Cardiovascular Technology

( Program to begin in November 2009 )

Cardiovascular technology is an allied health profession concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of patients with heart and blood vessel disease. The cardiovascular technologist performs tests at the request of a physician to obtain information about that patient's heart and blood vessel anatomy and function so the physician can make a diagnosis.

The profession of cardiovascular technology includes three areas of diagnostic evaluation:

1. invasive cardiovascular technology (diagnosis of heart disease by cardiac catheterization).

2. noninvasive cardiovascular technology (diagnosis of heart disease by cardiac ultrasound, exercise, and electrocardiographic testing).

3. noninvasive peripheral vascular study (diagnosis of blood vessel disease using ultrasound testing).

The Cardiovascular Technology program provides the necessary classroom and clinical courses to allow graduates to work as noninvasive cardiovascular technologists.

During the first year of the program, students learn basic medical sciences and noninvasive cardiovascular tests including electrocardiography (ECG), exercise testing, Holter monitoring, pacemaker evaluation and continuous cardiac monitoring. Students may exit the program after the first year and obtain a Certificate of Achievement as an Electrocardiography Technician. With this certificate, graduates may obtain employment as an ECG technician, stress testing technician, Holter monitor technician, pacemaker technician and/or monitor technician.

Students wishing to complete the two-year program must complete the first year courses and Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Graduates of the Noninvasive Cardiovascular Technology program option may obtain employment as a cardiovascular technologist performing all noninvasive tests, particularly cardiac ultrasound or echocardiography. Additionally, graduates may perform limited cerebrovascular ultrasound tests.

Graduates of the Cardiovascular Technology Program at the Institute of Health Sciences are eligible to take their certification and registry board examinations through the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) Registry and also the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS).