The invasive cardiovascular technologist is a health care professional who, through the use of specific high-technology equipment and at the direction of a qualified physician, performs procedures on patients leading to the diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired heart disease, and peripheral vascular disease. As a member of the cardiac catheterization team, the cardiovascular technologist is a surgical scrub assistant, monitors the patient's condition and operates other CATH Lab equipment. The most important CATH Lab studies are coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention (where stents, balloons, plaque removal devices, and other treatments to restore blood flow are deployed), right heart catheterization (where blood flow measurements are made), electrophysiology (where irregular heartbeats are created, studied and treated) and pacemaker implantations. The invasive cardiovascular technologist also works with physicians during critical times during heart attacks by restoring blood flow to diseased areas of the heart. They assist with percutaneous revascularization, give clot-dissolving drugs, and operate cardiac assist pumps. The first year of the cardiovascular program teaches basic sciences and cardiology and is combined with the noninvasive cardiovascular program. In the second year, the invasive students concentrate on the technical duties of a cardiac catheterization technologist and spend time working in local hospital cardiac laboratories. Upon completion of the didactic training (six quarters), the student selects an out-of-town medical center where he/she will complete the final quarter of clinical internship. Students may take the CCI National Registry Exam upon graduation. The program is the only CAAHEP approved invasive technology program in the northwestern United States. Please note: Tacoma Community College offers course prerequisites and serves as a satellite campus of the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program for the west side of Washington State.

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