Telemetry is a growing field, and considering becoming a telemetry technician is a wise choice.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the expected number of jobs for cardiovascular and vascular technologists and technicians, including telemetry technicians, will increase by 29 percent through 2020.
Telemetry technicians are constantly needed to use imaging technology to help diagnose medical conditions such as heart ailments, which are more frequent in recent years and are the causes of death.
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Responsibilities
When it comes to the daily duties of telemetry technicians, they are professionals who are well trained to perform cardiac tests on patients using an electrocardiogram, or EKG.
The aim of these tests is to discover health problems such as tumors and blood clots.
Furthermore, their job is to prepare patients for exams by taking their medical history, maintain imaging equipment, and discuss results with doctors and other medical staff.
Telemetry technicians are in charge of stress tests by attaching an EKG to patients and monitoring their heart rates while patients walk on a treadmill.
Depending on the size of the health care center or hospital, they may also be engaged in supervising and training other technicians and support staff.
Education
The majority of telemetry technicians receive on-the-job training.
There are some of them who know what they want to become, so they complete an associate or bachelor’s program in radiologic technology or nursing from a college or technical school.
During their studies, they will attend courses that include anatomy and medical terminology and will learn how to record electrocardiogram – an ultrasound machine used to examine the heart’s valves, vessels, and chambers.
So as to be successful in this field, technicians usually receive hands-on experience by working under the supervision of a professional technologist in a hospital or medical office.
If you want to be more attractive and a preferred candidate when applying for a job, you can become certified and for certification, technicians must complete an accredited program, pass an exam and take continuing education classes in the field.
Skills
Telemetry technicians have to trained to handle a variety of medical equipment such as cardiac monitoring units, pacemakers, and implants, so they must be tech-savvy.
Plus, they will constantly talk to patients and other medical staff, so good communication skills are important.
Being that some patients visiting the health care facility are in pain, technicians must have good interpersonal skills to get patients to cooperate with medical procedures and calm them down.
Being detail-oriented is necessary as technicians will need to follow directions from doctors and record test results in patients’ files.
Working Environment
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 74 percent of cardiovascular and vascular technologists and technicians work in hospitals.
However, these professionals can look for employment in clinics, doctor’s offices, medical labs, and outpatient care centers.
Telemetry technicians have to be ready to work long hours including overnight, evenings, and on weekends and stand on their feet for long periods of time.
They need to be strong, as they may have to lift disabled patients before conducting tests.
