EKG Technicians
EKG Technicians are responsible for
performing electrocardiogram tests in
order to monitor and record electrical
impulses transmitted by the heart. These
tests include basic EKGs, Holter
Monitoring (portable EKG which records
activity for 24-48 hrs.), 12 lead
placement and Stress Tests (treadmill).
They assist a physician in diagnosing
and treating cardiac and blood vessel
irregularities.
EKG Technicians – Employment &
Education
EKG
Technicians work in physician offices,
hospitals, clinics, and other health
care facilities and organizations. EKG
Technicians also work for insurance
companies to establish health and life
insurance policies. Similar to other
growing
healthcare professions, the demand for
EKG Technicians is expected to continue
to grow substantially.
Educational
Requirements
People who are interested in becoming a
certified EKG Technician should posses a
High School diploma or GED equivalent.
EKG Technician Certification Program
This comprehensive 50 hour EKG
Technician Certification Program
prepares students to function as EKG
Technicians and to take the American
Society of Phlebotomy Technician (ASPT)
– Electrocardiograph (EKG) Technician
exam in addition to other National
Certification Exams. This course will
include important practice and
background information on anatomy of the
heart and physiology, medical disease
processes, medical terminology, medical
ethics, legal aspects of patient
contact, the Holter monitor,
electrocardiography and echocardiography.
Additionally, students will practice
with equipment and perform hands-on labs
including
introduction to the function and proper
use of the EKG machine, the normal
anatomy of the chest wall for proper
lead placement, 12-lead placement and
other clinical practices. EKG
Technicians also analyze printed
readings of EKG tests, measuring various
“cardiac intervals and complexes” and
determining normal vs. abnormal EKG.
The EKG Technician
Certification Program includes a graded
final exam to help prepare students for
the ASPT – EKG Technician Exam.
EKG Technician Detailed Course
Information
-
role of the EKG
Technician
-
function of the EKG
Department in a variety
of settings
(hospital,
clinic, office, mobile
service)
-
introduction to medical
terminology
-
medical terminology
related to
electrocardiography
-
care & safety of
patients, medical &
legal aspects
-
anatomy of the heart,
conduct ion system,
circulation of the heart
and blood vessels
-
electrical conduction
system of the heart
-
cardiac cycle (electric
system)
-
EKG strip analysis
(P,Q,R,S,T wave form
interpretation)
-
normal sinus rhythm,
sinus bradycardis, sinus
tachycardia
-
basic EKG
interpretation, sinus
rhythm, and ventricular
rhythms, asystole;
example rhythm
-
recognizing artifacts;
troubleshooting, tracing
problems
-
practice EKG strips; EKG
rhythms
-
preparing a patient for
EKG
-
12 lead EKGs
(interpretation and
troubleshooting)
-
12 lead placement
-
echocardiography
-
other roles for the EKG
Technician
