ANESTHESIA AND PERFUSION ASSISTANT

The Christ Hospital Health Network•OH, OH

10d

About The Position

The Anesthesia and Perfusion Assistant supports Anesthesia and Perfusion Services by preparing cardiac operating rooms and equipment, assisting anesthesia personnel and perfusionists, managing and stocking supplies, and supporting patient care and equipment maintenance. The role performs autotransfusion and cell-salvage tasks, assists with pressure monitoring lines and invasive line placement, prepares equipment for anesthesia and perfusion procedures, and supports emergency response and patient transport as directed by the anesthesia care team (ACT) and cardiovascular operating room (CVOR) teams. The position also maintains perfusion and anesthesia equipment and supplies, performs quality-control and point-of-care testing tasks, supports preventive maintenance, prepares for cardiac cases, and documents assigned activities. It requires adherence to sterile technique, infection-control and safety standards, clear communication with clinical and ancillary teams, and the ability to work independently and calmly in stressful situations.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Completion of a certified Blood Management course after starting the position.
Three years of experience in an operating-room environment.
One year of CVOR experience.
Basic understanding of human anatomy and physiology, sterile technique, computer use, inventory management, and mechanical principles.
Ability to function independently in stressful situations.
Completion of a formal training program in autologous blood transfusion therapy.
Knowledge of regulatory, legislative, and Joint Commission standards related to anesthesia, surgery, and infection control.
Knowledge of technical equipment care and maintenance.
Excellent communication skills and organizational ability.
Ability to mechanically troubleshoot equipment problems.
CPBMT certification required within three years of taking the position.

Nice To Haves

BLS certification.
Anesthesia Technician Certification (ASATT).
National Registry of Autologous Blood Therapists (NRABT).

Responsibilities

Set up and operate intraoperative autotransfusion blood therapy devices, including selecting centrifuge bowl size, preparing disposables and anticoagulant, reviewing charts for contraindications, processing and labeling blood, completing records, entering charges, and ensuring the required order is in the chart.
Perform periodic quality-control testing on cell-washer machines.
Set up sterile supplies and assist anesthesia providers with introducer and catheter insertion, monitoring equipment, catheter securing and dressing, and related patient-care needs.
Maintain anesthesia supply par levels; coordinate supply procurement and equipment maintenance with purchasing, sales representatives, and clinical engineering.
Participate in operating-room turnover and help procure and deliver laboratory samples and blood products as directed.
Assemble and assist with ultrasound, video laryngoscopy, fiber-optic, difficult-airway, and massive-transfusion equipment as directed by the ACT.
Assist in emergencies with duties that may include chest compressions when requested, emergency line placement and intubation support, TEE and ultrasound setup, malignant-hyperthermia resuscitation support, lab draws, and blood administration.
Troubleshoot initial anesthesia computer, network, and cabling issues and refer them to clinical engineering as appropriate.
Assist the ACT and CVOR teams with bedside care and transport of patients requiring emergency equipment or ongoing resuscitation; assemble anesthesia equipment at the destination as needed.
Maintain perfusion supply levels in the pump room, cardiac mini-core, carts, and storeroom; check sterility dates, put away stock, organize shelves, and notify the Director about low inventory.
Assist with point-of-care testing, including medium- and high-complexity analyses, competency checks, monthly quality control, and supply maintenance.
Perform preventive maintenance, quality-control testing, and data gathering or entry for perfusion equipment, including biweekly heater-cooler maintenance, cell-saver QC preparation, monthly perfusion pacemaker battery changes, and retrieval or delivery of equipment such as IABPs, pacemakers, and Impella pumps.
Prepare perfusion supplies and equipment for cases, build pump packs, prepare rooms and drug carts, connect and start heater-coolers, prepare cell savers, prime heart-lung machines, and build and operate IABPs in the cardiac OR.
Operate, quality-check, troubleshoot, and provide validation-level support for point-of-care devices including Hemochron, TEG, and i-STAT; coordinate disposable supplies and QC materials with the laboratory and document and interpret critical results.
Run cell-salvage cases independently, including setup, processing and returning autologous blood, troubleshooting, and documentation.
Run platelet-gel cases independently, including setup, equipment operation, troubleshooting, and documentation.
Inspect, maintain, clean, assemble, calibrate, test, and troubleshoot anesthesia equipment, including gas machines, carts, MH carts, fiber-optic equipment, specialty carts, TEE and ultrasound machines, infusion pumps, and video-laryngoscopy equipment.
Set up anesthesia in remote locations as needed, including moving and restoring equipment, supplies, monitoring, and Epic network connections.
Prepare equipment and supplies used daily in the Anesthesia Department.
Discuss autotransfusion contraindications and alternatives with the surgeon; share pertinent patient information and report observations and data to appropriate team members.
Communicate anesthesia needs across team members and ancillary departments, inform the Director about requests for new items, and collaborate with the CV Clinical Coordinator on cardiac anesthesia equipment and supply matters.
Document assigned activities daily; attend unit meetings, required in-services, and education programs as assigned; follow the chain of command and complete special projects as requested.
Demonstrate leadership by motivating, educating, and mentoring peers, and respond rapidly and calmly to emergencies.
Requisition supplies, pursue continuing education on equipment care and use, organize departmental materials, conduct hospital-wide sweeps for misplaced anesthesia equipment, and maintain an orderly and efficient work environment.
Use time, equipment, and supplies responsibly and adapt to changes in assignments.
Document and report equipment maintenance or failure issues and ensure they are corrected; follow infection-control, biohazard, sterile-technique, gas-handling, fire, radiation, and electrical-safety practices.
Store supplies according to standards, correct or report hazards, handle spills according to hospital policy, know emergency fire-equipment locations, and return promptly to the unit during emergencies or disasters.