Telemetry Technicians in the Work Force

The little known life savers who tirelessly watch the electrical activity of patient's hearts scroll across monitors are called Telemetry Technicians. They are the ones who are responsible for saving mothers, brothers, sister and grandparents. Family members who are patient's in intensive care, cardiac care or step down units may have electrocardiogram leads placed on them.

These leads transmit the electrical conductivity of their hearts to monitors.
They watch over these monitors unceasingly. These life savers sit in a small room watching monitor upon monitor up to twelve hours per day, rarely breaking for coffee or lunch. They leave the hospital as surreptitiously as they came in.
Most patient's do not know that there is someone remotely watching their heart activity as they lie in bed wondering if the nurse or doctor will be there in time if their heart fails.
When the doctors or nurse's save a patient's life, it is because the Telemetry Technician alerted them in time. The physicians and nurses are lauded for saving the patient. But who thanks the one in telemetry room, no one.

The Telemetry Technician is a lone hero. They work as part of the greater team of life savers, but they have no glory.
Their gratification comes from being able to contact a nurse or doctor in time to save a life.

For them, time is of the essence.
It is something precious and there is never enough.

Seconds, milliseconds, micro-seconds are all it takes for a dangerous life threatening heart rhythm to fleet across the monitor screen.

It can be missed by the blink of an eye.
There can be no second chances, no room for error.
The field of Telemetry is a relatively new field. The discipline of Telemetry is studied within the course work of an Electrocardiogram class.

However, now the field of Telemetry has diverged as a field unto itself. Telemetry is now a field where people can obtain certifications as well as national recognition through rigorous tests. Physicians understand the importance of having a capable Telemetry Technician on staff and the benefits to the patient's. Across the United States, colleges and trade schools are now offering on line and in class training in the field of telemetry. Telemetry technicians who were once trained on the job, now have the chance to become certified at a national level through the National Telemetry Association.

The National Telemetry Association certifies students in Telemetry so that they meet national standards.