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Cardiology and Board Certifications


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Hey All:

 

Could you all pls put your opinions about whether it is possible to get echo, ekg, nuclear, echo - boarded?  How easy/difficult is it to do this?  

 

Did getting boarded (if possible) translate into any special privileges?  Any better employment opportunities (at your current/newer job)?  

 

Thanks.

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You put 'echo' twice.

 

Official reads of these things are usually done by MD's. However many PA's will do informal assessments at the bedside (echo, EKG reads), which are helpful and guide care. Nuclear scans, I have never heard of a PA doing these; then again I do not work in cardiology. Fluoroscopy, yes (depending on the state).

 

I'm not sure what you mean by, 'boarded'.

 

If you want the maximum privileges, go to medical school.

 

If you want the maximum income, go to business school.

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Site looks a little shady/scammy to me. (edit: also they sell DOLL CLOTHES on the site, too - is that professional??)

 

The main cardiology association is the American College of Cardiology, or maybe the American Heart Association.

 

Look, no-one has ever asked me for a 'certification' to read EKG's, apart from the PANCE and ACLS (both required, of course). At work, I read EKGs all the time. I make clinical decisions based on these reads (as well as, importantly, clinical assessment of the pt). If I'm not sure what I'm looking at, I ask someone more senior, or put in a cards consult. 

 

It's an expected part of my job, I am not paid 'extra' for it.

 

Maybe if you are working in cardiology, things are a little different. But for a cards PA, I suspect it would be similar - on the job training in reads, anything official or subtle needs to be done/seen by an MD.

 

Are you even in PA school? Because many of your questions about what credentials you need to work, possible extra pay, etc, could be answered for you during didactic or clinical year.

 

ps. being able to distinguish reliable sources of information, is an important skill for a medical (or any other) professional.

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That site looks so badly put together... it is not even funny! (Actually its pretty funny :S)

 

For bad formatting examples go to:

 

http://www.abcmcertification.com/memberships1.html

 

Another one: however photoshoped this outfit onto the doll left the effs at home that day

 

http://www.abcmcertification.com/store/p132/18%22_Doll_Nursing_Uniforms.html

 

Whatever certification they offer, I don't think would be recognized by anyone.

If you are trying to get certified in a certain field, make sure that it is by a recognized organization, otherwise you may as well paypal me your money and ill put together a nice little certificate for your wall/resume.

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I had previously heard that boarding and privileges might be changing....and PA's may be allowed to do more.  I heard from someone who had attended a Cardiology conference....there was a lot of talk about possible changes in the horizon.   Is anyone familiar with this?  

 

Many thanks. 

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I don't know the specifics, but I think it's safe to say any changes to privileges will be gradual. That has been the pattern for the profession over its existence. Also, this is handled at the state/local institution level, rather than the national level.

 

I've said it before - if you want maximum privileges, go to medical school. PA is a limited profession, in that respect.

 

As for 'boarding' - if you mean PA certification, there is indeed talk of changes to the re-certification process. There are threads on this site as well as over on AAPA site, discussing this.

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  • 5 months later...

Cardiologists can pass various certifications for reading echoes and nuclear studies.  These processes, as far as I know, are not open to PA's...typically limited to MD's who have completed a cardiology fellowship.  In fact, the training is often incorporated directly into the cardiology fellowship program, although it is possible to gain certification post-residency.  I know of no program for "EKG certification".  You are expected to be able to read EKG's. 

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