Emergency Department Technician (ED Tech) - Amanda

Hi, my name is Amanda! I am a post-baccalaureate pre-PA student currently working in a Level 2 Emergency and Trauma hospital as an emergency department technician (ED Tech). ED Techs have a special role within the emergency department as they work alongside nurses, physicians, and other healthcare personnel to ensure adequate patient care and smooth patient flow throughout the department. Responsibilities are pretty broad and can vary depending on the hospital, but some common tasks I perform every shift include: triage, settling patients in their ED rooms, taking vital signs, capturing EKGs, splinting, wound care, preparing bedside procedures for physicians (ex. suture kits, central/arterial line placement, intubations), transporting patients, and ensuring rooms are prepared and stocked with the appropriate equipment for incoming patients. ED Techs also are crucial for acute patient presentations, like strokes, respiratory and cardiac arrests where life saving measures may be needed, so it is important to be familiar with CPR and rescue breathing techniques. For hospitals that are recognized as Trauma centers, ED Techs can also be members of the Trauma team, and support in the assessment and care for patients presenting with critical injuries. It is common for hospitals to require techs to have some form of certification and basic life support skills, so having an EMT or CNA license can be beneficial as these introduce a small scope of practice.

I was introduced to the ED Tech position through my previous healthcare job where was working as an EMT on an ambulance. After working on an ambulance for about 2 years, I wanted to transition into a hospital setting to open myself for new learning opportunities, utilizing new skills and witnessing a different side of healthcare than I was previously accustomed to in the prehospital setting. One of my favorite parts about working as an ED Tech is that I have the opportunity to observe, support and learn from the physicians and nurses within the department. At the hospital I work at, it is common for physicians to ask for a tech to be in the room for most of their bedside procedures to set up, assist, or grab extra equipment if needed. It has been a wonderful learning opportunity to directly observe how providers interact with their patients, administer care, and how many wish to introduce and include students on everything they do.

Being able to connect my experiences from the ambulance service to the emergency department has been super interesting as I get to witness the continuity of patient care and learn more about testing and treatment methods. It has been so fun to learn about various patient presentations, history taking skills, testing methods, treatments, and the process of differential diagnosis. Being in the ER has opened my eyes to other healthcare professions like phlebotomists, lab technicians, radiologists, respiratory therapists, and so many more. Understanding each individual’s role within the hospital setting has opened by eyes to how medicine is a team based practice and every person plays a critical role. Lastly, for any pre-health students with an interest in emergency, trauma, or critical care as a specialty, I highly recommend seeking experience within the Emergency Department. My experience in pre-hospital and emergency medicine has really solidified for me where my passion lays, and with that I recommend anyone interested in those specialties to seek out experience within the emergency department!