Working in telemetry units in hospitals and emergency rooms can be a fulfilling, intense job. These professionals are highly trained to be able to read and react to telemetry reports, which show the rhythm of heartbeats of oftentimes the most critical patients. For those considering a career in healthcare, the telemetry technician job outlook in Pennsylvania is very good, especially as the area’s population continues to age and factors related to heart-related health continue to worsen.
If you are thinking about a telemetry technician career in Pennsylvania, here are some of the most important factors to consider.
Telemetry Technician Job Outlook
Telemetry technician job openings are growing in many areas of Pennsylvania due to the population getting older and more advanced technology becoming available. Reports indicate that, from 2018 to 2028, there is likely to be a 10% increase in the number of telemetry technicians needed in PA and beyond, meaning that there will be thousands of additional jobs added to payrolls here.
There are currently 3,290 people in the state working as telemetry technicians, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. They have an annual mean wage of $63,740. The demand for these positions will grow in many areas of the country, including in PA.
Telemetry technicians will continue to be in high demand for several reasons. In Pennsylvania, the population’s age is increasing, with a large number of people entering their senior years, when the risk of cardiovascular health needs typically increase, including more heart monitoring. These professionals, who work in emergency rooms, hospitals, long-term cardiac care facilities, and some outpatient care facilities, will be needed to meet the needs of this population.
Telemetry Technician Certification in Pennsylvania
Those who wish to work in the healthcare field in the cardiac care arena will find that telemetry technician work is rewarding and fascinating. The focus is on monitoring a patient’s heart rhythms to detect concerns quickly so that emergency medical care can be applied if needed or appropriate services are available.
To do this type of work, individuals must obtain an education. The state of Pennsylvania does not require licensing, but nearly every employer expects individuals to have completed their education through an accredited program and obtained certification. The telemetry technician certification in Pennsylvania from the National Telemetry Association is considered one of the best pathways into this educational path.
Students will need to complete a course in telemetry education. This course will teach a student:
- How to monitor patient health vitals, including heart rate, heart rhythm, and blood pressure, from a remote location
- Analyze the data from special telemetry equipment to determine if there are any concerns
- Alert nurses and doctors to changes in a person’s condition so that the right treatment can be taken
- Managing critical care and high-risk patients in or just out of the ICU through telemetry monitoring
- Maintain all necessary HIPPA and confidentiality requirements
- Medical language and procedures
After completing the course, students will then need to complete an exam. The estimation requires a passing score of 80 percent or higher. This test evaluates a variety of real-life scenarios and how a technician would approach them. Those who complete the test and course receive their certification, which employers will use to determine if they should hire a person.
Those completing their telemetry technician certification will be ready to work in these in-demand jobs across the state and around the country. Core opportunities exist for people throughout the state for those who have certification and experience in this in-demand field.
Telemetry Technician Jobs in Pennsylvania
Telemetry technician jobs in Pennsylvania are available throughout the state. Any of the state’s hospitals will require one or more professionals to work around the clock to provide telemetry monitoring for patients with cardiac needs (and most need numerous people to do this work). This includes the largest hospitals in Pennsylvania, including:
- Temple University Hospital (a 980-bed hospital providing acute care)
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (a 908-bed facility providing acute care needs)
- UPMC Presbyterian Hospital (a Pittsburg-area hospital noted for its surgical and cardiac programs)
- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (an 800-bed location with medical and surgical centers, along with a large critical care facility
- Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest (a medical and surgical facility and teaching hospital with 720 beds)
Other hospitals in the state include Reading Hospital, Jefferson Abington Hospital, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, WellSpan York Hospital, and Allegheny General Hospital.
In addition to working at area emergency rooms, individuals with a telemetry technician certificate are also likely to work in a wide range of additional facilities, including:
- Critical care treatment centers
- Urgent care
- Long-term rehabilitation centers for cardiac care
- Some nursing home facilities
- Cardiac and cardiology medical centers and offices
There is also some need for professionals to work in research and development at some of the state’s numerous teaching hospitals, research centers, and government healthcare programs.
The job of a telemetry technician in Pennsylvania is often a position in which a person will monitor a patient’s heart function from a distance, such as in a separate area of the hospital. They then react to changes quickly, providing doctors and nurses the necessary insight they need to take action. This type of job is very much in demand, but it requires a well-trained and educated professional who can work alongside others in oftentimes critical conditions. More so, these jobs require familiarity with equipment and specialized training for reacting in high-risk situations.
For those looking for telemetry technician jobs in Pennsylvania, critical care facilities, acute medical care facilities, and locations with an ICU are the most likely. However, any hospital or medical center with a telemetry floor will need this type of help for patients of all ages.
Those looking to get started on this path should consider learning more about the program options at the National Telemetry Association. Certification is nearly always a desirable component to any resume for these very skill-based jobs.