An Electrocardiogram is a Vital Aspect of Patient Care

An electrocardiogram – also called an EKG or ECG – is one of the simplest tests used to evaluate the heart’s function. Although electrocardiograms have become somewhat routine, they can help discover irregularities in the heart that could lead to a heart attack or heart disease.

Small, plastic electrodes that are placed at specific spots on the chest, arms, and legs record the electrical activity of your heart at rest, providing physicians with information about your heart rate and rhythm. An EKG shows if there is enlargement of the heart due to factors like high blood pressure or evidence of a previous heart attack. However, the test does not show whether you have blockages in your heart arteries or predict your risk of a future heart attack.

It may be important to have an EKG if you have risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure or symptoms such as chest pain or an irregular heartbeat. You may also need the test if you have a personal or family history of heart disease or already have heart disease.

Like many jobs in the healthcare industry, the market for EKG technicians is growing rapidly. While typically situated within a hospital environment, EKG techs also work in specialty long-term care facilities and private practices. In addition to performing the procedure and reporting to physicians, an EKG tech explains the test to patients and monitors their heart performance and blood pressure.

Becoming a Certified EKG Technician (CET) is a great first step in launching a healthcare career. Although higher education is not legally required, employers and hiring managers generally prefer job candidates to at least be certified. Dorson Vocational Training Institute’s online course teaches students the physiology of the cardiac system and how to classify heart diseases, and trains them to successfully perform an EKG and recognize abnormalities. After completing 100 hours of internship/externship, students are eligible to sit for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) CET exam.

Call us at 973-676-6300 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get back to you to answer your questions about Dorson Vocational Training Institute’s Certified EKG Technician program and our other healthcare classes and training programs.