Cardiac Technologist Related Jobs or Working with these Jobs
ANZSCO ID: 253312
Duties and Tasks
Working conditions
Cardiac technologists provide technical services for the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. As part of the cardiology team, cardiac technologists operate a range of specialist equipment, which provides data that cardiologists and other medical practitioners use for patient care. ANZSCO ID: 311212 Alternative names: Cardiac Scientist, Cardiac Technician, Clinical Measurement Technician, Knowledge, skills and attributes
Duties and Tasks Cardiac technologists may perform the following tasks:
Working conditions Cardiac technologists may be required to be on call. Education and training/entrance requirements To become a cardiac technologist you usually have to complete a degree at university with a major in biophysics, health science, nursing, physiology or exercise physiology. Once you are employed, you will receive some on-the-job training and may be required to undertake further study in cardiac technology.
To get into the degree courses you usually need
to gain your HSC/ACT Year 12. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed
knowledge, in one or more of English, mathematics, chemistry,
biology and physics are normally required. Cardiac technologists performing echocardiograms need to be accredited with the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR). Student membership is also available for students participating in an ASAR-accredited medical ultrasound programme of study.
A cardiothoracic surgeon is a specialist who surgically treats diseases affecting the organs in the chest, predominantly the heart, lungs and oesophagus. Cardiothoracic surgeons work closely with other medical professionals to treat life-threatening diseases such as heart failure, lung cancer, endocarditis, congenital heart defects, and pulmonary embolisms. They also perform heart and lung transplants and coronary bypass surgeries. Cardiothoracic surgeons see the immediate and often life-changing results of their work. Since the end of the Second World War cardiothoracic surgery has seen accelerated growth, along with rapidly evolving technological changes. This medical specialty is relatively young and is still evolving. A diagnosis of heart disease begins with a patient's primary care physician, who will then refer them to a cardiologist. If their cardiologist decides that they need surgery, he or she will refer them to a cardiothoracic surgeon, who becomes a new member of their heart-health team.
A cardiothoracic surgeon may treat: coronary artery disease or blockages of
the arteries in the heart, blockages in the heart valve(s), leaking heart
valve(s), abnormal enlargement or aneurysms of the large arteries in the
chest, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. ANZSCO ID: 253512 Alternative names: Cardiac Surgeon, Cardiovascular Surgeon, General Thoracic Surgeon, Congenital Heart Surgeon, Heart Surgeon Specialisations: Within the specialty of cardiothoracic surgery, there are specific specialties - adult cardiac surgery, children's cardiac surgery, general thoracic surgery (disorders of the lungs and esophagus), congential cardiac surgery, and heart and lung transplant surgery. Knowledge, skills and attributes
Cardiothoracic surgeons have distinct personalities. They tend to be investigative individuals, which means they’re intellectual, introspective, and inquisitive. They are curious, methodical, rational, analytical, and logical. Some of them are also realistic, meaning they’re independent, stable, persistent, genuine, practical, and thrifty.
Duties and Tasks
Working conditions
Cardiothoracic surgeons work in public and
private hospitals as surgical specialists. They also may supervise
and teach medical students. They may be required to work long
shifts, odd hours and weekends. They may be required to be on-call
in case of an emergency. Cardiothoracic surgeons
are also involved in the treatment and management of many different
conditions within their specialty, which may involve their presence
at outpatient clinics, team meetings, and ward rounds.
Cardiothoracic surgeons that are just starting
out can expect to work long and irregular hours. They are often on
call, and will need to work whenever an emergency comes up and a
patient needs surgery immediately. Surgeons that work with large
teams may trade off on call shifts with others on their team or can
switch between working day and night shifts.
Tools and technologies
Cardiothoracic surgeons use a range of
specialised surgical instruments when operating including scalpels,
clamps, retractors, forceps and cardiopulmonary bypass machines. Education and training/entrance requirements To become a cardiothoracic surgeon, you must first become a qualified doctor and then specialise in cardiothoracic surgery. To become a medical practitioner, you need to study a degree in medicine. Alternatively, you can study a degree in any discipline followed by a postgraduate degree in medicine. To then specialise in cardiothoracic surgery, you must register with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and undergo a training program at accredited hospitals, and ultimately receive fellowship. To be eligible for this specialist training, on completion of your medical degree, you must work in the public hospital system for a minimum of two years (internship and residency).
