Cardiovascular Technologist in Malaysia Background The role of the cardiovascular technologist is increasingly complex and demanding. Not only must the cardiovascular technologist be familiar with approved clinical protocols for each type of cardiovascular examination he or she performs, the technologist also must be able to analyze the patient s clinical history fully, in order to identify the purpose of the examination, frame the clinical question(s) that the examination is intended to answer, and expand the examination as necessary to answer the clinical question(s). Cardiovascular technologist also plays an integral role in the treatment process, applying independent judgment, problemsolving skills, and the ability to obtain and integrate accurate diagnostic information whilst supporting the clinicians in performing the treatment. Therefore a guideline for credentialing of the practicing CVT is important to ensure appropriate standards and patient safety is upheld at all times. The well-informed public nowadays has to be assured that the quality of the services provided by healthcare practitioner including Cardiovascular Technologists do have a minimum knowledge and competency in these specialty areas. Description of profession Cardiovascular technology is an allied health profession specifically focuses in diagnosis and treatment of patients with cardiac and vascular diseases. Through the use the specific high-
technology equipment and at the direction of a qualified physician, performs cardiovascular examination and therapeutic procedures to create an easily definable data from which correct anatomic and physiologic diagnosis may be developed for each individual patient. The cardiovascular technologist therefore is highly specialized diagnostician of the various presentations of cardiovascular disease. The cardiovascular technologist is also trained in advance live support technique as he or she deals with patients with high risk of cardiopulmonary arrest. Cardiovascular Technology Sub Specialty Areas The profession of cardiovascular technology encompasses four sub specialty arrears including:- 1) Non-Invasive cardiovascular 2) Invasive cardiovascular 3) Non-invasive vascular 4) Cardiac pacing and electrophysiology Job Scope The scope of job of cardiovascular technology is divided into four sub specialty areas, the jobs are including but not limited to:- 1) Non invasive cardiovascular laboratory 1.1 Electrocardiography (EKG) 1.2 Stress Test 1.3 Ambulatory ECG monitoring
1.3.1 Holter 1.3.2 King of Heart 1.3.3 Rhythm Card 1.4 Ambulatory BP monitoring 1.5 VO2 Max and Exercise Capacity 1.6 Nuclear Medicine 1.7 Echocardiogram 1.8 Stress Echocardiogram 1.9 Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE) 1.10 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation 2) Invasive Cardiovascular Laboratory. 2.1 Haemodynamic & vital signs monitoring 2.2 Blood gas analysis and Intracardiac shunt study 2.3 Transesophageal and Transthoracic Echocardiogram 2.4 Intavascular Ultrasound (IVUS) 2.5 IntraAortic Balloon Pump (IABP) 2.6 Rotational Atherectomy 2.7 Vascular access removal & Groin management 2.8 Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterisation Procedures 2.9 Transcatheter Cardiacvascular Intervention
2.10 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation 3) Non invasive Peripheral Vascular Laboratory. 3.1 Ankle- Brachial Index (ABI) Procedure 3.2 Carotid Ultrasound Duplex 3.3 Peripheral Artery Ultrasound Duplex 3.4 Peripheral Vein Ultrasound Duplex 3.5 Thermography and Plethysmography Procedures 3.6 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation 4) Cardiac Pacing & Electrophysiology Laboratory 4.1 Cardiac Pacing 4.1.1 Permanent Pacemaker Implantation Support 4.1.2 Permanent Pacemaker Clinic Followup 4.1.3 Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD) Implantation Support 4.1.4 Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD) Clinic Follow-up
4.1.5 Biventricular Pacemaker Implantation Support 4.1.6 Biventricular Pacemaker Clinic follow-up 4.1.7 Temporary Pacemaker Implantation Support and programming 4.2 Electrophysiology 4.2.1 Electrophysiology Study Support 4.2.2 Radiofrequency Ablation Support 4.2.3 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation