EKG technician jobs include those technologists who focus on the care and testing of the heart and its functions. Sonographers, for example, track heart rate and other heart statistics by using technology that does not need to be inserted under the skin. Others in the EKG technician field may be required to perform more invasive techniques. EKG technicians must handle and maintain testing equipment, practice patient care, and communicate reports to other medical staff members, such as doctors and nurses. EKG technician jobs can be specialized and focused on one type of heart function, such as blood flow, or may perform duties that are more generalized in nature.
Depending upon the size of an organization, many EKG technician jobs require an employee to practice a combination of invasive and non-invasive techniques. Those working in echocardiography are called sonographers and use ultrasounds to inspect the different parts of the heart. This is a non-invasive technique to see inside a person's body. Another EKG technician specialty called phlebotomy is more invasive and focuses on the blood and blood vessels and how they affect heart functions. Phlebotomists are generally responsible for assisting doctors in surgery and may also be personally responsible for inserting tubes into patients to check blockages and blood flow.
Regardless of whether a practice is general or specialized, those in EKG technician jobs typically are required to check, maintain, and stock EKG equipment. Additionally, workers in EKG technician jobs focus on maintaining health and safety requirements while utilizing machinery and medical applications properly. In some larger hospitals, an EKG employee might be specifically utilized to maintain equipment for others to use. This might involve testing machine accuracy, replacing parts and supplies, and cleaning equipment properly.
EKG technician jobs exist mostly in hospitals and other types of medical care facilities and are usually required for emergency situations. In some situations, an EKG technician will be required to be mobile, moving his operating equipment from patient exam rooms to surgery rooms, while other EKG workers will be responsible for a stationery work site. Some technologists do a combination of both. In some cases, this type of technician will need to respond to last minute doctor requests quickly, while others focus on routine testing in an office setting. In many cases, a head EKG technician supervises and evaluates other EKG technologists.
An EKG technician spends work time seeing patients, preparing paperwork, and controlling the use of medical testing equipment. He may be responsible for the scheduling of appointments and spends much of the day transporting people and equipment to different medical departments or locations. He usually is responsible for attaching testing instruments and sensors to people and then preparing reports that track the beating of the heart.