MSCVT CREDENTIALING OF CARDIOVASCULAR TECHNOLOGIST
National Credential
The Malaysian Society of Cardiovascular Technologist (MSCVT) is a non-profit organization, and being the only leading association representing cardiovascular technologist (CVT) in Malaysia. The mission of MSCVT is to establish CVT profession, promotes higher standard of service quality, excellent structured CVT training program and continuous education for CVT thus producing a very dynamic CVT in the future.
The Malaysian Society of Cardiovascular (MSCVT) and the National Heart Association of Malaysia (NHAM) have cooperated to establish credentialing to maintain and promote appropriate standards of service quality of CVTs in Malaysia. The purpose of these credentialing is to ensure all practicing CVTs meet the minimum standard of academic qualification and fullfill the required training or work experience in this field to ensure the standards of service quality is maintained. These guidelines also ensure that the job scope of CVTs is only carried out by appropriate and qualified personnel.
Notice:
This guideline was endorsed by National Heart
Association of Malaysia (NHAM) and has been reviewed by MSCVT committee
members. No parts of this booklet may be reproduced in any form or by any means
without written permission from the society.
Request for permission to make copies of any parts of
this work should be sent to
Malaysian Society of Cardiovascular Technologist
(MSCVT)
Heart House,
C/O National Heart Association of Malaysia (NHAM)
Heart House, D-13A-06, Menara SUEZCAP 1, KL Gateway,
No 2 Jalan Kerinchi,
Gerbang Kerinchi Lestari,
59200 Kuala Lumpur,
MALAYSIA.
Introduction
The Malaysian Society of Cardiovascular Technologist
(MSCVT) is a non-profit organization, founded in year of 2009. MSCVT has been
under the auspices of National Heart Association of Malaysia (NHAM) and being
the only leading association representing cardiovascular technologist (CVT) in
Malaysia. The mission of MSCVT is to establish CVT profession, promotes higher
standard of service quality, excellent structured CVT training program and
continuous education for CVT thus producing a very dynamic CVT in the future.
In view of the profession of Cardiovascular Technology
in Malaysia has yet to have its own governing body to oversight and regulate
the profession, the Malaysian Society of Cardiovascular Technologist (MSCVT) is
entrusted to take the lead role in establishing standard that outlined the
scope of practice, educational pre-requisites, training requirements and also
the clinical experiences before a person will be recognized as a Cardiovascular
Technologist (CVT).
Since two years ago MSCVT has worked with several
parties including its fraternity, the National Heart Association of Malaysia
(NHAM) and several members of cardiovascular technology profession from various
geographic locations to come out with these credentialing guidelines.
The purpose of these guidelines is to ensure the
personnel who carrying out the CVT duties are to meet or exceed the minimum
educational standard outlined in this guideline. This in the end will be
translated into the quality of services delivered to the service users are
assured and will ultimately safeguard the public interest as well as the
members of the profession.
These guidelines are under the purview of the MSCVT
with the guidance from the NHAM. It may from time to time will be revised and
amended in order to meet the need of the dynamic environment.
The members of Cardiovascular Technology profession
are advised to take this opportunity to forward their application together with
all the required documents as outlined in these guidelines in order to obtain
the credential.
These guidelines have also outlined a working group
called MSCVT Credentialing Council that entrusted to take responsibility to
review and scrutiny all credentialing applications and other related documents
before the credential is awarded to the successful applicants. The appointment and tenure of the members of
this council areas per outlined in the Term of Reference (TOR) of this council
and it is bound to the approval by the MSCVT Committee.
* This CVT credentialing is a dynamic document; it
will be updated as needed to incorporate new profession changes or to revise
the qualification standards. MSCVT should ensure that they are using the most
recent version of this guide. Contact MSCVT directly or log in to the website
to obtain the most recent version of this guideline.
Professional Statement
Cardiovascular Technology
Profession Statement
Published by
The Malaysian Society of Cardiovascular Technologist
(MSCVT)
Description of Profession
Cardiovascular technology is an allied health
profession which specifically focuses in diagnosis and treatment of patients
with cardiac and vascular diseases. Through the use of specific high-technology
equipment and at the direction of a qualified physician, a cardiovascular
technologist (CVT) performs cardiovascular examination and therapeutic
procedures to create an easily definable data, from which correct anatomic and
physiologic diagnosis may be developed for each individual patient. The
cardiovascular technologist therefore is a highly specialized diagnostician of
the various presentations of cardiovascular diseases.
