Perfusionist

The Christ Hospital Health Network•Cincinnati, OH

3d•Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

BS or BA preferred.
Graduate of CAAHEP/AC-PE accredited Perfusion School.
None, “Graduate-Perfusionist”
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.
Minimum is “Certification-Eligible” by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP).
Must achieve ABCP certification (CCP) within three years of employment.
Must maintain the CCP credential on an annual basis.

Nice To Haves

Circuit Preparation: Uses sterile technique during set-up.
Circuit Preparation: Properly constructs circuit onto pump.
Circuit Preparation: Completely de-bubbles a primed circuit. Labels with date of priming.
Circuit Preparation: Understands the limitations of all devices used.
Circuit Preparation: Promptly communicates design or function problems.
Heart-Lung Machine Preparation: Uses all provided machine safety devices.
Heart-Lung Machine Preparation: Uses all provided patient monitoring devices.
Heart-Lung Machine Preparation: Understands all aspects of the OR and pump Medical Gas systems.
Heart-Lung Machine Preparation: Understands all aspects of the OR and pump Electrical systems.
Heart-Lung Machine Preparation: Provides safe use of the Cooler/Heater machines for the patient.
Patient (Data) Preparation: Reviews patient chart and gathers all relevant information.
Patient (Data) Preparation: Makes plans and decisions with surgeon and/or Anesthesia.
Patient (Data) Preparation: Selects proper cannula and other devices relevant to procedure.
Patient (Data) Preparation: Maintains completeness of Perfusion Record.
Patient (Data) Preparation: Provides safe and effective Cardio-Pulmonary Bypass (CPB).
Patient (Data) Preparation: Is always present during “Time-Out” procedure.
Case Conduct/Management: Provides safe transition to CPB
Case Conduct/Management: Maintains blood pressure and responds appropriately to variances.
Case Conduct/Management: Maintains blood flows/volumes and responds appropriately to variances.
Case Conduct/Management: Maintains ABGs and ACTs, and responds appropriately to variances.
Case Conduct/Management: Provides safe transition from CPB.
Clinical Awareness and Responses: Maintains pre-, peri-, and post-CPB patient situational awareness.
Clinical Awareness and Responses: Promptly responds to patient situational variances.
Clinical Awareness and Responses: Promptly communicates situational variances to surgeon or other appropriate team members.
Clinical Awareness and Responses: Initiates “Incident Reports” in response to certain variances.
Clinical Awareness and Responses: Requests assistance from other team members or other Perfusionists as needed.
Personal Safety: Always follows universal precautions.
Personal Safety: Creates a clutter-free, organized work space in the OR.
Personal Safety: Immediately cleans fluid spills in the OR work space.
Personal Safety: Disposes of waste with the safety of self and others in mind.
Personal Safety: Wipes-down equipment after use.
Intra-operative Autologous Blood Salvage (IABS): Determines Therapeutical Appropriateness of IABS (with surgeon)
Intra-operative Autologous Blood Salvage (IABS): Conforms to departmental procedures and policies for IABS
Intra-operative Autologous Blood Salvage (IABS): Maintains proficiency in Platelet-Rich Plasma production/Use
Intra-operative Autologous Blood Salvage (IABS): Maintains proficiency in Platelet-Gel production/Use
Intra-operative Autologous Blood Salvage (IABS): Performs periodic Quality-Control on the IABS blood products.
Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping (IABP): Properly constructs and primes pressure monitoring line.
Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping (IABP): Selects appropriate size IAB catheter
Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping (IABP): Correctly performs initial IABP machine set-up.
Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping (IABP): Correctly establishes initial IABP therapy.
Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping (IABP): Provides transport and trouble-shooting assistance as needed.
Left-Heart Bypass or Veno-Veno Bypass: Properly constructs and primes the circuit
Left-Heart Bypass or Veno-Veno Bypass: Properly conducts the bypass while allowing patient cardiac output.
Left-Heart Bypass or Veno-Veno Bypass: Communicates with anesthesia throughout the bypass
Left-Heart Bypass or Veno-Veno Bypass: Continuously monitors and maintains the patient blood pressure
Left-Heart Bypass or Veno-Veno Bypass: Understands the capabilities and limits of the bypass procedure.
Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD): Provides assistance to the scrub team in preparing the VAD
Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD): Correctly establishes initial function of the VAD driver console
Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD): Provides transport assistance and trouble-shooting as needed.
ECMO: 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.
ECMO: Answers questions the ECMO Specialist might have. Provides trouble-shooting assistance to the ECMO Specialist.
ECMO: Assists in decisions about circuit modifications.
ECMO: Participates and/or instructs in the simulation lab.
AngioVac procedures: With the company rep, assists in the operation of the pump/circuit.
AngioVac procedures: Orders new supplies as needed.
HIPEC procedure: Properly sets up the machine.
HIPEC procedure: Follows surgeon directives.
HIPEC procedure: Wears protective gear when handling chemotherapeutic agents.
HIPEC procedure: Properly disposes of circuit.
Temporary Pacemaker: Properly sets initial parameters.
Temporary Pacemaker: Properly performs threshold testing as needed.
Temporary Pacemaker: Performs routine battery changes/maintenance.
Other Ancillary Duties (Associated with CPB): Knowledgeable in the function and use of Ultra-Filtration.
Other Ancillary Duties (Associated with CPB): Knowledgeable in the function and use of Retrograde cardioplegia.
Other Ancillary Duties (Associated with CPB): Knowledgeable in the function and use of Retrograde cerebral perf.
Other Ancillary Duties (Associated with CPB): Knowledgeable in the function and use of Antegrade cerebral perf.
Other Ancillary Duties (Associated with CPB): Knowledgeable in the function and use of Circulatory arrest.
Other Ancillary Duties (Associated with CPB): Knowledgeable in the function and use of direct coronary perfusion.
Other Ancillary Duties (Associated with CPB): Knowledgeable in the function and use of vacuum-assisted venous return.
Responds to caller immediately after receiving a page or cell phone call.
If requested, Reports to worksite within 30 - 45 minutes (ie. ASAP) of receiving page or cell phone call.
Communicates appropriately with “second call” person.
At end of day, Notifies the OR Desk that Perfusion is leaving and “On-Call”.
Communicates call schedule changes to OR FRONT DESK.
Routinely checks for outdates and stocks the Cardiac Mini-Core.
Routinely checks for outdates and stocks the pump carts and pumproom.
Routinely checks for outdates and stocks the pharmacy/IV supplies.
Routinely checks for outdates and stocks the POCT supplies.
Monitors the supply levels in the main storeroom and informs director of needs.
Immediately reports faulty equipment.
Follows Clin Eng “Tag-Out” procedure for electrical devices.
Retains faulty disposable products for manufacturer analysis.
Participates in new product evaluations.
Provides constructive feedback.
Introduces new devices or techniques for evaluation.
Discusses problems or “issues” with others to seek improvements and to share information.
Strives for cost-containment.
Provides assistance to others as needed.
Participates in or initiates and conducts team-oriented in-services.
Participates in or initiates and conducts patient data quality-review.
Performs all required TCH Healthstream Learning activities.
Maintains current BLS certification.