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Diagnostic Instrumentation

Technological advances in instrumentation have helped to improve the quality of medical care. The development of new machines and techniques has led to earlier diagnosis of disease, more effective treatment, and easier maintenance of body functions.

Technologists and technicians operate and monitor life-saving and life-sustaining equipment. These specialists use such techniques as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), mammography, positron emission tomography (PET), computerized axial tomography (CAT), ultrasound, and radiography (X-ray) to show the presence of disease or injury by obtaining visual information about internal structures. They also use radioactivity, lasers, or linear accelerators in the diagnosis or treatment of disease.

Training in the field of diagnostic and technical instrumentation varies, depending upon the degree of sophistication of the instrumentation being used. Some careers require one or two years of education after high school, while many require a college degree plus additional training. New developments in equipment technologies should provide more jobs and career advancements for men and women trained in diagnostic instrumentation.


Diagnostic Instrumentation Specialists use complex
equipment to produce images which are
used by physicians to make diagnoses.

Electrocardiograph Technician

Electrocardiograph (EKG or ECG) Technicians operate equipment that measures and records heart action by monitoring and graphically tracing the electrical activity occurring during a heartbeat. Physicians use the graphs (electrocardiograms) in diagnosing heart ailments, monitoring heart functions, and recording a patient's progress.

Work Activities

  • Obtaining information for EKG records, including patient identification, history, and medication use
  • Connecting electrodes to leads from the electrocardiograph machine with small clamps or screw attachments
  • Moving the chest electrode across specific chest areas to record the pulse from electrodes
  • Directing patients to perform physical exercise as specified by the physician
  • Recognizing emergencies and assisting the physician in responding to them
  • Identifying abnormal heart rhythms
  • Pasting and labeling tracings on mounting cards and sending them to the physician for interpretation

Electrocardiograph Technicians who work in a physicians office may perform office duties, such as scheduling appointments, maintaining patients files, and sending bills.

Career Specialties
With additional on-the-job training and experience, EKG Technicians may operate one or more types of cardiodiagnostic equipment and may be designated accordingly. The following are examples of some specialists:

  • Cardiac Catheterization Technologists insert a tube into a blood vessel, then ease the tube forward into the heart so that the condition of the vessels and the heart can be examined with the aid of a television monitor.
  • Cardiopulmonary Technicians use invasive and noninvasive procedures to test the lungs and heart.
  • Cardiovascular Technologists measure and analyze heart functions using invasive and noninvasive procedures. The test data is used to determine the presence and extent of heart disease.
  • Echocardiograph Technicians use ultrasound diagnostic equipment to produce two-dimensional, ultrasonic patterns and positive pictures of the heart chambers and valves to detect problems, such as congenital defects.
  • Holter Monitoring Technicians monitor special electrocardiograms that are recorded on cassettes attached to patients for a 12- to 24-hour period in order to record irregular heart action.
  • Phonocardiograph Technicians operate equipment designed to record heart murmurs and other abnormal sounds.
  • Stress-Testing Technicians use cardiodiagnostic equipment to record heart activity during physical exercise.
  • Vectorcardiograph Technicians monitor special, three-dimensional tracings of the hearts electrical activity.

Work Settings
EKG Technicians often work under the direction of a cardiologist and may supervise the training of less experienced EKG Technicians. Frequently, the work is done somewhat independently in patient care areas. Conscientious and accurate work is required.

EKG Technicians work in hospital laboratories, clinics, or doctors' offices. Because EKG equipment is movable, they may work at a patients bedside if the individuals condition warrants it.

Special Requirements
The minimum educational requirement for EKG Technicians is usually high school graduation or its equivalent. Often, three to six months of on-the-job training under the supervision of an experienced EKG Technician or a cardiologist is required. Training for specialized EKG testing requires 12 to 24 months.

Educational Institutions
Artesia General Hospital(O)
Ben Archer Health Center(O)
Holy Cross Hospital(O)
Lovelace Health Systems(P)
Memorial Medical Center(O)
Mesa Technical College(P)
Mimbres Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home(O)
Plains Regional Medical Center(O)
Presbyterian Medical Services - Cuba Health Center(O)
Saint Joseph Medical Center(R)
Sierra Vista Hospital(O)
Union County General Hospital(O)
University of New Mexico, Gallup(C)

Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist

Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists, also referred to as Electroencephalograph Technologists, operate specialized equipment that measures and records the electrical activity of the central nervous system. The most commonly performed neurodiagnostic procedures are the electroencephalogram, the evoked potential, the polysonogram, and the electromyogram.

