EKG Technician Training

Vital signs are measurements of the body’s most basic functions. The four main vital signs routinely monitored by medical professionals and healthcare providers include:

· Body temperature

· Pulse rate

· Respiration rate (rate of breathing)

· Blood pressure (Blood pressure is not considered a vital sign, but is often measured along with the vital signs.)

Vital signs monitors provide continuous monitoring of multiple critical parameters, including temperature, noninvasive blood pressure, pulse rate, ECG and oxygen saturation (SpO2), making them suitable for conscious sedation procedures as well as simple monitoring. They are found in the acute care setting as well as clinical and private office settings.

Key Selling Points:

Ease of transport and portability Versatility and flexibility The clarity with which readings are displayed Their ability to be networked with central workstations Their ability to be incorporated into electronic medical records systems.

Ease of transport of vital signs monitors is a strong selling point in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Some models weighing less than 10 pounds can be easily carried with convenient carrying handles. Many monitors can be stand- and roller-mounted for easy transport. For example, GE Medical Systems touts that its DINAMAP PRO Series Monitor sports roller blade-style wheels for effortless gliding.

Accessories for vital signs monitors can include reusable or disposable cuffs, cuff hoses and power cords. Some units have built-in printers or recorders, so that waveforms and graphic trends can be captured for later review or the record. (Built-in printers and recorders can be especially useful to track apnea events by recording the patient’s respiration, heart rate and oxygen saturation level.) Other models can be connected wirelessly to printers.

Connectivity:

Like many technologies, vital signs monitors are becoming smaller and smaller. The Welch Allyn Micropaq wireless ambulatory monitor, for example, features waveform display, multi-parameter monitoring and patient alarm capabilities in a patient-wearable device. This 1-pound unit provides measurement of ECG, heart rate and pulse oximetry. It’s said to be well-suited for use in cardiac care with ambulatory patients connected wirelessly to a network and central nursing workstation.

Data from vital signs monitors could become an integral part of electronic medical records very soon. In fact, as many as 64 GE DINAMAP PRO monitors can be connected to its CHANT Server software for automatic uploading into the electronic medical record.

At least one company – QRS Diagnostics in Plymouth, Minn. – uses PC Card technology to convert off-the-shelf PC, laptop or handheld computers into medical devices, including monitors. The company’s VitalCards product has yet to be cleared by the FDA. However, it’s already marketing cards for spirometry, electrocardiography and spirometry/pulse oximetry. Combined with personal digital assistants (PDAs) that support wireless networking, these cards can be used for mobile wireless health monitoring.

Cardiovascular Technicians assist doctors in patient diagnosis and treatment in a cardiology setting. Some of the functions they perform include ultrasound procedures, monitoring of patients’ heart rates, cardiovascular procedures, review of patient files, explanations of test procedures to the patient, and operation and care of testing equipment. Cardiovascular technologists may specialize in any of three areas of practice: invasive cardiology, echocardiography, or vascular technology. Specialists in invasive cardiology assist doctors with invasive cardiac procedures such as heart catheterizations and angioplasty. Specialists in echocardiography render assistance with non-invasive procedures which do not require the insertion of probes or other instruments into the patient’s body. Some common examples are ultrasound or echocardiograms, electrocardiograms (EKGs), and stress tests. Specialists in vascular technology assist physicians in the diagnosis of disorders affecting circulation and blood flow.

Education, Certification, Licensing

Although some cardiovascular techs (most notably those who focus on administering EKGs) tend to be trained on the job, most receive training in 1- to 4-year programs. Two-year programs offered by junior or community colleges are most popular, although four-year programs are increasingly available. Those who specialize in ultrasound and vascular study will need at least a 2-year program. Those specializing in invasive cardiology procedures will need the 2-4 year program, since this specialty entails the highest degree of complexity. Cardiovascular techs who undergo on-the-job training usually take about 8 to 16 weeks to complete their training. Most employers prefer to train people with at least a minimal degree of experience in a medical setting or who are already in the health care field in some capacity. Some states require cardiovascular techs to be licensed. Those that do mandate licensure usually require some combination of education, experience, and/or certification for earning a license. Information on a particular state’s requirements can be obtained by contacting the state’s medical board. The two principal organizations which offer certifications in this field are the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) and Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI). Certification is always beneficial because many employers prefer to hire certified cardiovascular techs even in those states that do not require certification for licensure.

One of the most standard pieces of medical equipment in hospitals today is the electrocardiogram (EKG) machine. This helpful machine tells doctors and nurses vital information about the state of your health. Everyone learns at a young age that the heart is an incredibly important part of the body. It is a strong muscle that pumps the blood throughout our body, distributing the vitamins and nutrients we need to stay healthy and keep our organs functioning. An EKG machine is a valuable piece of medical equipment that measures the beat of our heart by picking up on the electrical signals that tell our heart to pump blood.

Every hospital, surgical center, and health clinic has several EKG machines on hand because they not only help monitor an ailing patient, they also give medical personnel information about whether there is a defect in the heart, if a heart attack occurred, or if there is another kind of heart abnormality. However, these machines are very expensive. On average, a brand new EKG machine costs approximately $5,000. If you consider that you need one of these machines available for every patient, you can see how quickly they can add up.

If you are a clinic that needs new machines, you should consider used medical equipment. Used EKG machines are much more affordable and they are in great working condition. These machines have been in use for several years and the technology has been very reliable. Therefore, it is not necessary to have the latest and the greatest version. You simply need something that works accurately. Many hospitals and clinics that are closing have equipment that is still in great shape. Biomedical repair technicians examine every piece closely, replace the parts, and make the necessary repairs so that these machines are ready for several more years of use.

If you are looking for used EKG machines, you simply need to talk to medical equipment retail stores as well as search the internet. Several websites sell used machines and allow you to compare prices and brands. This method makes it possible for you to find the machines that you need at an affordable price.

There are a lot of people who are now at risk for heart disease. This is mainly because they have the genetic default that puts them at natural risk for heart disease. A lot of people who feel that they are at a genetic risk for heart disease will also live their life in a reckless way. They not only eat poorly, but they don’t exercise and they don’t take care of themselves. Just because you may be at risk for the disorder, it doesn’t mean that you are going to die from it. You only increase your chances by not paying attention to the signs and so on. You will want to think about how you can help yourself by avoiding addition risk factors of heart disease.

First, you need to know the symptoms of heart disease. You need to be prepared for heart disease, because you may have a heart attack at any age. You will find that the symptoms for heart disease consist of chest pain, sudden chills, sweating, weakness, and nausea. You will also find that the symptoms change person to person; however, women are more likely to see the signs then men.

As for a diagnosis of heart disease, you will want to take some tests including an electrocardiography. You will also find that there are many other ways that a doctor can figure out if it is your heart or not. You will simply need to trust your doctor and hope for the best. Since there are so many ways, you should feel comfortable when a doctor choices the tests. This way, you know that they feel comfortable with the test and that should relief some of your troubles.

As for treatment you will find that there are also many methods to help you live with heart disease and perhaps recover from the disease. You will find that there aer many medications on the market to help you. These are mainly to help you get your blood pressure under control and also you will need to take medications in order to control your cholesterol. You will also find there are many surgeries like a bypass that will help you with heart disease. Mostly, the surgeries are for those who have had a stroke or heart attack. The medications are to prevent it. Both will not save your life.

The only way that you can save yourself from heart disease is by simply taking care of yourself. You will need to make sure that you consider all of the ways that you can lower your risks through diet and exercise. You may want to consult your doctor to see if there are herbs or vitamins that you can take to help you fight heart disease.

Have a healthy heart.