The field of medicine that deals with the human body’s cardiovascular system is called Cardiology. Cardiovascular care is provided by cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, nurses, and other medical professionals in inpatient and outpatient settings.
Cardiology is significant to the healthcare industry as it offers patients more specialized care for conditions relating to the heart and blood vessels. Cardiology may frequently assist in diagnosing and treating problems, allowing patients to live longer and with higher quality of life. Cardiology can help patients manage and prevent sickness and provide treatment for cardiovascular disease that runs in the family.
Cardiologists can be employed by a hospital, clinic, or doctor’s office; some even have private practices. Most of the time is spent attending to patients and working in the lab, but there are also extended hours spent attending meetings. In addition, hours are spent on conducting research, learning, and consulting with other experts. Cardiologists often put in lengthy, erratic workdays.
Cardiologists have a significant role in both the individual lives of their patients and the general health of the community because cardiovascular illnesses are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality.
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Growing Demand for Cardiologists in GULF
As the world’s population ages and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease rises, there will be a continued high demand for cardiologists. Cardiologists are an aging population like physicians in all other medical specialties; as these physicians retire, the need for cardiovascular specialists will grow.
Cardiac Health Landscape in UAE
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) account for 40% of deaths and are one of the world’s top causes of death.
According to the most recent UAE National Health Survey, physical inactivity, hypertension, obesity, and tobacco use are the main risk factors for dying from CVDs, which represent a substantial health burden in the UAE. Reducing mortality and reducing CVD risk factors were the main goals of UAE Health Vision 2021.
Another study by Cleveland Clinic found that 55% of participants had personally experienced heart disease, either as a result of receiving a diagnosis themselves (12%), having a close friend or family member receive a diagnosis (53%), or experiencing both. The primary cause of death in the United Arab Emirates is cardiovascular disease.
Cardiac Health Landscape in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is facing a significant burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) due to an aging population and an increase in CV risk factors. Growing rates of obesity and destructive lifestyles exaggerate this phenomenon. However, given Saudi Arabia’s current health reform direction, addressing CV risk factors and lowering the prevalence of CVD in the nation would require cooperation.
According to The World Bank, Saudi Arabia’s life expectancy has improved over the past 20 years, from 69.08 years in 1990 to 75.13 years in 2019. But as the population ages, managing chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) becomes more difficult.
201,300 Saudi citizens had cardiovascular disease (CVD) in 2016. Of these, 149,600 adults had coronary heart disease, and 51,700 had cerebrovascular illness. It is believed that more than 45% of deaths are related to CVD.
Saudi Arabia was projected to have a 5.5% prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in 2005. Given the increase in CVD risk factors in Saudi Arabia, including obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and others, the prevalence of CVD in the country today is predicted to be much more significant. In addition to increasing the elderly population, CVDs are worryingly becoming more prevalent in younger ages as well.
Cardiology Career Options in the Gulf
Career Paths in Cardiology
Cardiovascular specialists are medical experts who specialize in diagnosing and treating patients with heart and lung problems. Specialists like cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, clinical cardiac Perfusionists, and cardiovascular technicians can all find employment opportunities as cardiovascular team members.
Some of the significant career options in cardiology are as follows;
Cardiologist
A cardiologist is a medical professional specializing in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases. Cardiologists may utilize catheterizations to see clogged arteries or assist patients in their recovery. When a patient needs surgery, a cardiologist will often recommend them to a cardiovascular surgeon after performing an assessment.
Heart Surgeon
Cardiac surgeons can specialize in specific operations or have a broad range of specializations. A surgery performed by a cardiothoracic surgeon involves the heart, lungs, esophagus, trachea, and any associated blood arteries.
Children who require surgery for congenital or pediatric cardiac conditions include those with heart valve abnormalities, heart holes, and other birth defects.
Cardiology Consultant
Cardiology consultants work with other medical specialists to conduct clinical assessments and create patient treatment regimens. They might collaborate with nurses, exercise physiologists, surgeons, and dieticians to develop programs that avoid, identify, and treat cardiac disease.
After the surgery, cardiology experts frequently create recovery-oriented treatment regimens for their patients. Prescription medicine and lifestyle modifications may be part of this diet.
Cardiac Perfusionist
During cardiac surgery, a clinical cardiac perfusionist is crucial. A cardiac perfusionist employs a specialized technique to stop the heart during heart bypass or arterial grafting surgery, allowing the surgeon to do the necessary repairs.
