Technologists who specialize in the care and testing of the heart and its functions are known as EKG technicians. Sonographers, for example, use technology that does not require insertion under the skin to track heart rate and other heart statistics. Others in the field of EKG technicians may be required to use more invasive procedures. EKG technicians are responsible for handling and maintaining testing equipment, providing patient care, and communicating reports to other members of the medical team, such as doctors and nurses. EKG technician jobs can be highly specialized and focused on a single type of heart function, such as blood flow, or they can be more generalized.
Many EKG technician jobs require employees to use a combination of invasive and non-invasive techniques, depending on the size of the organization. Sonographers are those who work in echocardiography and use ultrasounds to examine the various parts of the heart. This is a non-invasive way to look inside someone’s body. Phlebotomy is a more invasive EKG technician specialty that focuses on the blood and blood vessels and how they affect heart functions. Phlebotomists assist doctors during surgery and may also be responsible for personally inserting tubes into patients to check for blockages and blood flow.
EKG technicians are typically required to check, maintain, and stock EKG equipment, regardless of whether the practice is general or specialized. Additionally, EKG technician employees are focused on adhering to health and safety regulations while properly using machinery and medical applications. In some larger hospitals, an EKG employee may be assigned to maintaining equipment that is used others. This could entail checking machine accuracy, replacing parts and supplies, and properly cleaning equipment.
EKG technician jobs are mostly found in hospitals and other medical care facilities, and they are typically needed in emergency situations. An EKG technician may be required to be mobile in some situations, moving his operating equipment from patient exam rooms to surgery rooms, while other EKG workers will be responsible for a stationary work site. Some technologists work in both fields. This type of technician may be required to respond quickly to last-minute doctor requests in some cases, while others may focus on routine testing in an office setting. A head EKG technician supervises and evaluates other EKG technologists in many cases.
Working hours for an EKG technician include seeing patients, preparing paperwork, and monitoring the use of medical testing equipment. He may be in charge of appointment scheduling and spends much of his time transporting people and equipment to various medical departments or locations. He is typically in charge of attaching testing instruments and sensors to people, as well as preparing reports that track the heart’s beating.