The electroencephalogram is a recording of the ongoing electrical activity of the brain that produces brainwaves on a graph. This activity appears as wavy lines occurring with specific patterns and frequencies. The electroencephalograph recording is used as a diagnostic tool in evaluating patients with seizure disorders, such as epilepsy, metabolic disorders (arising from liver, kidney, or other organ dysfunction), stroke, infectious diseases of the nervous system (encephalitis, abscess), degenerative diseases (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's), or head trauma from accidents, brain tumors, and brain death.

Work Activities

  • Attaching electrode terminals to the switchbox of an electroneurodiagnostic instrument
  • Applying electrodes (metal wires) onto the scalp or other parts of the body according to a specified pattern using adhesive tape, paste, or pins
  • Talking with the patient to obtain a medical history for use by the physician and for determination of the presence of factors that may affect the electroneurodiagnostic recording
  • Observing the patient's behavior and making notes on the electroneurodiagnostic recording to identify artifacts (interferences derived from sources outside of the brain, such as poor electrode contact or patient movement)
  • Making minor adjustments and repairs to equipment
  • Preparing a written report of the tracings for the physician

Career Specialties
Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists may receive additional training in special electroneurodiagnostic procedures, such as ambulatory monitoring, evoked potential testing, polysomnograms, electromyograms, and video monitoring.

Work Settings
Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists work under the supervision of a neurologist or a chief Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist. They usually work in hospitals or laboratories, although some work in physicians offices.

Most work is performed in rooms separated from heavy hospital traffic. Some work is done in surgical or medical units at the patients bedside.

Special Requirements
An Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist who has completed successfully a year of training, a year of laboratory experience, and the written and oral examinations given by the American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic Technologists, is designated as a Registered Electroencephalographic Technologist.

Educational Institutions
Memorial Medical Center(R)
Saint Joseph Medical Center(R)

Monitor Surveillance Technician

Monitor Surveillance Technicians observe patient telemetry monitors that graphically record the electrical activity occurring during each heartbeat. They interpret the rhythms and report the results to the physician and/or nurse who is treating the patient.

Work Activities

  • Obtaining information for the telemetry records, including patient identification and heart rhythm history
  • Observing the monitor screen, which displays a maximum of 24 patients' heart rhythms
  • Interpreting all heart rhythms and identifying abnormalities
  • Posting a representation and interpretation of each heart rhythm
  • Recognizing changes or trends in the patient's heart rhythm and relaying the information to a nurse or physician
  • Operating the patient-monitoring computer
  • Cleaning and maintaining the telemetry battery packs and wiring

Work Settings
Monitor Surveillance Technicians work under the direct supervision of a registered nurse and under the direction of a cardiologist. Their work is performed, somewhat independently, in a central monitoring area separate from the direct patient care environment. Monitor Surveillance Technicians work in hospitals where a large number of patients are connected to telemetry monitors.

Special Requirements
The minimum educational requirement for Monitor Surveillance Technicians is high school graduation or a GED equivalent. To earn a Technician certificate, additional training is required.

Educational Institutions
Gila Regional Medical Center(O)
Memorial Medical Center(O/R)
Mimbres Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home(X)
Presbyterian Healthcare Services(P)
Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital(P)
Saint Joseph Medical Center(R)

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Nuclear Medicine Technologists prepare, measure, and administer radiopharmaceuticals (radioactive materials) that are used to detect and treat disease.

Work Activities

  • Reviewing physicians' orders and patients' records to determine when a procedure is required
  • Preparing various radiopharmaceuticals, calculating the correct dosage, and administering the appropriate material to the patient
  • Evaluating the patients condition and explaining the procedure to the patient
  • Positioning and adjusting the equipment over the body area to be studied; operating the imaging systems to perform the procedure
  • Using radioactive substances to perform laboratory tests on specimens from the body
  • Using quality control techniques to assure the quality of radiopharmaceuticals and to ensure the efficient and effective operation of equipment
Some Nuclear Medicine Technologists may have laboratory, research, and/or administrative duties.

Work Settings
Nuclear Medicine Technologists report to a supervisor or a nuclear medicine physician. Technologists usually work alone when operating equipment and conducting laboratory tests. Work usually is performed in a specialized laboratory or other hospital or clinical setting.

A potential hazard of exposure to radiation exists while preparing doses and handling body products that contain radioactive isotopes. However, using protective lead shielding and constantly monitoring the laboratory with radiation detectors help to safeguard the work surroundings. Specially designed film badges are worn by all nuclear medicine personnel to measure radiation exposure.

All workers wear disposable gloves and use special equipment when preparing radiopharmaceutical doses. Rigid adherence to established laboratory techniques and standards of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission minimize hazards.

