Students attending class at the Cardiovascular Institute
at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital - Plano
PLANO, Texas – The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) has accredited the adult echocardiography program at the Cardiovascular Institute, located at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano. Founded in March 2020 and licensed by the Texas Workforce Commission Career Schools & Colleges program, the Cardiovascular Institute is the only accredited hospital-based school in Texas training students to become allied health professionals.
“Our program offers students the opportunity to receive hands-on training from experts in the field at an acclaimed cardiovascular hospital,” said Brad Roberts, director of the Cardiovascular Institute and program director of adult echocardiography at Baylor Scott & White Heart – Plano. “This accreditation reflects the vision and work of many people here at Baylor Scott & White Heart – Plano. Our hope is to provide rewarding career opportunities for professionals in this field while helping to advance care for all through rigorous training in this specialized allied health field.”
The inaugural class of adult echocardiography students began the certificate-level, 52- week training program in September 2020 and completed it on Sept. 3. The program consists of didactic classroom, hands-on laboratory, and clinical externship experience with coursework designed to build upon previous classes.
A new program track, cardiovascular perfusion, launched in September 2021, along with the next class of adult echocardiographers. The 12-month programs accept a limited number of students who must be at least 18 years old and hold a bachelor’s or associate degree from an accredited college or university.
The Cardiovascular Institute provides students access to one-on-one, hands-on professional training from several local Baylor Scott & White facilities, including Baylor Scott & White Heart – Plano. The dedicated, 114-bed heart hospital specializes in advanced cardiothoracic surgical techniques and transcatheter cardiovascular therapies, including minimally invasive robotic surgery and transcatheter valvular implantation.
“The professions that the Cardiovascular Institute students are training for are in demand across the healthcare industry now, and the need for qualified professionals in these fields is projected to increase,” said Roberts. “This program offers very personalized training while immersing students in the clinical environment.”
Upon successful program completion, students are qualified to sit for board exams. Once they pass, they are ready to be employed in their field of study. Adult echocardiographers may become registered cardiac sonographers through Cardiovascular Credentialing International, or registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. Cardiovascular perfusionists may sit for their board exam from the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion to earn a certification in clinical perfusion credential.
More information and applications to the program are available at www.BSWHealth.med/EchoProgram.
To learn more about CAAHEP accreditation, please visit: https://www.caahep.org/Home.aspx
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About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com