The profession of cardiovascular technology
encompasses four sub specialty areas which include: -
1) Non-Invasive cardiovascular
2) Invasive cardiovascular
3) Non-invasive vascular
4) Cardiac pacing and electrophysiology
Scope of Duty
CVTs are dealing with patients with heart diseases and
are at high risk of cardiopulmonary arrest. Therefore, all CVTs must be
competent in performing emergency resuscitation procedures. CVTs are also
required to competently perform intravenous access and administer medication as
instructed by clinicians during the procedure.
The scope of duty of CVTs should include, but are not
limited to, these subspecialty areas:
1) Noninvasive Cardiovascular
The CVT independently performs the following noninvasive
cardiovascular investigation procedures and analyzes the data in order to
create easily definable information which can be used by the clinicians for the
patients’ management. The procedures include, but are not limited to: -
1.1 Electrocardiography (ECG)
1.2 Stress Testing
1.3 Ambulatory ECG monitoring
1.3.1 Holter
1.3.2 King of Heart
1.3.3 Rhythm Card
1.4 Ambulatory Blood Pressure monitoring
1.5 Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (VO2 Max)
1.6 Nuclear Medicine
1.7 Echocardiogram
1.8 Exercise Stress Echocardiogram
1.9 Pharmacological Stress Echocardiogram
1.10Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE) -assisting
physician or performing the procedure
under supervision of physician
1.11 Venipuncture and intravenous drug administration
1.12 Emergency resuscitation procedure whenever needed
2) Invasive Cardiovascular
In an invasive cardiovascular laboratory, CVTs have
collaboration with other allied professionals such as Cardiac Angiographers and
Catheterization Lab Nurses in supporting Cardiologists to perform the
diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization procedures. The roles of
CVTs in invasive labs include, but are not limited to: -
2.1 Monitor patient’s haemodynamic & vital signs
2.2 Analyzing the blood sample for the blood gas
analysis (ABG) and Intracardiac shunt study
2.3 Performing Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)
under supervision of cardiologists
2.4 Performing Transthoracic Echocardiogram
2.5 Preparing and assisting Intravascular Ultrasound
(IVUS) procedure
2.6 Preparing and assisting Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
(IABP) insertion
2.7 Preparing and assisting the Rotational Atherectomy
(PTCRA) procedure
2.8 Performing vascular access removal & Groin
management
2.9 Assisting diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization
Procedures
2.10 Assisting various Transcatheter Cardiovascular
Interventions such as (but not limited to):-
2.10.1 Coronary Angioplasty
2.10.2 Occluder devices implantation
2.10.3 Valvuloplasty of heart valves
2.10.4 Prosthetic valve implantation (TAVI)
2.10.5 Vascular angioplasty
2.10.6 Removal of foreign materials
2.11 Venipuncture and intravenous drug administration.
2.12 Performing Tilt Table Test
2.13 Emergency resuscitation procedure when necessary
3) Noninvasive Peripheral Vascular
CVTs specialized in this area are capable of
independently performing various vascular procedures, which include, but are
not limited to:-
3.1 Ankle- Brachial Index (ABI) study
3.2 Carotid Ultrasound Duplex study
3.3 Peripheral Artery Ultrasound Duplex study
3.4 Peripheral Vein Ultrasound Duplex study
3.5 Thermography and Plethysmography Procedures
3.6 Compression procedure of peripheral vascular
access pseudo aneurysm and hematoma
3.7 Emergency resuscitation procedure when necessary
4) Cardiac Pacing & Electrophysiology
The duties of the CVTs in this subspecialty area are
divided into invasive electrophysiology laboratory and non-invasive
electrophysiology lab.
