Amy Tisch, BA RVT

Technical Director/Section Head
CardioVascular Department
Morton Hospital and Medical Center
Taunton, Massachusetts

When did you start this position?

I began at Morton Hospital three years ago after working in large city hospitals for 28 years prior to this. I moved here along with a vascular surgeon from Boston who splits his time in Boston and at Morton Hospital.

Where and when did you get your vascular training?

I was very fortunate, I began in the vascular profession before we had imagers...we had Doppler probes and the PRG (Phleborheograph) which used respiration to measure for DVT. I was actually taught most of the early modalities by the people who invented the machines as well as the techniques.
1976 - PRG - Dr. John Cranley and Cindy Ramirez (Matyi) (one of our founding members) at Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio
1977 - IPG - (Impedance Plethysmography) - Dr. Fred Anderson and Paul Cardullo in Dr. Wheeler's lab at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MA
1977- OPG (Ocular Plethysmography) - Dr. William Gee - who actually made house calls and came to Lenox Hill Hospital to train me.
1979 - Life Sciences PVR - Dr. Asrican and Dr. Jeff Raines (from Mass General Hospital) came to Saint Elizabeth's Hospital and trained me in this technology.
1980 - I was fortunate to have the first imager for Carotid Duplex at St. Elizabeth's in Boston. We used a Biosound with serial number 004. This was such an exciting new technology that we were featured on several television channels introducing the equipment.
1984 - Venous duplex training by Steve Talbot in Salt Lake City, Utah
1984 - ARDMS registry as an RVT
After 1984 – I took courses available through SVU (then SNIVT) as well as through Chapters to help me grow and learn.

One of the most helpful tools in the very beginning was a yellow box that contained self-programmed text books and a training audio tape that taught vascular technologists how to listen and what to listen for - NO IMAGING YET!

How long have you been in the vascular technology profession?

I have been in the vascular ultrasound profession for 31 years.

What made you enter the field? Where was your first job as a Vascular technologist?

I was working in a Boston hospital and I got a phone call from a physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City who was interested in me starting their first Vascular Lab - but I would have to go to Cincinnati over Thanksgiving for three weeks to be trained. I decided that it sounded like a good opportunity and I moved to New York City and opened the first vascular lab in a "broom closet" in Lenox Hill Hospital. I was so inspired by my first mentor, Cindy Ramirez, that my interest grew and I continued to investigate modalities to expand our lab...as I do to this day. My first salary was $6.20 per hour.

When did you join SVU?

I first became a member of the Society in 1980 when it was called the Society of Non-Invasive Vascular Technology (SNIVT).

What do you like best about your current position?

I am given the opportunity to work in a community hospital while providing state-of-the-art care as we did in NYC and Boston. The ability to work with active Boston physicians from Tufts New England Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston has been a wonderful treat without having to make the commute into Boston! The staff in our department works together as a team and truly cares about the patients we examine as well as about each other. Our common goal is high quality patient care and we support one another in reaching our personal and professional goals.

On which SVU committees have you served?

There have been so many committees over the years on which I have been fortunate to participate. The highlights have been:

• Education Committee - I have always thought it most important to be exposed to the best information possible. Back when I served on the Education Committee, the committee reviewed each and every seminar and had to "grade" answers and presentations for quality before granting VTCs for programs.
• SVT Photographer - for many years I took photos throughout the seminars - both during presentations and awards to some really great "blackmail" pictures at the parties.
• Speaker/Chairperson of the First Time Attendees Meetings - I remember being at SVU for the very first time and how overwhelmed I was. I thought it a great thing to make new-comers welcome and as comfortable as possible. (Yes, it was a good party, too.)

Are you a member of an SVU Chapter and what positions have you served?

Yes, I am a member of the Greater Boston Vascular Technologists (GBVT) chapter. I served as Secretary for two years and as President for two years.

What are the biggest issues facing Vascular Technologist's today?

• BUDGET CUTS - we are using older equipment to perform more studies than ever in a shorter period of time with decreased reimbursement and increased pain and strain (for those of us who have been scanning for awhile).
• Government issues – It is VITAL for SVU to stay on top of government issues - reimbursement, licensure, accreditation, etc. We do so much more than simply test. Vascular technologists have an opportunity to make a difference to our patients, our hospitals, our communities, and our profession if we take the time to make the effort.
• TIME to perform high quality tests in the least amount of time possible. We also need to allocate time for reading, research, continued education...oops, that's my wish list!

What tips would you give to today's students about their career in the Vascular Ultrasound profession?

• Learn to PRIORTIZE patients by symptoms and urgency. Always check accuracy of patient orders. If it doesn't sound right, it probably isn't. Don't be intimidated - before you go ahead with a test, if it doesn't mesh with the patient’s symptoms, check with the ordering physician.
• LISTEN to your patients. Also, listen to your body (ergonomics).
• BREATHE - many times while testing I realize I am holding my breath while concentrating. Many of my colleagues have confessed to doing the same. Breathing is good!

Children/Pets/Hobbies:

I am fortunate to have a 12 year old son who is very into sports and plays soccer, baseball, basketball, and a new addition this year - football! So, I am grateful that I am not on call after being on call for over 25 years - I am on fields or courts instead! We have three cats - all rescue mission cats that adopted us. They range from 3 years old to 14 years old.

What is the Importance of SVU to you?

This organization has been invaluable to me, as the commercial goes. The seminars are full of new information as well as review. The exposure to related interests (not just testing but government issues, etc) is important to my professional interest as well as the interest of the hospital that employees me. The networking alone is priceless! I have met some lifelong friends - and there is always a source for an answer. You can't get that from a book or a single seminar. When you are exposed to experts in varying aspects of the profession, there is always someone to turn to for help. This has been not only useful, but helps keep interest in continuing to learn - help is just an e-mail or phone call away! Thanks, SVU for giving so much!