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Cardiac Technician
What is a Cardiac Technician ?
Cardiac Technicians provide technical services for the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. As part of the cardiology team, cardiac technologists operate a range of specialist equipment which provides data that cardiologists and other medical practitioners use for patient care.
Roles of a Cardiac Technician
- Provide technical services for the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease
- Use an electrocardiography (ECG) to record the electrical activity of the heart, from which the heart rate is measured and pattern and rhythm interpreted
- Ambulatory monitoring - fitting a portable ECG monitor to record the ECG over a 24-hour period, and replaying and analysing the tape on a computerised system
- Exercise ECG stress testing - assessing a patient's cardiac response to exercise using a treadmill or stationary bicycle and ECG recording
- Pacemaker implant testing - testing and, if necessary, reprogramming implanted cardiac pacemakers with computerised equipment
- Cardiac catheterisation - monitoring and recording ECG and blood pressure data
- Electrophysiology studies - using computerised systems to record ECG data from within the heart in order to help diagnose and, in some cases, treat abnormal heart rhythms
- Echocardiography - operating ultrasound equipment that scans the heart
- structures, measuring parameters such as chamber size, blood flow and valve abnormalities
- Cardiac research - studying the effects of cardiovascular drugs and diseases using many of the above techniques
- Interpret patient's test results, and write reports to help the cardiologist decide treatment
Career Opportunities
Cardiac technology is a developing speciality. All large metropolitan and regional public and private hospitals have cardiac investigation units. Opportunities for employment exist in hospitals, as well as in private practice. Further training can lead to:
- Anaesthetic Technician
- Audio metrist
- Consultant Physician
- Medical Imaging Technologist
- Medical Scientist
- Nuclear Medicine Technologist
- Radiation Therapist
- Specialist Medical Practitioners
- Surgeon
Qualifications Required
Certificate IV in Cardiac Technology
Things to consider:
- Taking subjects such as Mathematics, Biology and English
- Gain experience in other medical technician or hospital-based work, dealing with
- the public and working with technology
- Have experience working in a team
- Have a degree in biomedical science, with studies in medical biophysics and
- Instrumentation
Supervision provided
A comprehensive orientation program is provided for all new staff
members with ongoing support.
Personal skills required of a cardiac Technician
- knowledgeable of the structure and function of the heart and the human body
- knowledgeable of diseases that affect the heart and their consequences
- Able to understand medical terms and their usage
- Educated on how heart monitoring equipment works
- Familiar with factors that affect heart monitoring techniques
- Skilled with the technical ability to operate complex medical equipment
- Able to concentrate for long periods
- An excellent problem-solver
- A good communicator and able to work in a team
- An precise record-keeper
- Responsible, motivated and accurate, with an eye for detail and good hand-eye coordination
- Careful and analytical approach to work
- Sympathetic, supportive and professional approach to patients
- Able to learn independently
- Able to remain calm in emergencies and work well under pressure
- Prepared to be on call
Supervision provided
A comprehensive orientation program is provided for all new staff members with ongoing support.
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