In invasive electrophysiology laboratory, CVTs
collaborate with other allied professionals such as Cardiac Angiographers and
Cardiac Catheterization Lab Nurse in supporting electrophysiologists to perform
various invasive electrophysiological diagnostic and therapeutic procedures,
and implantation of rhythm management devices. The roles of CVTs in invasive
electrophysiology laboratory include, but are not limited to:-
4.1 Cardiac Pacing
4.1.1 Support Permanent Pacemaker Implantation
4.1.2 Support Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD)
Implantation
4.1.5 Support Biventricular Pacemaker Implantation
4.1.6 Support Temporary Pacemaker Implantation and
programming
4.2 Electrophysiology
4.2.1 Support Invasive Electrophysiology Study
4.2.2 Support Radiofrequency Ablation Support
4.3 Emergency resuscitation procedure when necessary
In the non-invasive electrophysiology laboratory, CVTs
who are specialized in this area are capable of independently performing
various procedures that include, but are not limited to:-
4.4 Ambulatory electrocardiography monitoring
4.4.1 Holter monitoring
4.4.2 Rhythm Card
4.4.3 King of Heart
4.5 Conducting the follow-up clinic for interrogation,
programming and reprogramming of the implantable devices such as:-
4.5.1 Pacemaker
4.5.2 Implantable defibrillator
4.5.3 Biventricular pacemaker
4.6 Emergency resuscitation procedure when necessary
Credentialing Guidelines
Guidelines
For
Credentialing of Cardiovascular Technologist
Approved by
Malaysian Society of Cardiovascular Technologist
And
National Heart Association of Malaysia
Background
The role of the cardiovascular technologist (CVT) is
increasingly complex and demanding. Not only must the CVT be familiar with
approved clinical protocols for each type of cardiovascular examination he or
she performs, the CVT also must be able to analyze the patient’s clinical
history fully, in order to identify the purpose of the examination, frame the
clinical question(s) that the examination is intended to answer, and expand the
examination as necessary to answer the clinical question(s).
A CVT also plays an integral role in the treatment
process, applying independent judgement, problem solving skills, analytical
thinking and the ability to obtain and integrate accurate diagnostic
information whilst supporting the clinicians in performing the treatment.
Therefore credentialing of the practicing CVT is imperative to ensure
appropriate standards and patient’s safety is upheld at all times.
The Malaysian Society of Cardiovascular Technologist
(MSCVT) and the National Heart Association of Malaysia (NHAM) have cooperated
to establish, maintain and promote appropriate standards of service quality of
CVTs in Malaysia. The purpose of these guidelines is to ensure all practicing
CVTs meet the minimum standard of academic qualification and fulfill the required
training or work experience in this field to ensure the standards of service
quality is maintained. These guidelines also ensure that the job scope of CVTs
is only be carried out by appropriate and qualified personnel.
Credentialing Qualification Prerequisites
The cardiovascular technology professional practices
currently acknowledge a broad spectrum of education pathways that produce CVTs.
The community in cardiovascular technology profession and its paternity
profession deem that the cardiovascular technology is a specialized and
advanced skill profession. Hence, the credentialing committee recognizes only
the following prerequisite pathways are legitimate to be granted
credential:-
Bachelor degree from institutions recognized by the
Malaysian Society of Cardiovascular Technologist (MSCVT), that contains
cardiovascular technology curriculum such as following :-
a.Bachelor Degree in Cardiovascular Technology
b.Bachelor Degree in Cardiac Physiology
Allied health education and other educational
backgrounds:-
a.Candidate who possess a recognized certification in
one of the following:-
1.Diploma of Medical Assistant
2.Diploma of Medical Lab Technology
3.Diploma/ Bachelor Degree in Nursing
4.Bachelor Degree in Biomedical Science
b.Subsequently completed the MSCVT recognized
Cardiovascular Technology training program in one of the following:-
1.Undergone minimum of one year training conducted by
Non Invasive Cardiovascular Laboratory(NCL), Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) and
passes all stipulated exams and competencyassessment framed by the organizer.
(Must provide the documentation).
2.Undergone minimum of one year on-the-job training
program in the cardiac centers recognized by MSCVT (refer to Appendix 1).
3.Undergone minimum of two years on-the-job training
program in the non-cardiac centers recognized by the MSCVT (refer to Appendix
2).
4.Other training programs recognized by MSCVT.
c.Documented in the Log Book (Appendix 4) stating the
number of cases that have been performed for each area of investigation
according to the field of practice (Invasive Cardiovascular or Non-Invasive
Cardiovascular) with verification from the head of department. Refer Appendix 4
(ii) Minimum number of cases required for the logbook
Completed the Advance Diploma in Cardiovascular
Healthcare conducted by the Ministry of Health Malaysia, majoring in
Cardiovascular Technology.
a)Candidate must hold a recognized certificate/
diploma in Medical Assistant.
b)Registered with Medical Assistant Board.
c)Other allied health qualification might be
considered on a case-by-case basis.
