Cardiovascular technologists (CVTs) are highly educated and skilled allied health professionals who work under the supervision of a cardiologist in the laboratory setting. Cardiovascular technology was first recognized by the American Medical Association as a profession in the early 1970s.

Over the last 30 years, the development of professional societies, credentialing organizations, and allied health training programs have helped to promote this profession.

During this time, the CVT profession has become known for its vital support role in the growing trend toward non-surgical solutions for a variety of cardiovascular diseases.

Many CVTs and other health care professionals are also receiving “on-the-job training” (OJT) to assist the cardiac electrophysiologist. The improving success rates of such procedures has caused hospital case loads to steadily grow in hospitals nationwide. Unlike cardiovascular technology, which can recruit staff from schools nationwide and has a nationally recognized credentialing program (registered cardiovascular invasive specialist, or RCIS) in place, electrophysiology, until recently, has had neither.¹ A key development was the recent implementation of the registered cardiac electrophysiology specialist (RCES) credential offered by the Cardiovascular Credentialing Committee (CCI); the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE) also offers credentialing exams for EP professionals. Both of these credentialing examinations represent the benchmark of professional competency in electrophysiology training. Hospitals such as Lancaster General in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, have also developed a successful EP internship program to train more knowledgeable and competent staff members. Given the growth of cardiac electrophysiology, development of more formal and accredited educational programs to train CVT professionals in these procedures is desired.

Such an effort was recently undertaken by the Department of Biology at Geneva College. Here we culminated in the development of a BS/MS degree incorporating integrated training in both CVT and electrophysiology technology.

The BS/MS Degree in Cardiovascular Science

The Geneva College Program in Cardiovascular Technology has been training CVTs for approximately 30 years. The program has been accredited by the CAAHEP since 2000, and was recently renewed for another 10 years. This program has been a joint effort between Geneva and the INOVA Heart and Vascular Institute (IHVI) at the INOVA Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia (outside of Washington, DC). Geneva College is a comprehensive Christian college of the arts, sciences and professional studies located 40 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.

Prior to implementation of the new MS degree, Geneva College students majoring in Biology had spent their senior year at the IHVI. (In some cases, students have elected to graduate with their BS degree and then spend a year at the IHVI). During their 12 months in residence, students receive both didactic and clinical instruction preparing them to practice primarily in the area of treating vascular diseases using catheterization of both the heart and peripheral blood vessels. The 12-month training at the IHVI facility provided sufficient credit (51 hours) to complete their BS degree in Biology.