ICVT

Interventional Cardiovascular & Vascular Technology

The JCC Interventional Cardiac and Vascular Technology Program has established technical standards and performance criteria that must be met by the students in the program. Information regarding anticipated work criteria is also included.

Technical Standards:

Each student must be able to:

1. Reach up to six (6) feet off the floor.
2. Communicate in a clear and concise manner in English language to people in various departments.  Spanish is optional.
3. Read and apply appropriate instructions in treatment charts, notes, and records.
4. Lift fifty (50) pounds of weight, up and over head level.
5. Move immobile patients from stretcher to procedure table with assistance from department personnel.
6. Push standard wheel chair from waiting area or patient’s room to the procedure room.
7. Comprehend and apply clinical instructions given from departmental personnel.
8. Utilize keyboard for inputting clinical data into computers.
9. Visually monitor patients and review images in dimmed light.
10. Ability to hear within normal limits (aided or non-aided).
11. Speech discrimination within functional limits for telephone and personal communication.

Physical Demands:

Mental & Visual Demands (student and vascular specialist):

1. Ability to work in a noisy environment with many interruptions.
2. Ability to perform and respond in stressful situations such as life threatening emergencies.
3. Ability to remember and recall a large amount of information.
4. Ability to accurately read and transcribe illegible handwriting.
5. Ability to assess patient and other situations rapidly, determine the course of action, delegate activities to co-workers, and/or respond as appropriate.
6. Ability to use equipment safely and correctly, such as equipment locks, IV pumps, stretchers, etc.
7. Ability to explain procedures and patient preparations clearly and simply in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
8. Ability to hear, understand, and respond appropriately to comments, questions, and instructions given in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
9. Ability to calmly and politely cope in stressful situations with other staff members.
10. Ability to assess work demands; personally organize and perform or assign others to meet the demands.
11. Ability to effectively communicate in the medical environment with other health care professionals and patients/family members.
12. Ability to apply critical thinking skills in regard to obtaining adequate clinical history from the patient and correlating that information with exam findings.
13. Ability to maintain patient confidentiality at all times.

Work Environment to be Anticipated:

Routine and acute patient care situations in the assigned area of work such as diagnostic radiography, CT, MRI, Nuclear Medicine, Ultrasound, etc. Exposure to ionizing radiation, blood and body fluids, chemicals for cleaning, medications, and pathogens. Contact with manual and electronic equipment such as keyboards, control panels, stretchers, IV pumps, computer terminals, facsimile machines, etc.

Patient care may include working with IV's, bed pans, urinals, and urinary catherizations.  Vascular technologists and students will perform procedures on various anatomical regions.  Workload may require altered break/lunch schedules.

Nature of Work/Training that may be Required:

Responsible and accountable for assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patient care assignment. Responsible and accountable for performing/supervising/delegating care and tasks. Assigned patients may vary in age from infancy through geriatrics. Hours of work and length of shift may vary from the established schedule. Patients are assessed and decisions are made about changes in their conditions, verbal and written reports are made to others on the health care team. Care is coordinated and documented by the technologist. Technologists (not students) may be required to provide call-back coverage for the cardiac and vascular departments.

Potential Hazards of Work/Training:

• Increased risk for exposure to various diseases, viruses, etc. while in the patient care/clinical setting.
• Increased risk for musculoskeletal injuries or repetitive strain injuries.

Qualifications for Employment: (may vary with employer)

• Current CPR certification.
• Possible ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certification.
• Current infection control requirements as mandated by employer.
• Current medical information.
• Current compliance with OSHA requirements and regulations regarding risk management, safety training, universal precautions training, and bloodborne pathogen training.