Perfusionist

The CLINICAL PERFUSIONIST is responsible for the set-up and operation of extra-corporeal circulation equipment during certain medical situations where it is necessary to support or temporarily replace the patient’s circulatory and/or respiratory function.

Provides safe and effective Cardio-Pulmonary Bypass (CPB).

1. Circuit Preparation
2. Uses sterile technique during set-up.
3. Properly constructs circuit onto pump.
4. Completely de-bubbles a primed circuit.  Labels with date of priming.
5. Understands the limitations of all devices used.
6. Promptly communicates design or function problems.
7. Heart-Lung Machine Preparation.
8. Uses all provided machine safety devices.
9. Uses all provided patient monitoring devices.
10. Understands all aspects of the OR and pump Medical Gas systems.
11. Understands all aspects of the OR and pump Electrical systems.
12. Provides safe use of the Cooler/Heater machines for the patient.
13. Patient (Data) Preparation.
14. Reviews patient chart and gathers all relevant information.
15. Makes plans and decisions with surgeon and/or Anesthesia.
16. Selects proper cannula and other devices relevant to procedure.
17. Maintains completeness of Perfusion Record.
18. Provides safe and effective Cardio-Pulmonary Bypass (CPB).
19. Is always present during “Time-Out” procedure.
20. Case Conduct/Management.
21. Provides safe transition to CPB
22. Maintains blood pressure and responds appropriately to variances.
23. Maintains blood flows/volumes and responds appropriately to variances.
24. Maintains ABGs and ACTs, and responds appropriately to variances.
25. Provides safe transition from CPB.
26. Clinical Awareness and Responses.
27. Maintains pre-, peri-, and post-CPB patient situational awareness.
28. Promptly responds to patient situational variances.
29. Promptly communicates situational variances to surgeon or other appropriate team members.
30. Initiates “Incident Reports” in response to certain variances.
31. Requests assistance from other team members or other Perfusionists as needed.
32. Personal Safety.
33. Always follows universal precautions.
34. Creates a clutter-free, organized work space in the OR.
35. Immediately cleans fluid spills in the OR work space.
36. Disposes of waste with the safety of self and others in mind.
37. Wipes-down equipment after use.

Provides safe and effective ancillary tasks.

1. Intra-operative Autologous Blood Salvage (IABS)
2. Determines Therapeutical Appropriateness of IABS (with surgeon)
3. Conforms to departmental procedures and policies for IABS
4. Maintains proficiency in Platelet-Rich Plasma production/Use
5. Maintains proficiency in Platelet-Gel production/Use
6. Performs periodic Quality-Control on the IABS blood products.
7. Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping (IABP)
8. Properly constructs and primes pressure monitoring line.
9. Selects appropriate size IAB catheter
10. Correctly performs initial IABP machine set-up.
11. Correctly establishes initial IABP therapy.
12. Provides transport and trouble-shooting assistance as needed.
13. Left-Heart Bypass or Veno-Veno Bypass
14. Properly constructs and primes the circuit
15. Properly conducts the bypass while allowing patient cardiac output.
16. Communicates with anesthesia throughout the bypass
17. Continuously monitors and maintains the patient blood pressure
18. Understands the capabilities and limits of the bypass procedure
19. Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD)
20. Provides assistance to the scrub team in preparing the VAD
21. Correctly establishes initial function of the VAD driver console
22. Provides transport assistance and trouble-shooting as needed
23. ECMO
24. With the ECMO Specialist, participates in the initiation of ECMO by communicating with the team, helping to prime the circuit, helping to gather needed supplies, helping to establish bypass.
25. Answers questions the ECMO Specialist might have.
26. Provides trouble-shooting assistance to the ECMO Specialist.
27. Assists in decisions about circuit modifications.
28. Participates and/or instructs in the simulation lab
29. AngioVac procedures
30. With the company rep, assists in the operation of the pump/circuit
31. Orders new supplies as needed.
32. HIPEC procedure
33. Properly sets up the machine
34. Follows surgeon directives
35. Wears protective gear when handling chemotherapeutic agents
36. Properly disposes of circuit.
37. Temporary Pacemaker
38. Properly sets initial parameters
39. Properly performs threshold testing as needed
40. Performs routine battery changes/maintenance
41. Other Ancillary Duties (Associated with CPB)
42. Knowledgeable in the function and use of Ultra-Filtration
43. Knowledgeable in the function and use of Retrograde cardioplegia
44. Knowledgeable in the function and use of Retrograde cerebral perf
45. Knowledgeable in the function and use of Antegrade cerebral perf
46. Knowledgeable in the function and use of Circulatory arrest
47. Knowledgeable in the function and use of direct coronary perfusion
48. Knowledgeable in the function and use of vacuum-assisted venous return

Provides periodic ON-CALL service

1. Responds to caller immediately after receiving a page or cell phone call.
2. If requested, Reports to worksite within 30 - 45 minutes (ie. ASAP) of receiving page or cell phone call.
3. Communicates appropriately with “second call” person
4. At end of day, Notifies the OR Desk that Perfusion is leaving and “On-Call”
5. Communicates call schedule changes to OR FRONT DESK

Maintains Adequate Perfusion Supplies

1. Routinely checks for outdates and stocks the Cardiac Mini-Core
2. Routinely checks for outdates and stocks the pump carts and pumproom
3. Routinely checks for outdates and stocks the pharmacy/IV supplies
4. Routinely checks for outdates and stocks the POCT supplies
5. Monitors the supply levels in the main storeroom and informs director of needs

Provides continuous evaluations of devices and processes

1. Immediately reports faulty equipment
2. Follows Clin Eng “Tag-Out” procedure for electrical devices
3. Retains faulty disposable products for manufacturer analysis
4. Participates in new product evaluations
5. provides constructive feedback
6. Introduces new devices or techniques for evaluation
7. Discusses problems or “issues” with others to seek improvements and to share information
8. Strives for cost-containment
9. Provides assistance to others as needed.
10. Participates in or initiates and conducts team-oriented in-services
11. Participates in or initiates and conducts patient data quality-review.

Maintains Education Requirements

1. Maintains Certified Clinical Perfusionist (CCP) credential
2. Performs all required TCH Healthstream Learning activities
3. Maintains current BLS certification

• Please describe any specialized knowledge or skills, which are REQUIRED to perform the position duties. Do not personalize the job description, credentials, or knowledge and skills based on the current associate. List any special education required for this position.
• EDUCATION: BS or BA preferred. Graduate of CAAHEP/AC-PE accredited Perfusion School.
• YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: None, “Graduate-Perfusionist”

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: Must be knowledgeable is all aspects of Perfusion Technology including heart-lung machines, circuit function/design, special techniques, balloon pumping, ventricular assistance, blood salvage, platelet processes, with specific college-level coursework/training in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, pharmacology, physics, ethics, computer applications, and research methodology.

1. Minimum is “Certification-Eligible” by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP).

1. Must achieve ABCP certification (CCP) within three years of employment.  Failure to achieve ABCP certification (CCP) within the three year frame will result in dismissal from the Perfusion Department.

1. Must maintain the CCP credential on an annual basis.