To work as a cardiothoracic surgeon in
Australia, you will need to obtain registration from the Medical
Board of Australia
A perfusionist is a highly trained member of the cardiothoracic surgical team who is an expert in using the heart-lung machine (also called the cardiopulmonary bypass machine) during cardiac surgery. The heart-lung bypass machine maintains safe and stable patient circulation while the heart is stopped for surgical repair. Perfusionists may operate such equipment during any medical situation where it is necessary to support or temporarily substitute for the patient’s heart and lung function. This machine is necessary during a surgery where a cardiopulmonary bypass is needed in order to manage the patient's physiological and metabolic needs. This enables the cardiothoracic surgeon to operate on a still, unbeating heart. Perfusionists work alongside cardiothoracic surgeons, anesthesiologists, physician assistants, surgical technologists, and nurses. Perfusion describes the naturally occurring process of blood and oxygen delivery to the organs and tissues of the body.
Perfusionists utilise a heart-lung machine to facilitate blood circulation while the heart is temporarily stopped during heart surgery; and to facilitate blood oxygenation while the patient’s lungs are temporarily stopped. Cardiopulmonary bypass ensures perfusion of the patient’s organs and tissues. During heart surgery, the heart and lungs are bypassed and blood is pumped outside the body through plastic tubes and through an oxygenator – then back into the patient to deliver blood and oxygen to the patient’s organs and tissues. Most heart operations require the services of a perfusionist to operate the heart-lung bypass machine. Some perfusionists specifically train to work in paediatrics.
Perfusionists are very important
members of the cardiovascular surgical team because they are responsible for
running the heart-lung (cardiopulmonary bypass) machine and are responsible
for the management of circulatory and respiratory functions of the patient.
The heart-lung machine diverts blood away from the heart and lungs. It also
adds oxygen to the blood, then returns the blood back to the body. This is
all done without the blood having to go through the heart. The perfusionist
and heart-lung machine allow the cardiothoracic surgeon to focus on the
actual surgical procedure and less on the immediate needs of the patient.
ANZSCO ID: 311299
Alternative names: Clinical Perfusionist, Cardiovascular Perfusionist, Perfusion Technologist Knowledge, skills and attributes They tend to be investigative individuals, which means they’re intellectual, introspective, and inquisitive. They are curious, methodical, rational, analytical, and logical. Some of them are also social, meaning they’re kind, generous, cooperative, patient, caring, helpful, empathetic, tactful, and friendly.
(Source: Mayo Careers) Duties and Tasks
During surgery, perfusionists regulate levels of oxygen and carbon
dioxide in the blood, and use the heart-lung machine to maintain
blood flow to the body’s tissues. Perfusionists are also responsible
for measuring blood cell count and monitoring circulation. They may
at times administer medicines through the cardiopulmonary bypass
circuit under the direction of the anesthesiologist and surgeon.
Some other responsibilities include blood collection and processing,
implementing and managing the intra-aortic balloon pump, adult and
infant extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), as well as
monitoring of anticoagulation, electrolyte, acid-base balance and
blood-gas composition.
What does a pediatric perfusionist do?
How do I become a perfusionist?
Working conditions A perfusionist is allocated to work with a Cardiac Surgeon when patients undergo cardiac surgery. Tertiary hospitals undertaking cardiac surgery employ a team of perfusionists. Perfusionists work in operating theatres in public and private hospitals. Their main work is performed within a cardiac operating theatre, but they also work in Intensive Care Units, General, Orthopaedic, Vascular and Neurosurgical Operating theatres, Cardiac Catheter Laboratories and Research Laboratories. Perfusionists typically work in operating rooms in hospitals and surgical centres during heart and lung surgery, but they also work in ICUs. Perfusionists are responsible for monitoring patients both before and after a procedure. Their hours can vary from week to week due to fluctuations in schedules and surgical and medical emergencies. Some perfusionists choose to work for medical product manufacturing companies, developing the perfusion equipment or working in the marketing and sales divisions of those businesses. Tools and technologies Perfusionists operate the heart-lung machine (also called the cardiopulmonary bypass machine) Education and training/entrance requirements Entry requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Science or equivalent followed by a structured course in Clinical Perfusion. Clinical Perfusion (SCiCP) course consists of 12 standardised modules (including a research project) which serve to ensure that perfusion education and training is delivered in a standard fashion throughout the accredited training hospitals in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. It is completed over a two or three year period via distance education. Entry to the course is restricted to non-certified perfusionists or trainee perfusionists employed by accredited hospitals or private perfusion groups in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Related Jobs
or Working with these Jobs
Job
Cluster
Material sourced
from
|
|