Perfusionist

  • JOB SUMMARY
    • Assess, plan and implement the patient care requirements and treatment necessary for patients requiring cardiopulmonary bypass, mechanical circulatory support, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and associated blood conservation or perfusion delivery
  • DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
    • Overall performance rating of below indicated essential job duties:
    • Prepares operating room by setting up equipment for extra-corporeal pump for open-heart surgery and other medical procedures, including bringing in solutions or blood, medical supplies, filters, tubes, etc.
    •  Sets up extra-corporeal pump for particular case depending on age, weight, type of heart problem
    • Selects and assembles ancillary supplies and equipment including autotransfusion, ultrafiltration, potassium and calcium analyzer, anticoagulation assay equipment, arterial  blood gases, and chemistry monitoring
    • Operates the equipment during clinical open-heart surgery and related procedures, i.e. long-term circulatory and/or respiratory support, left and right heart support
    • Checks the proper operation of the extra-corporeal pump, such as proper adjustment of pump heads to prevent destruction of blood cells, the proper functioning of component parts and connectors and the proper electrical functions of pump accessories
    • Obtains blood, checks as type, identification for patient, prepares blood, solutions and components for use in the extra-corporeal pump, including sterile tubing, priming of all lines and bubble-free lines
    • Monitors operation of extra-corporeal pump during open-heart surgery for proper functioning, blood, proper drug dilution levels, patients temperature and control of hot and cold water to maintain temperature of blood per surgeons instructions
    • Adds drugs in order to correct imbalance of chemistry of blood
    • Calibrates pump flows and occlusion of pump head
    • Makes the necessary corrections during the malfunction of the machine by manual methods, as circumstances dictate without directions
    • Maintains continuous oral communication with the surgeon and anesthesiologist 
    • Controls the temperature of the patient by controlling the mechanism for cooling or rewarming the blood
    • Receives the blood for perfusion from the Blood Bank, or donor, checks, labels and infuses properly
    • Adds drugs to the perfusate during the procedure
    • Keeps records of patient during surgical procedure in relation to perfusion rate, oxygenation flow rate, temperature, blood chemistries and time of perfusion
    • Disassembles and cleans equipment at conclusion of surgery
    • Assess, plan and implement the patient care requirements and treatment necessary for patients requiring cardiopulmonary bypass, mechanical circulatory support, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and associated blood conservation or perfusion delivery
  • EDUCATION/LICENSE/CERTIFICATION/OTHER REQUIREMENTS
    • Minimum requirement:
      • High school or equivalency diploma and either:
        • (a) Graduate of a CAAHEP accredited school of cardiovascular perfusion; or
        • (b) certified by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion
    • Preferred qualifications:
  • WORKING ENVIRONMENT
    • Constantly works near moving mechanical parts
    • Constantly exposed to blood and/or body fluids and infection. 
    • Occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals
    • Occasionally exposed to risk of radiation
    • The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
  • PHYSICAL DEMANDS
    • Occasionally required to maintain in a stationary position (standing or sitting).
    • Frequently required to walk and move about.
    • Frequently required to operate a computer and other equipment.
    • Frequently required to use fine motor skills to handle and operate instruments/devices.
    • Constantly required to lift and/or move items up to 10 pounds.
    • Frequently required to lift and/or move items up to 50 pounds.
    • Occasionally required to lift and/or move items up to 100 pounds.
    • Constantly required to communicate with patients and other care team requiring talking and hearing. 
    • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.
    • Occasionally required to position self in order to meet patient needs.