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Healthcare is one of the largest and fastest growing employment sectors available in the United States today. Few industries offer as many professional opportunities or as much room for advancement as the medical field. Whether individuals want to contribute to patient care as a licensed provider or an entry-level technician, there are plenty of rewarding options available in just about any specialty. One of the best departments for advancing one’s career is that of cardiac care. Providers who work in this specialty are responsible for diagnosing and treating a wide variety of conditions that affect the heart and are in high demand due to the dramatic increase in the prevalence of chronic illnesses such as that of diabetes and obesity that has occurred over the past thirty years. Individuals who work as unlicensed members of the patient care team within the cardiac specialty are often known as electrocardiogram (EKG) technicians or cardiovascular technologists. The responsibilities that a technician has are usually routine activities such as documenting changes in medical status, vital sign recording, performing heart studies, preparing patients for invasive procedures, patient education, and much more. The services that the technician provides have benefited from growing demand over the past several years because of the growing population, the number of aging Baby Boomers who are now entering retirement, the widespread adoption of poor diet and exercise habits, and the expansion of medical coverage to individuals who were previously uninsured. According to federal statistics, approximately 600,000 people in the US die from heart related conditions each year. The influx of patients that has resulted from an increase in heart disease has placed stress on the medical system and has forced many establishments to build new facilities and hire additional entry-level personnel. These trends have dramatically improved the career prospects of those who want to work in cardiac care and who are willing to complete a minimal amount of training. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated that employment for the EKG technician will increase by approximately 29% by the year 2020. This makes cardiac care one of the fastest growing medical specialties and one of the most popular allied health employment opportunities. Those who are considering a career as a cardiac care technician stand to benefit from solid job growth for the foreseeable future, but should consider the appropriateness of the profession in context of the character traits that they possess. Caring for high risk patients in a clinical setting can become stressful and it is very important that technicians be compassionate towards patients, caring, intelligent, polite, willing to receive instruction, and passionate about making a positive contribution to the well-being of others. Individuals who possess these qualities can expect to enjoy many employment options due to the eagerness of administrators to find and recruit top notch talent to their organization. Aside from the strong job growth and opportunities for advancement, the technician profession benefits from low barriers to entry as far as education, training, and certification is concerned. Those who wish to pursue a career in the field will often be considered for an open position as long as they have had a few years of prior patient care experience and are willing to complete a short training program and pass a national certification examination. The fact that the EKG technician salary typically exceeds $35,000 per year makes this one of the highest paying allied health fields for those who do not want to spend several years completing a college degree or advanced training. The opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of individuals suffering from heart disease is very rewarding on both a personal and professional level. Demand for cardiovascular technologists is likely to remain strong for several years into the future and it is highly recommended that individuals act now to take advantage of the growth. Those who would like to learn more about the practice expectations in their state as well as several other industry topics are encouraged to visit www.ekgtechniciansalary.org where they will find much more detail about a rewarding career in this profession.
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ekg technician, cardiovascular technologist, cardiac care technician,
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