Career Path Forecast
 Employment
of cardiovascular technologists and technicians is expected to increase
by 26 percent through the year 2016, much faster than the average for
all occupations. Growth will occur as the population ages, because older
people have a higher incidence of heart disease and other complications
of the heart and vascular system. Procedures such as ultrasound are
being performed more often as a replacement for more expensive and more
invasive procedures. Due to advances in medicine and greater public
awareness, signs of vascular disease can be detected earlier, creating
demand for cardiovascular technologists and technicians to perform
various procedures.
Employment of vascular technologists and
echocardiographers will grow as advances in vascular technology and
sonography reduce the need for more costly and invasive procedures.
Electrophysiology is also becoming a rapidly growing specialty. However,
fewer EKG technicians will be needed, as hospitals train nursing aides
and others to perform basic EKG procedures. Individuals trained in
Holter monitoring and stress testing are expected to have more favorable
job prospects than those who can perform only a basic EKG.
Medicaid has relaxed some of the rules
governing reimbursement for vascular exams, which is resulting in
vascular studies becoming a more routine practice. As a result of
increased use of these procedures, individuals with training in vascular
studies should have more favorable employment opportunities.
Some additional job openings for
cardiovascular technologists and technicians will arise from replacement
needs as individuals transfer to other jobs or leave the labor force.
Although growing awareness of musculoskeletal disorders has made
prevention easier, some cardiovascular technologists and technicians
have been forced to leave the occupation early because of this disorder.
It is not uncommon for cardiovascular technologists and technicians to
move between the specialties within the occupation by obtaining
certification in more than one specialty.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
|
