Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist Program

RCTC’s Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (CVIS) program educates graduates to work in collaboration and under the supervision of physicians to assist with the preparation and to perform diagnostic and therapeutic invasive cardiology procedures. The technologist must have the technical skills and competence to assist with these invasive procedures. Invasive cardiovascular procedures are performed in a clinical cardiovascular laboratory environment.
The areas of study are cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, cardiovascular pathophysiology, electrocardiography, cardiovascular pharmacology, diagnostic angiography, interventional angiography, electrophysiology, cardiac pacing, cardiovascular hemodynamics, valvular assessment, pediatric/congenital heart disease assessment, cardiac/coronary physio instrumentation and electronics associated with the cardiac laboratory environment.
Cardiovascular anatomy and physiology and pathophysiology concentrate on the structures, function, and disease processes of the heart. Angiography and interventional cardiology concentrate on the specific entities of coronary anatomy and treatment(s) for various disease entities of the heart. The cardiac electrical system and its diagnosis and treatment(s) are the areas concentrated on in electrophysiology and cardiac pacing. Advanced cardiac assessment (i.e.: hemodynamics, coronary physiology, cardiac valve study, congenital heart disease, etc.) concentrate on in-depth cardiovascular anatomical and physiological data. Instrumentation, electronics, and x-ray basics concentrate on the radiation and electrical processing and safety in the clinical cardiovascular laboratory setting.