A cardiac perfusionist uses the same method to treat hypothermia and drowning patients. This medical practitioner monitors patients and assists as needed while working in the catheterization laboratory and intensive care unit.
Interventional Cardiologists
Within the cardiology field, interventional cardiology focuses on treating structural heart problems using catheters. Most operations are performed on the cardiovascular system, including your heart, arteries, and veins. This cardiology subspecialty uses a few millimeter needle punctures as a minimally invasive treatment method; no extensive incisions or internal instrument entry is necessary.
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) is the term most commonly associated with interventional cardiology. In this procedure, medical professionals treat coronary narrowing or blockages using balloons coated with drugs or metallic stents. They enhance the patient’s cardiac health and successfully remove angina symptoms.
Radiographer in Cardiology
Cardiology department radiographers use specialized radiography equipment to provide high-quality images. In an adult or pediatric department, a cardiac radiographer may work in a cardiac catheter lab doing technical cardiac procedures, including electrophysiology and cardiovascular angiography.
To choose which approaches to employ, radiologists and surgeons collaborate with radiographers. They guarantee that patients adhere to safety and health regulations while receiving support during radiography examinations. The radiographer may perform MRI, Angiography, Ultrasound, Fluoroscopy, Computerized Tomography, etc.
Cardiac Sonographer
Echo cardiographers, another name for cardiac sonographers, are medical experts with specialized training in using imaging technologies to assist doctors in diagnosing patients with heart issues.
They run ultrasonography machines that provide moving images of the heart and its chambers in two or three dimensions. They conduct a procedure known as an echocardiography.
A career in cardiac sonography may be enjoyable for people looking for fast-paced, relevant work that is focused on the needs of patients.
Benefits of Working with a Healthcare Recruitment Agency
A recruitment agency plays a bridging role between the candidates and the employers. As far as the employers, i.e., businesses, companies, organizations, etc., are concerned, it might take time to find the right talent from the rich candidate market. Finding the right candidate who aligns with the organization’s values and culture can be challenging.
In this context, an executive search firm like RFS HR Consultancy, with expert healthcare recruitment consultants, global access to the rich candidate market, tailored solutions, etc., can help you find the right person for the right job in a short period.
Let us see how a recruitment agency can be helpful in an efficient recruitment process.
Save Time & Efforts
Healthcare recruitment agencies can save employers time and cost by handling the initial steps of the hiring process, such as screening resumes, conducting initial interviews, and reference checks.
A recruitment agency sets up interviews and provides candidates with all the required qualifications. All you have to do is get ready and show up there! Recruiting agencies handle all administrative tasks, including following up with successful and unsuccessful applicants and validating the credentials and references the candidates provide.
By using a recruitment agency, you can cut down on the time and internal resources required for recruitment. It also speeds up the process of recruitment.
Access to the Global Market
Recruitment agencies have a vast network of potential job candidates, providing employers access to a large pool of qualified candidates who may not be found through traditional recruitment methods. Recruitment agencies have a vast network of potential job candidates, providing employers access to a large pool of qualified candidates who may not be found through traditional recruitment methods.
Reduce the Turnover Rate
Healthcare recruitment agencies help reduce turnover by matching suitable candidates with the right job opportunities, leading to higher job satisfaction and retention rates. The healthcare recruitment consultants at the recruitment agencies help you find potential resources in the market.
The right person for the right job, competency, values, and culture alignment eventually leads to job satisfaction and a higher retention rate. A healthcare recruitment agency plays a vital role in this context.
Recruiters are the Industry Experts
Most of the time, the candidate’s needs could be quite specific and challenging to locate. In this case, a recruiter’s market and industry knowledge becomes vital.
Since they are experts in their fields, recruiters can provide regular updates on current trends to the hiring team. These recruiters will be knowledgeable about present hiring complexities, available skill sets and shortages, wage rates, career expectations, and how to connect with the best possible personnel.
Final Thoughts
Every year, cardiovascular illnesses rank as the primary cause of death worldwide. Given the high death rate, cardiology has never been more critical earlier. And there are currently more opportunities than ever to advance cardiovascular disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
The heart health landscapes in UAE AND Saudi Arabia and the rapid developments in the healthcare sectors underline the importance and rising demand for Cardiology professionals in the Gulf, particularly in UAE, KSA, Kuwait, and Qatar.
In this context, the role of recruitment agencies is quite essential. Executive recruitment agencies like RFS HR Consultancy, which also provides services in Emiratization and Saudization and works with industry specialists and healthcare recruitment consultants, help find competent and potential cardiac professionals from the market.
