What does a Cardiologist do?

A Cardiologist diagnoses and treats many cardiovascular conditions, including coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, angina, heart failure, heart defects and heart disorders. They also provide care for people who have suffered heart attacks and strokes. When they perform their job duties proficiently, Cardiologists can reduce the risk of premature death for people suffering from diseases that affect the cardiovascular system and allow them to lead fuller lives. Their duties and responsibilities directly impact the overall quality of care that a health care facility provides as well as patient satisfaction rates. In addition, they can limit the liabilities of their employers by following established standards of care.

Cardiologist skills and qualifications

Quality candidates for Cardiologist positions will possess certain skills. Some qualifications to include in your Cardiologists job description are:

• In-depth knowledge of general medicine, biology, anatomy, cardiology and related topics
• Understanding of the current standards of care and treatment protocols for cardiovascular conditions
• Ability to operate equipment and technology used for diagnosing and treating heart conditions, such as EKG machines
• Strong interpersonal skills to interact positively with patients and other health care providers
• Multitasking skills to deliver quality care to multiple patients at one time
• Robust oral communication skills to coordinate care with other providers and facilitate conversations with patients
• Working knowledge of rules and regulations related to infection control and patient privacy
• Attentiveness to detail to maintain accurate records and reduce the risk of medical errors

Cardiologist experience requirements

Most Cardiologists will gain at least three years of work experience during their cardiology fellowships. For facilities that employ multiple Cardiologists, those who have no additional work history may be quality candidates. However, facilities looking for a sole provider or a Cardiologist who can supervise residents and fellows may wish to specify several years of work experience as a requirement in their Cardiologist job description.

Cardiologist education and training requirements

Cardiologist education begins with a 4-year bachelor’s degree, followed by four years of medical school. Then, prospective Cardiologists usually complete a 3-year residency in internal medicine and a subsequent 3-year fellowship. Those who wish to further specialize may then complete an additional advanced practice fellowship that usually lasts at least one year.

Cardiologists must also obtain a license to practice medicine in their states. Requirements vary but usually involve graduating from an accredited medical school, completing a residency program and passing the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Most health care facilities prefer to hire candidates who have obtained board certification in cardiology through the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). To qualify, candidates must typically hold an active license, complete an approved fellowship and pass an exam.

Job description samples for similar positions

If the cardiology job description described above isn’t the right fit for your position, consider these related job titles:

• Physician
• Medical Director
• Cardiovascular Technician

Cardiologist job description FAQs

How do I know what type of cardiologist to hire?

General Cardiologists treat conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels and can be a good fit for a practice that sees a primarily adult population with a mix of disorders. If you already have a General Cardiologist on your team, you may want to hire a subspecialist to enhance patient care. What type of specialist will be a good fit depends on what types of cases you treat. For example, if you’re frequently referring patients out for catheterization procedures, you may wish to add an Interventional Cardiologist so that you can begin to provide these treatments in-house.

What is a board-certified Cardiologist vs. a board-eligible Cardiologist?

A board-certified Cardiologist has already been certified by the ABIM, while a board-eligible Cardiologist has completed all requirements except for passing the exam. Depending on your open position, you may want to consider board-eligible candidates and make obtaining certification within a set number of months a condition of your job offer. If you prefer to hire someone who already has certification, be sure to specify this in your Cardiologist job description.

How can I make my cardiology job description stand out?

To encourage candidates to apply, add a summary of the key benefits of working for your organization in the form of a bullet list at the top of your Cardiology job description. You might wish to draw attention to flexible working hours, paid malpractice coverage, paid time off and stipends for continuing medical education coursework.