Special Requirements
Certification of Nuclear Medicine Technologists is not mandatory in New Mexico. However, most hospitals require that Technologists be certified or eligible for certification before employment. Two associations that offer certification for the Nuclear Medicine Technologist are the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and the Nuclear Medicine Technologists Certification Board of the Society of Nuclear Medicine.

Educational Institutions
Gerald Champion Memorial Hospital (O)
Lovelace Health Systems (O/X)
Memorial Medical Center (O)
University of New Mexico (C/A)

Radiologic Technologist

Radiologic Technologists, also called Radiographers or X-Ray Technologists, assist radiologists in the use of X-ray and fluoroscopic equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of disease or injury. X-rays act on photographic film to produce radiographs (X-ray pictures), which allow physicians to study internal organs and bone. Fluoroscopes use X-rays to allow physicians to observe internal parts of the body.

Work Activities

  • Reviewing the physician's orders and patient's records to determine the procedure required
  • Evaluating the patients condition and explaining the X-ray procedure to the patient
  • Adjusting the radiographic equipment to give the most comprehensive view of the portion of the patients body to be X-rayed
  • Determining the proper voltage, current, and exposure time for each X-ray
  • Preparing and administering mixtures that are required for some procedures
  • Assisting the radiologist in performing sophisticated or invasive procedures
  • Using quality control techniques to assure efficient and effective operation of equipment
Career Specialties
Radiologic Technologists may specialize in the use of certain pieces of equipment or in the use of procedures that involve specific parts of the body.

Work Settings
Radiographers usually work under the direction of radiologists or other physicians in hospitals, clinics, or physicians offices. In hospitals, some Radiographers operate mobile X-ray equipment at the patients bedside, in the emergency room, or in surgery. Others work in medical laboratories or for private industry.

Special Requirements
To be registered, Radiologic Technologists must complete formal training at an American Medical Association (AMA)-approved hospital or school. High school graduation or its equivalent is required for acceptance into a radiologic technology program. Most hospital and college programs are two years in length.

Because of the decline in college-aged people and the drop in enrollment in training programs, the need for radiologic technologists in both urban and rural settings will continue, leading to a favorable job outlook for radiologic technologists well into the 1990s.

- Health Careers 1990s, Greater Cleveland Hospital Association

Educational Institutions
Ben Archer Health Center(O)
Clovis Community College(A)
Gerald Champion Memorial Hospital(P)
Lovelace Health Systems(X)
Memorial Medical Center(R)
New Mexico State University, Carlsbad(A)
New Mexico State University, Doņa Ana Branch
Community College(A)
Northern New Mexico Community College(A)
Pima Medical Institute(A)
Presbyterian Medical Services - Cuba Health Center(P)
San Juan Regional Medical Center(O)
University of New Mexico(A)

See "Sources of More Information"

Sonographer

Sonographers, also known as Ultrasound Technologists, use complex equipment to direct high frequency sound waves into specific areas of a patients body to produce images that show the shape and position of internal organs, fluid accumulations, masses, or fetuses. These images are used by physicians to make diagnoses.

Work Activities

  • Checking the patients medical history and prior test results
  • Selecting and setting up appropriate equipment for the test
  • Planning the procedure and explaining it to the patient
  • Assisting the patient in assuming the best physical position to achieve accurate test results
  • Making a preliminary scan (examination performed with an ultrasonic device) to verify that the machine is adjusted correctly and that the patient is positioned properly
  • Completing the scan while observing the sound wave display screen to make sure that the image produced is satisfactory for diagnostic purposes
  • Activating equipment that automatically produces a photograph or a printout (ultra- sonogram) of the ultrasonic patterns

Career Specialties
Many Sonographers, especially those working in large institutions, specialize in examining specific areas of the body. Examples of specialists include:

  • Echoencephalographers (brain)
  • Echocardiographers (heart)
  • Ophthalmic Sonographers (eye)
  • Obstetrical/Gynecological Sonographers (pregnant and nonpregnant uterus)
  • Doppler Technologists (blood vessels near the surface of the body)

Work Settings
Sonographers may work alone or with other technologists, nurses, aides, and clerical staff in a medical laboratory or special examination room. They may perform ultrasonic examinations at the bedside of critically ill patients or in surgery. They work under the supervision of a physician or senior Sonographer.

Special Requirements
Sonographers may become certified and use the title Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) after completing a one- to two-year approved training program or an on-the-job training program, and passing a written examination given annually by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. Registration may be granted for areas of specialization.

Educational Institutions
Gerald Champion Memorial Hospital(O)
Plains Regional Medical Center(O)
University of New Mexico(C)