Good morning, Devora. Thank you for joining me today. Can you start by telling me a little bit about your background and how you became an echo technician?
Sure, Avi. I’ve been working as an echo technician for over 10 years now. Before that, I actually started out as a nurse in the cardiology department of a hospital. I was always interested in the heart and how it worked, so when the opportunity to specialize in echocardiography came up, I jumped at it.
That’s interesting. What kind of patients do you typically see on a daily basis?
Well, we see all kinds of patients - from newborns to elderly individuals. Some are referred to us because they have symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath, while others may have known heart conditions that need monitoring.
And what kind of information does an echocardiogram provide about the heart?
An echocardiogram is essentially an ultrasound exam of the heart. It allows us to see the different structures within the heart - like the valves and chambers - and assess how well they’re functioning. We can also look at things like blood flow and pressure within the heart.
That’s fascinating. Are there any common misconceptions that people have about echocardiography?
Yes, definitely. One common misconception is that it’s a painful or invasive procedure - but really, it’s completely non-invasive and doesn’t involve any radiation exposure either.