Emergency Room Technician: What is the cost of hiring?

What is an ER Tech?

An Emergency Room Tech, or ER Tech, assists other clinicians in the emergency room. They generally perform clinical tasks such as collecting specimens, monitoring vital signs and conducting tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs). ER Techs may also help transport patients and ensure ER exam and treatment areas are clean and well-stocked. 

Why hire an ER Tech?

Emergency Room Techs support fast, effective patient care by assisting with essential tasks and procedures. They can help improve patient experience and outcomes in the ER by potentially speeding up processes, providing consistent communication and assisting patients with basic needs.

Contributions of a great ER Tech: 

• Reduced wait times and improved patient flow
• Support for other clinical staff during time-sensitive procedures
• Improved patient satisfaction and communication

Defining your hiring needs for an ER Tech

As you explore how to hire an ER Tech, consider your hiring needs, including the staffing structure in your emergency department and the volume and type of patients your teams care for. 

Define the role’s responsibilities to understand which skills or qualifications to look for. For example, some positions may focus on phlebotomy or EKG monitoring, while others assist in trauma response or equipment setup. Related roles might include Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), Medical Assistants or Patient Care Technicians.

What are the types of ER Tech?

ER Techs may work in various specialties depending on the hospital’s size and needs. Some ER Techs might focus on technical procedures, while others handle broader support roles for patient care. 

Common ER Tech types can include:

• Trauma ER Tech: Often found in Level I trauma centers, these employees may assist with acute trauma cases by helping prepare rooms, managing equipment and supporting emergency procedures.
• Clinical ER Tech: These professionals perform clinical tasks such as drawing blood, monitoring vital signs, performing EKGs and assisting Nurses and Physicians with basic procedures.
• Transport ER Tech: These ER Techs coordinate internal patient transport while monitoring vital signs during transit and communicating with care teams.

When writing your ER Tech job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on ER Tech jobs, according to Indeed data:

• EMT
• Emergency Room Technician
• ER Tech
• Patient Care Technician
• Hospital
• Paramedic
• Kaiser Permanente
• Phlebotomy
• Medical Assistant
• CNA

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Where to find ER Techs

Emergency Room Technicians can be found through healthcare job boards, EMT and medical assistant training programs, hospital referral networks and professional associations. Partnering with local colleges, attending healthcare job fairs or working with staffing firms can help you reach qualified candidates.

To find the right Emergency Room Technician for your organization, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Internal promotions: Consider promoting from within your clinical support team. Patient Care Technicians or Medical Assistants familiar with your facility’s emergency protocols might be quality candidates for your ER Tech position.
• Healthcare recruiting firms: Partnering with a medical staffing agency specializing in emergency and acute care roles can help you identify ER Techs with the right certifications and experience for your department’s pace and complexity.
• Social media: Use your organization’s social media channels to highlight your emergency department’s open roles.
• Post your job online: Try posting your ER Tech job on Indeed to find and attract candidates.

Skills to look for in an ER Tech

A successful ER Tech candidate will typically have the following skills and competencies, which may be gained through a variety of experiences, training or education:

• Proficiency in taking vital signs, collecting specimens and assisting with basic diagnostic procedures 
• Familiarity with common emergency department equipment, such as EKG machines and defibrillators 
• Ability to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and support emergency response efforts in collaboration with Nurses and Physicians
• Experience with electronic medical records, including charting patient interactions and updating care notes
• Competence in setting up and maintaining sterile fields for procedures, such as suturing or catheterization
• Understanding of infection control, including proper personal protective equipment (PPE) use and safe handling of biohazardous materials
• Verbal communication skills to relay patient needs and coordinate with emergency care teams

Writing an ER Tech job description

Now that you know the key skills, salary expectations, popular job seeker search terms and hiring insights for an ER Tech, you’re ready to write a job description.

An ER Tech job description typically includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position. You may also want to include information about your company culture, benefits and perks to attract candidates to your open role.

Ready to get started? See our full guide for writing ER Tech job descriptions.

Interviewing ER Tech candidates

Strong candidates for ER Tech positions will be confident answering questions about:

• Taking vital signs and assisting with patient triage
• Responding to emergencies and supporting resuscitation efforts
• Setting up and maintaining sterile equipment and procedure areas
• Communicating clearly with Nurses, Doctors and patients
• Maintaining accurate and timely medical documentation

Need help coming up with interview questions? Our related ER Nurse interview questions are a helpful starting point for hiring an ER Tech.