Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• 5) Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• 6) Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• 7) Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• 8) Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• 9) Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• 10) Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• 11) Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• 12) Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• 14) Perceptual Speed — The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
• 14) Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
• 15) Flexibility of Closure — The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Knowledge

• 1) Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• 2) Medicine and Dentistry — Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
• 3) Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• 4) Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• 5) English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.