Perfusionist

Job Description

Job Summary:

• Under direction of the attending physician, the Principal Perfusionist provides routine and specialized patient care services requiring extracorporeal circulation and/or oxygenation.
• The Principal Perfusionist provides advanced perfusion techniques for myocardial and/or organ protection and preservation, blood component and drug/fluid administration and blood conservation/concentration.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provides independent patient care and perfusion services during on-call response for routine and specialized emergency extracorporeal support as indicated.
• Provides emergency circulation/oxygenation circuitry (DHCA/RCP) and team support during a cardiac or respiratory arrest.
• Effectively communicates with the multidisciplinary team involved with direct patient care.
• Precepts new staff members and updates patient care protocols and department-specific policies and procedures as needed.
• Independently provides support functions to departmental operations such as maintaining par levels, stocking and controlling inventory, and equipment maintenance.
• Maintains and rotates sterile stock while checking for expired items.
• Handles returns of defective supplies and works with Biomedical Engineering to provide equipment maintenance.
• Maintains equipment inventory for a variety of specialized perfusion services.
• Operates pumps, devices and circuitry providing long-term extracorporeal circulation and/or oxygenation for infant, pediatric and adult patients including intra-aortic balloon support, ventricular assist support and/or extracorporeal oxygenation.
• Assists with assembly of special extracorporeal circuits, devices or components providing long-term circulation and/or oxygenation.
• Provides knowledge regarding patient care protocols for long-term assist devices such as VAS and ECMO.
• Communicates directly and continuously with physician and nursing staff regarding patient care considerations affecting long-term extracorporeal support devices.
• Initiates, operates and independently manages extracorporeal devices for routine/specialized cardiac and organ preservation procedures.
• Determines proper equipment for procedures and assembles equipment as appropriate.
• Advises surgeon on appropriate pump, catheter, cannula, circuitry and oxygenating device for special care requirements.
• Monitors patient electrolytes during fluid balance/removal and treats appropriately.
• Determines proper blood/fluid regime and identifies routine and abnormal patient monitoring indicators before, during and after perfusion-supported procedures.
• Interprets hemodynamic and physiological signs and symptoms presented by each patient.
• Ensures accurate collection and tabulation of clinical protocols, quality management data and research projects for clinical implementation.
• Performs individual data collection related to routine and special perfusion procedures.
• Assists with clinical competency summary reports for compliance.
• Implements preventative maintenance programs for routine equipment and supplies/devices.
• Provides routine and advanced perfusion services associated with detailed patient data collection and assists in physician analysis.
• Administers cardioplegia solutions to provide myocardial protection during heart-lung machine use.
• Communicates directly and continuously with surgeon and medical staff.
• Operates hemoconcentration devices.
• Provides safe and adequate provisions utilizing hypothermia, deep hypothermic arrest and retroperfusion during cardiac surgical procedures.
• Assesses patient hemodynamic stability as required.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Four (4) years of demonstrated experience working as a perfusionist, preferably in a level one trauma center.
• Knowledge, skills and ability to operate all routine equipment, special devices and monitors.
• Knowledge of sterile and perfusion supplies including extracorporeal oxygenators, tubing circuits and cannulae for all patient populations.
• Knowledge of blood components, plasma composition and use of blood products in association with extracorporeal circuits and devices.
• Advanced knowledge of human anatomy, disease processes, physiology and biochemistry.
• Advanced knowledge of arteries, veins, organs and specific blood flow pathways and gas exchange processes for all patient populations.
• Ability to work variable shifts including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.
• Ability to read, write and communicate effectively in English.
• Ability to maintain flexibility and work well in a fast paced, constantly changing environment.
• Ability to learn and apply TJC, CDC and AABB standards and protocols related to operating room procedures and departmental practices.
• Knowledge of sterile techniques in delivery of patient care.
• Ability to independently initiate bypass for adult, pediatric and neonatal patients.
• Ability to follow orders, take directions and implement written perfusion protocols.
• Ability to utilize formula and applied mathematics in perfusion protocols.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Understanding of applicable regulatory requirements.

Required Certifications & Licensure:

• Current BLS certification.
• Certified Cardiac Perfusionist.
• Required Education: Bachelor’s degree TBD.