Considering a Career in Vascular Ultrasound?

What Do Vascular Technologists Do?

Vascular technologists assist physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of disorders affecting the vascular system (excluding the heart). Using a wide range of instrumentation, vascular technologists noninvasively acquire and record information related to blood vessel anatomy and physiology.

This lab in the Stanford Vascular laboratory includes both duplex ultrasound imager and a indirect Doppler ultrasound machine with a treadmill for physiological assessment.

Ultrasound instrumentation is most commonly used, transmitting high frequency sound waves into the body and reflecting off the vessels of interest. The reflected sound waves are processed to form high resolution, two dimensional images of the blood vessels (2D B-mode imaging) and/or to measure the speed and direction of the blood (Doppler Ultrasound). Instruments with the capability of acquiring both ultrasound imaging and Doppler information are referred to as duplex scanners.

A wide variety of other instruments may also be used to measure parameters such as blood pressure, limb volume changes, and oxygen saturation. Segments of the vascular anatomy typically examined include the cerebral circulation (blood supply to the brain), peripheral circulation (blood supply to the upper and lower limbs), and the abdominal circulation (blood supply to the gut, the kidneys and liver). The specific segment(s) examined are determined by the patients' presenting clinical symptoms or signs.

A partially clotted radial artery pseudoaneurysm

Unlike x-ray, ultrasound is non-ionizing with no known side effects to either the technologist performing the examination or the patient being examined.

In some laboratories, studies are performed in the operating room immediately following surgery to assess the technical adequacy of the vascular reconstruction.

Vascular technologists prepare patients for the examination by explaining the procedure; obtaining a pertinent clinical history through direct questioning and review of the patient's prior records; and performing a physical examination that usually involves observation of the patient, palpation of pulses, auscultation (e.g. listening with a stethoscope), and in some cases, measurement of blood pressures at various locations. The vascular technologist then performs the examination of the relevant anatomic segments and, depending upon the type of instrument and procedure being performed, records the data on videotape, videoprints, x-ray film or strip chart paper. Once the data is compiled by the technologist it is reviewed and interpreted by the physician and a final report dictated.

Working Conditions/Employment

There are approximately 15,000 vascular technologists employed in the United States. Most vascular technologists (approximately two thirds) work in a hospital setting while the remainder may be employed in clinics, a physicians' offices, free standing vascular laboratories, or mobile services, wherein the technologist and/or the instrument is transported to the patient or remote office.

Full-time vascular technologists generally work a 5-day, 40 hour week. Approximately one half are required to be on-call outside normal operating hours (e.g., evenings and weekends).

Although most patients are mobile, many are elderly, debilitated or occasionally critically ill. Additionally, some patients with peripheral vascular disease may have ulcerations on their feet or have had limb amputations, and therefore some lifting/assisting of patients may be required. Examinations must occasionally be performed at the patient's bedside and, although some instruments are easily moved, the duplex scanner is generally large and heavy.

The following charts outline average full-time and part-time salaries for vascular technologists. This information was collected from the SVU's 2006 Salary Survey.

YEARLY SALARY FOR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES

HOURLY BASE SALARY FOR PART-TIME EMPLOYEES

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

The majority of vascular technologists currently in the field were trained on-the-job. Although a few vascular technologists entering the field may still be trained on the job, most are now being trained through two and four year formal education programs. For those trained on-the-job, the length of this training ranges from less than six months to more than two years. Vascular laboratories often prefer to train individuals with prior allied health experience. Many practicing vascular technologists have backgrounds in nursing, diagnostic medical sonography, radiography technology, or echocardiography.

Formal educational opportunities are clearly on the rise for vascular technologists as demand for skilled individuals persists. Formal training is offered through two year associate degree and four-year baccalaureate degree programs in cardiovascular technology and diagnostic medical sonography accredited by the Commission of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), which include a vascular technology component in their curriculum.

To locate a training program near you, review these CAAHEP accredited Diagnostic Medical Sonography Programs listed at the CAAHEP website. Additionally, a four year baccalaureate program specifically in vascular technology is also available at the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, OR, at Rush University in Chicago, and at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

With experience, some technologists may advance to Chief Technologist or Technical Director. Others pursue interests in research typically associated with vascular laboratories within university hospital settings. Additionally, commercial manufacturers frequently hire experienced vascular technologists for positions in education, marketing, product development, and sales.

Credentialing/Accreditation

Credentialling or registration specific for vascular technology is available from the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) and other organizations. To become credentialed/registered, technologists must meet certain clinical experience and educational prerequisites and have passed an examination. Continuing education or re-examination is required to maintain certification. Most employers prefer to hire registered or credentialed vascular technologists. Approximately 1/3 of laboratories require the ARDMS - RVT credential for employment. For further information contact ARDMS at 1-800-541-9754: website: www.ardms.org.

Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) administers credentialing examinations for the cardiovascular professional as an independent credentialing agency. Website: www.cci-online.org.

The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL) provides a mechanism for accreditation of facilities that perform comprehensive testing for vascular disease with noninvasive testing modalities. Participation in this process is voluntary. The activities of the Commission are supervised by a Board of Directors comprised of elected delegates nominated by the sponsoring organizations (two per organization). Accreditation is offered in the following areas: extracranial cerebrovascular, intercranial cerebrovascular, peripheral arterial, peripheral venous, or visceral vascular testing. SVU is one of ten sponsoring organizations. For further information contact ICAVL at 410-872-0100; website: www.icavl.org.