Earned a post graduate certificate in Cardiovascular
and Thoracic Sciences majoring in Cardiovascular Technology from IJN College
a)Candidate must hold a recognized certification in
one of the following:-
1.Diploma of Medical Assistant
2.Diploma of Medical Lab Technology
3.Diploma/ Bachelor Degree in Nursing
4.Bachelor Degree in Biomedical Science
b)Passed the post graduate certificate in
cardiovascular and thoracic sciences majoring in cardiovascular technology
International Credentialing Qualification in
Cardiovascular Technology Field
a)Candidate must hold a recognized certification in
one of the following:-
a.Diploma of Medical Assistant
b.Diploma of Medical Lab Technology
c.Diploma/Bachelor Degree in Nursing
d.Bachelor Degree in Biomedical Science
And
b)Earned an international credentialing qualification
from, such as, but not limited to the American Registry Diagnostic Medical
Sonography (ARDMS), Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), British
Society of Echocardiography (BSE), International Board of Heart Rhythm
Examiners (IBHRE). The credentials must be specific to cardiovascular
technology credentials such as RDCS, RCIS and RCES etc.
Or
c)Earned the national certification (if any) in the
Cardiovascular Technology field.
Or
d)Other international credentialing qualification
might be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Working experiences / Grandparent Clause
a)Candidate must possess a recognized certification in
one of the following:-
I.Diploma of Medical Assistant
II.Diploma of Medical Lab Technology
III.Diploma/ Bachelor Degree in Nursing
And
b)Has a minimum of ten years fulltime working
experience in the field of cardiology.
And
c)Gazetted as qualified to perform CVT duties and has
been privileged to perform all investigations procedures or specializing in one
of four cardiovascular technology sub specialty areas as stated in the job
scope of CVT. Candidate must provide a verification letter from the respective
head of department. Declaration letter stating the length of his/her work
experience and practice endorsed by the head of department.
The Credentialing Field / Subspecialty
The MSCVT acknowledges that the practice fields of CVT
may vary according to the institution that he/she practices. Not all hospitals
or institutions are offering both Non-Invasive Cardiovascular and Invasive
Cardiovascular services, with some institutions only providing Non-Invasive
Cardiovascular services.
A credential will be granted to a candidate according
to the candidate’s field of practice. The field of practices that are currently
recognized by this credentialing guideline is:-
1) Non-Invasive
Cardiovascular field
2) Invasive
Cardiovascular field
3) Cardiac
Pacing And Electrophysiology
The candidate may apply for one or all of the above
fields if he/she has fulfilled the number of cases that has been stated in the
Appendix 3 or has provided sufficient evidence(s) that he/she has practiced in
those areas.
Processing Fee
The application fee for the credentialing is RM 200
including a RM 100 non-refundable processing fee for the staff resources
required to review and process applications. Payment can be made through
MSCVT JomPay:
Biller Code: 48744
Ref 1: Credentialing
Ref 2: <Name><Last 4 digit of IC>
e.g:
Ref 1: Credentialing
Ref 2: Sarah5012
Credentialing Application Processes
In order for a candidate to be awarded a credential,
he or she must submit a completed application form (Appendix 5) together with
all required documents and the processing fee to the Secretary of the
Cardiovascular Technologist Credentialing Council. He or she must be practicing
in the cardiovascular technology field at the time of application.
For candidates who fulfill prerequisite no. 1,
application can be submitted immediately after graduation.
Candidates with prerequisite no 4 are advised to
submit their credentialing application as early as possible. This credentialing
pathway will be abolished after 31st December 2015.
The credentialing process will take 2 to 3 months from
date the application is received, subject to the completeness of the documents.
Cardiovascular Technology Credentialing Council
Members includes
NHAM
President
Chairman
MSCVT (Secretary)
1 CVT
representative from IJN
1 CVT
representative from university hospitals
1 CVT
representative from private sector
2 CVTs representatives from MOH hospitals
The role of the Credentialing Council
To review the credentialing qualification
prerequisites from time to time, when necessary.
To review and approve the credentialing application.
To remove the credential awarded to CVTs found to have
submitted falsified documents.
All documents should be sent to:
Cardiovascular Technology Credentialing Council
Address
Malaysian Society of Cardiovascular Technologist
(MSCVT)
Heart House,
C/O National Heart Association of Malaysia (NHAM)
Heart House, D-13A-06, Menara SUEZCAP 1, KL Gateway,
No 2 Jalan Kerinchi,
Gerbang Kerinchi Lestari,
59200 Kuala Lumpur,
MALAYSIA.
