GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

The Invasive Cardiovascular Program is a 12-month Advanced Technical Certificate program or two-year AAS Degree program designed to prepare individuals to perform the duties of an invasive cardiovascular technologist and can function in the monitoring, circulating, and scrub roles in the cardiac catheterization lab.

• Is El Centro College an accredited institution?
• Is the ICVT program accredited?
• What are the courses like?
• Where may I take support courses besides El Centro College?
• May I transfer credit from a college or university outside the United States?
• What if I have coursework more than 10 years old?
• Is there a time limit on Science and Math coursework?
• Is there any provision for credit by examination or other alternatives to repeating a course?
• What if I plan to transfer to a four-year institution?
• How do I get to the clinical sites?
• Does El Centro College have on-campus housing?
• Do I need a physical examination prior to entering the program?
• Do I need to be CPR certified?
• Do I need liability insurance?
• What are the physical demands of the profession?
• What if I become ill during the program?
• Is there a pregancy policy?
• What about drug testing or background check?
• How large is the class size?
• Are there any Board examinations?
• Are there any courses I should take in high school to help me prepare?
• Whom do I contact for more information?

The ICVT Program is a full-time program comprised of lecture, skills lab, and clinical experience. These courses are conducted during the daytime hours only, 5 days per week. Students who plan to work or who have significant family responsibilities are encouraged to plan their schedules to accommodate the time commitment that this program demands.

Invasive Cardiovascular Technology courses are completed in one 9-week summer semester and two 16-week academic semesters. Each course involves approximately 38 hours of class and clinical experience every week. You will need to plan a minimum of 2-3 hours of studying and preparation time for each hour of class and clinical experience. The demands of the courses suggest that most students will not be able to work full time while enrolled in these courses.

Degree students sometimes prefer to take the general education "support" courses (ENGL 1301, MATH 1314, SCIT 1407/1408, PSYC 2301, etc.) prior to enrolling in the HPRS core courses, particularly if the student has significant family or work responsibilities. These courses are time-consuming, and some students find that completing the prerequisite and support courses first enables them to complete the core classes successfully while maintaing other responsibilities.

Consideration of courses for transfer credit from colleges and universities outside the United States will be limited to science and math coursework completed less than five years prior to program admission.

Before foreign credentials will be considered for transfer credit, the student must arrange the evaluation of transcripts and related documentation by a professional evaluation agency. After the professional evaluation is complete, the student must then submit the original documentation and a certified English translation to the Health Occupations Admissions Office. The student is responsible for all costs of the evaluation and translation of foreign credentials.

Applicants with coursework more than ten years old who wish to have that transcripted work ignored under the "Academic Fresh Start" provision should petition the Registrar in writing for that consideration. If approved, the transcript need not be submitted, however, a copy of the Registrar's letter granting the "Academic Fresh Start" consideration should be submitted with the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program application.

All science and math, and courses submitted for program credit must be completed no more than five years prior to program admission to the program. In certain circumstances a waiver of the time limit may be considered.

Students who wish to petition for the five-year waiver must present official transcripts, course descriptions as necessary, and a letter of petition documenting how they have updated or refreshed their knowledge in the particular science or math course in question (i.e., working in a healthcare field with specific duties indicated utilizing algebra in their current employment arena, etc.).

The letter should also cite specific experiences and indicate individuals for references as needed (i.e., employers, instructors, etc.). Students petitioning for a five-year waiver for college algebra must also provide current assessment test scores with the petition. Please refer to assessment test details on the Admission Requirements webpage.

CLEP, DANTES, and Credit by Examination may also be completed in lieu of repeating a course. CLEP, DANTES, and Credit by Examination are available to a student enrolled at a DCCCD campus, but may not be requested for courses in which the student is currently enrolled.

Credit for a CLEP, DANTES, or Credit by Examination will be considered only if a documented letter grade or numerical score is presented for evaluation. For more information regarding the acceptance of CLEP, DANTES, and Credit by Examination, please contact the Health Occupations Admissions Office.

