EKG Technician Responsibilities

If you’re considering a career as an EKG technician, you’re probably curious about what the job entails on a day-to-day basis. EKG technicians play a crucial role in the healthcare field, as they help diagnose heart conditions by conducting electrocardiogram tests and monitoring patients’ vital signs. Depending on the role you choose, you may spend your days working with patients or monitoring them from a remote location. Here’s what you need to know about EKG technician responsibilities.

General EKG Technician Responsibilities

Some individuals choose to get an EKG certification to supplement another skill, like individuals who work as EMTs or emergency room healthcare providers. Others focus specifically on becoming EKG technicians responsible for three primary tasks.

• Performing diagnostic tests on patients: One of the primary responsibilities of an EKG technician is to perform EKG tests on patients. These tests involve attaching electrodes to a patient’s chest, limbs, and sometimes other parts of the body. The electrodes record the electrical impulses of the heart, creating a graphical representation known as an electrocardiogram. EKG technicians must ensure that the equipment is calibrated correctly and that the patient is comfortable throughout the procedure.
• Monitoring patient blood pressure: In addition to EKG tests, EKG technicians often monitor patients’ blood pressure. This is important because blood pressure can provide valuable information about a patient’s cardiovascular health. EKG techs use blood pressure cuffs and other monitoring devices to measure and record these vital signs accurately.
• Collecting medical data for doctors: EKG technicians are responsible for collecting and maintaining accurate medical data. They must carefully document the results of EKG tests, blood pressure readings, and any other relevant information about the patient’s condition. This data is crucial for healthcare professionals, especially cardiologists, who use it to make informed decisions about patient care and treatment plans.

3 Specialized EKG Roles and Their Responsibilities

EKG technicians can take on specialized roles within the field, each with unique responsibilities. These specialized roles often cater to specific patient needs and medical requirements. Of course, the job responsibilities will change a bit. While there are many ways that EKG techs can advance in their healthcare careers, there are three common paths many choose. 

Stress Testing Technician

Stress Testing Technicians are specialized healthcare professionals responsible for conducting stress tests on patients to assess their heart’s performance under increased physical stress. This is done to diagnose heart conditions like coronary artery disease, as the EKG technician monitors changes during increased activities.

Responsibilities:

• Administering exercise or pharmacological stress tests in a controlled environment.
• Carefully observing and recording patients’ physiological responses, including heart rate, blood pressure, and EKG readings.
• Collaborating with cardiologists to analyze test results and provide valuable insights into the patient’s cardiac health, contributing to the diagnosis and treatment plan.

Holter Monitor Technician

Holter Monitor Technicians are specialized healthcare professionals responsible for fitting patients with Holter monitors – portable EKG devices that continuously record heart activity over an extended period. This monitoring is essential for diagnosing irregular heart rhythms and other cardiac abnormalities that may not be detected in a standard EKG.

Responsibilities:

• Expertly attaching and configuring Holter monitors on patients, ensuring they are comfortable and can wear the device continuously.
• Providing thorough instructions to patients on maintaining the Holter monitor and recording specific symptoms or events as necessary.
• Analyzing the recorded Holter monitor data to identify and document any irregular heart rhythms or abnormalities and then collaborating with healthcare providers to generate comprehensive reports for diagnosis and treatment planning.

Telemetry Technician

Telemetry Technicians are specialized healthcare professionals responsible for monitoring patients’ cardiac activity remotely using telemetry equipment, such as portable telemetry units or wireless monitoring systems, particularly in hospital settings. This continuous monitoring is crucial for tracking the cardiac status of patients in critical care units and identifying any irregularities promptly.

Responsibilities:

• Setting up and configuring telemetry equipment, which may include attaching wireless leads and ensuring accurate data transmission.
• Constantly monitoring and analyzing cardiac rhythms on the central telemetry system or portable telemetry units and promptly identifying and responding to critical cardiac events or arrhythmias.
• Collaborating closely with nurses, physicians, and other healthcare team members to provide real-time information on patients’ cardiac status and assisting in interventions as needed. 

EKG technician responsibilities center around the heart health of patients. Whether you’re monitoring patients remotely or conducting in-person stress tests, these devices provide incredible insight that healthcare professionals use to save lives. By fulfilling their role, EKG technicians play a pivotal part in the process.

If you feel ready to take on EKG technician responsibilities but don’t have the education, BAMA Institute can help Contact an admissions representative.