Cardiovascular technology is one part of the rapidly expanding area of diagnosing and treating heart disease. By entering the heart through vessels in the leg or arm we can see if there are blockages to the arteries that feed the heart. At the school of cardiovascular technology, graduates will become proficient in assisting in every phase of cardiac catheterization including:

• scrubbing and assisting the physician
• monitoring and recording electrocardiograms and heart pressures
• circulating in the laboratory
• positioning X-ray equipment
• work with cineless X-ray system

Students will also rotate through these areas within Cardiology: Electrophysiology critical care special procedures open heart surgery outpatient monitoring pediatric cardiology exercise physiology electrocardiography echocardiography vascular laboratory The cardiovascular technologist is an important member of the health care team.

Facilities
The school is part of the Department of Cardiology and is located on the medical center’s campus. More than 3,000 procedures are performed annually in the cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology laboratories. Our cardiology labs include:

• three catheterization labs
• one electrophysiology lab
• special procedures room
• EKG lab
• echocardiography
• exercise testing

More than 60,000 tests and procedures are performed in these labs each year.

Program Our 12-month hospital based program combines a five-month didactic phase with seven months of clinical experience. The program begins early August. Students can spend clinical time at Geisinger and other medical centers. Accreditation Our program was accredited in 1995 by the Committee on Allied Health Education And Accreditation (CAAHEP).  We received re-accreditation in July 2000 for an additional 5 years.

Course
Courses include lectures, assignments, and hands on practice in performing all invasive cardiovascular functions. Classes are taught by program instructors, physicians, and technologists.

Goals

• Provide the educational setting and clinical experience conducive for learning to function as an entry level technologist
• Prepare students for the national registry (RCIS)
• Provide information on job listings and placement

Health
Students must have a physical examination prior to enrollment. We encourage students to secure hospitalization insurance.

Liability
Students are covered by the medical center’s liability insurance for training related procedures done in the medical center.

Admission requirements
Applicants need a bachelor’s degree, preferably in one of the applied sciences. Work experience in the health care field is preferred. Applicants must have an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher. Applicants are selected without regard to age, sex, race, creed, marital status or national origin. Four to six students are chosen each year.

Fees

• $8,500 includes tuition, books, Basic life support and Advanced cardiac life support courses.
• Rooms based on availability
• Required Technical Standards

• Visit and tour facility
• Submit:

1. Completed application (.pdf)
2. Educational transcripts
3. Three letters of recommendation

• Deadline for applications is March 1.