Students are responsible for providing their own transportation. It is necessary to consider transportation costs to the college, as well as hospitals throughout the city. Students are responsible for any parking fees.

A pre-entrance physical examination and immunization record form will be sent with acceptance letters. Results of the medical examination must be reported on the designated program medical examination form which is submitted at the registration seminar for that accepted class.

The form documents a medical history, physical examination, and current record of the following immunizations:

• Tuberculin skin test within the last 6 months (if positive, chest x-ray required within last 2 years)
• Tetanus/diphtheria current within 10 years
• Measles/mumps/rubella ("MMR") including 2 doses of measles vaccine required either separately or in combination (MMR)
• Hepatitis B series
• Varicella disclaimer

Students must have completed the first injection of the Hepatitis B series prior to registration for the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program and are responsible for submitting documentation verifying subsequent completion of the second and third injection to the Health Occupations Admissions Office. Health situations (i.e., pregnancy, allergies, and nursing mothers) that may prohibit the use of the hepatitis B vaccine must be documented by a physician, and a waiver signed by the student.

All Health Occupations students pay liability insurance fees.

The student blanket professional liability policy covers students while they are participating in clinical activities that are a part of, and a requirement of, the student's curriculum. The student professional liability insurance does not cover students when employed in the hospital. The student liability insurance policy expires upon date of graduation. Students are not allowed in the clinical setting if their tuition and fees have not been paid.
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Essential requirements, as distinguished from academic standards, refer to those cognitive, physical, and behavioral abilities that are necessary for satisfactory completion of all aspects of the curriculum.

• Essential abilities in information acquisition - the ability to master information presented in the course work in the form of lectures, written material, and projected images
• Cognitive abilities necessary to master relevant content in basic science and clinical courses at a level deemed appropriate by the faculty.

Because cardiovascular technologists deal with the public, a neat, well-groomed appearance and a courteous, pleasant demeanor are needed. They must be good at putting patients at ease, listening to patients, and explaining physician instructions. Conscientiousness and respect for the confidential nature of medical information are required.

The ICVT student must be able to safely and accurately perform all aspects of the role the Invasive Cardiovascular Technologist performs in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

• Sufficient upper and lower body coordination to safely handle equipment used in the cardiac cath lab, as well as assist in transferring and transporting patients and performing CPR.
• Fine manual dexterity to manipulate catheters and guidewires.
• Visual acuity to observe the ECG/hemodynamic monitor CRT screens at a distance.
• Hearing acute enough to clearly distinguish vocal commands in a noisy environment and in which the speakers' mouths are often covered with masks.
• Touch discrimination to discern veins in order to perform venipunctures.
• Able and willing to work with blood and with organisms that may be infectious.
• Assume the risk of exposure to ionizing radiation; that risk is minimal, however, as long as the student observes proper radiation safety precautions.
• Emotional stability required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities.
• Able to work accurately and safely under stress, e.g., work under time constraints; read and record numbers accurately; perform repetitive tasks; concentrate in distracting situations; and make subjective evaluations and decisions where mistake may have a high impact on patient care.
• Able to adapt to changing environments and be able to prioritize tasks.
• Able to communicate effectively in written and spoken English in order to transmit information to members of the health care team.
• Ability to make a correct judgment in seeking supervisory help and consultation in a timely manner.
• Possess attributes that include integrity, responsibility, and tolerance.
• Show respect for self and others
• Work independently as well as with others
• Project an image of professionalism

Although the risk of damage by medical diagnostic imaging to the unborn child is small, El Centro College maintains controls regarding pregnant students in the Invasive Cardiovascular Technolopgy Program.

The student must decide whether to accept the risks of ionizing radiation, however slight. If the pregnant student chooses to continue in the program during her pregnancy, every effort will be made to protect her unborn child. These efforts include extra radiation monitoring and limiting exposure to cine and fluoroscopy. However, this can interfere with the clinical education of the student and prevent successful completion of the clinical portion of the program.

