A medical technician can work in diverse fields, and often takes certification or training courses in a specialized field after completion of a secondary education institution. The term medical technician can apply to people who work in x-ray labs, people who work as dental hygienists, emergency medical response workers, helpers in surgery, pharmacy and veterinary assistants, and a plethora of other work environments. On-the-job responsibilities depend upon the career path and specialty of the technician, and most medical technicians are also called allied health professionals.
A list of the varied professions for the medical technician and basic responsibilities in each position includes the following:
- Cardiovascular technicians: There are actually three types of technicians that may work in this field, and some technicians may be trained to work proficiently in every aspect of this profession. A medical technician in cardiology may perform echocardiograms, or sonograms of the heart, directly on patients and on unborn children (called fetal echocardiograms). Some cardiovascular technicians specialize in vascular ultrasound, where they evaluate venous structures to look for blood clots and analyze blood flow, while another type of job in this field is assistance in cardiac catheterization. In all three fields, these techs may do preliminary scans of cardiac or venous structures, which are then reviewed by a physician.
- Dialysis technicians: This type of medical technician is trained to operate equipment that performs dialysis — the removal of waste material in blood, which can sicken people with failing kidneys. They are trained to operate dialysis machinery and may additionally write reports after a dialysis treatment. Dialysis technicians often work in dialysis centers, though some work in hospital settings or in patients’ homes.
- Emergency medical technicians (EMTs): EMTs usually work with either fire departments or ambulance companies providing emergency health care. They are often responsible for transporting patients to hospitals, stabilizing patients with emergency health needs, and providing anything from first aid to medication and support for patients with severe medical conditions. There are various EMT levels, which depend on training and experience.
- Medical lab technicians: This type of technician is gifted at laboratory science and performs tests on blood, body fluids, or skin samples to check for the presence of disease. There are varied jobs in this profession, and highly trained lab technicians may be particularly skilled in one area — for example, the evaluation of skin samples to check for cancer. Lab technicians must be familiar with using equipment like microscopes and gas chromatographs, and they must further understand the application of various chemicals or agents in order to yield test results. A medical lab technician in a small lab may be trained in phlebotomy, the collection of blood, in addition to being trained in the analysis of various samples; some are strictly phlebotomists, merely trained in the collection of blood and the safe storage and transfer of any body fluid samples to testing labs.
- Radiology and ultrasound technicians: Though this type of medical technician may be called an x-ray technician, these workers don’t simply take x-rays. They may also work in labs performing CAT (computerized axial tomography) scans, or MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging). Some radiology techs specialize in performing ultrasounds, while others primarily work as x-ray technicians. Most of these professionals have been trained in a variety of areas, and all of them can expect a great deal of contact with patients.
- Surgical technicians: As part of the surgical team, a medical technician of this type may work to prepare operating room environments, prep patients for surgery, assist during actual surgery, and help with patient care or the transferring of patients after surgery.
Other Fields
Other field of medical technicians includes dental hygiene, where trained dental hygienists evaluate and clean gums and teeth during routine dental cleanings. Pharmacy support includes pharmacy technicians who may help prepare and package medications, and help to appropriately store drugs used in preparing medications. Veterinary technicians may participate in a variety of support activities in veterinary hospitals, vet offices, or clinics.
Technician versus Technologist
There is a continued debate over the difference between a medical technician and a medical technologist, and the difference lies in the professional's education level and responsibilities. Simply put, a technician works under a technologist, meaning a technologist's work load is generally more in-depth. In regards of education, a technologist generally has more education than a technician: specifically, a technologist usually holds at least a four year degree, while a technician usually earned a certificate or two year degree.