If a pregnant student chooses to withdraw during the term of her pregnancy, she will be readmitted upon completion of her pregnancy leave pending space availability. The length of pregnancy leave is to be determined by the student's physician. If the student does not re-enter the program upon completion of her pregnancy leave, she must reapply under the standard readmission procedure. If the pregnant student decides to remain in the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Program, she accepts full responsibility regarding outcome.
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All clinical facilities require all students attending their facility have a current Drug and Background Screen. The prescreening requirements are the same as those required of employees. All screens must be conducted after admission to the clinical program, but within 30 days prior to the start of the agency rotation. Verification of the satisfactory results must be received by the participating hospital prior to the student's rotation start date, and will be honored by all hospitals for the duration of the student's enrollment in the clinical program if the participating student has not had a break in the enrollment at the college.

The student is solely responsible for payment of all fees at the time of the screens (approximately $80). All reports and findings from the Background and Drugs screens will be reported directly to El Centro College Health Occupations Administration. The results of the screening can prevent clinical placement.

The rationale for the screening is that of due diligence and competency assessment of all individuals whose assignments bring them in contact with patients or employees. Competency extends beyond technical skills to an individual's criminal and substance abuse history. This approach ensures uniform compliance with Joint Commission standards pertaining to human resource management.

The drug screen follows National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) guidelines and screens for ten substances as designated in the Substance Abuse Panel 10 ("SAP 10"). These substances are:

SAP 10 test results which fall outside of any of the acceptable ranges are considered positive test results and are automatically sent for a separate confirmatory test by a Gas Chromatography Mss Spectrometry (GCMS) method. If these results remain positive, the test results are sent to a Medical Review Officer ("MRO") which will entail an additional cost of $25 - $75 to the student. The MRO will then contact the student to determine if there is a valid prescription for the drug in question. If a valid prescription exists and is verified, the test result will be deemed to be negative and acceptable.

Note: A clinical agency reserves the right to remove a student from the facility for suspicion of substance use or abuse, including alcohol. The clinical agency will notify the El Centro College Health Occupations administration to facilitate immediate removal of the student and request that the student submit to a repeat drug screening procedure at the student's expense on the same day of removal from the clinical agency. Failure to comply will result in immediate expulsion from the clinical agency. Further, regardless of testing or test results, the agency reserves the right to expel any student form their facility. The agency will provide El Centro College Health Occupations administration with written documentation of the student's behavior(s) by tow or more agency representatives.

The criminal background check reviews a person's criminal history seven (7) years previous to the date of program application. The check will include all cities and counties of the person's residency during that time period. The following histories will disqualify an individual from consideration for a clinical rotation:

• Felony convictions
• Misdemeanor convictions or felony deferred adjudication involving crimes against persons (physical or sexual abuse)
• Misdemeanor convictions related to moral turpitude (prostitution, public lewdness/exposure, etc.)
• Felony deferred adjudication for the sale, possession, distribution, or transfer of narcotics or controlled substances
• Registered sex offenders

Exceptions:

• If a licensing/registry body approves the individual to take the licensing/credential exam, the individual may participate in the clinical rotation
• The college may request an exception form the first clinical agency for a student with a felony deferred adjudication and no alternate recourse through a licensing/registry Updated and Maintained byity. Following approval from the first clinical agency, the student may progress as stated above.

Note: Should a student accepted to a health occupations program be prohibited from attending a clinical rotation experience due to findings of a criminal background check and/or drug screening, the student may be dismissed form the health occupations program.

Students are encouraged to take the Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) examination from Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) in March prior to graduation. Students may choose to take the examination at a later date.

Some courses that you will find helpful are:

We have a list of contacts available.

You may also download an information packet. The file is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader software, downloadable free from www.adobe.com.

NOTE: The El Centro College Health/Legal and Continuing/Workforce Education Division reserves the right to make changes in program enrollment capacity. Program guidelines are subject to change. Students are advised to obtain the latest program information from the Health Occupations Admissions Office (Room A-140).