Staff Perfusionist

Clinical 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.

Responsibilities

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

• Circuit Preparation
  • Uses sterile technique during set-up.
  • Properly constructs circuit onto pump.
  • Completely de-bubbles a primed circuit. Labels with date of priming.
  • Understands the limitations of all devices used.
  • Promptly communicates design or function problems.
• Heart-Lung Machine Preparation
  • Uses all provided machine safety devices.
  • Uses all provided patient monitoring devices.
  • Understands all aspects of the OR and pump Medical Gas systems.
  • Understands all aspects of the OR and pump Electrical systems.
  • Provides safe use of the Cooler/Heater machines for the patient.
• Patient (Data) Preparation
  • Reviews patient chart and gathers all relevant information.
  • Makes plans and decisions with surgeon and/or Anesthesia.
  • Selects proper cannula and other devices relevant to procedure.
  • Maintains completeness of Perfusion Record.
  • Provides safe and effective Cardio-Pulmonary Bypass (CPB).
  • Is always present during "Time-Out" procedure.
• Case Conduct/Management
  • Provides safe transition to CPB
  • Maintains blood pressure and responds appropriately to variances.
  • Maintains blood flows/volumes and responds appropriately to variances.
  • Maintains ABGs and ACTs, and responds appropriately to variances.
  • Provides safe transition from CPB.
• Clinical Awareness and Responses
  • Maintains pre-, peri-, and post-CPB patient situational awareness.
  • Promptly responds to patient situational variances.
  • Promptly communicates situational variances to surgeon or other appropriate team members.
  • Initiates "Incident Reports" in response to certain variances.
  • Requests assistance from other team members or other Perfusionists as needed.
• Personal Safety
  • Always follows universal precautions.
  • Creates a clutter-free, organized work space in the OR.
  • Immediately cleans fluid spills in the OR work space.
  • Disposes of waste with the safety of self and others in mind.
  • Wipes-down equipment after use.

Provides safe and effective ancillary tasks.

• Intra-operative Autologous Blood Salvage (IABS)
  • Determines Therapeutical Appropriateness of IABS (with surgeon)
  • Conforms to departmental procedures and policies for IABS
  • Maintains proficiency in Platelet-Rich Plasma production/Use
  • Maintains proficiency in Platelet-Gel production/Use
  • Performs periodic Quality-Control on the IABS blood products.
• Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping (IABP)
  • Properly constructs and primes pressure monitoring line.
  • Selects appropriate size IAB catheter
  • Correctly performs initial IABP machine set-up.
  • Correctly establishes initial IABP therapy.
  • Provides transport and trouble-shooting assistance as needed.
• Left-Heart Bypass or Veno-Veno Bypass
  • Properly constructs and primes the circuit
  • Properly conducts the bypass while allowing patient cardiac output.
  • Communicates with anesthesia throughout the bypass
  • Continuously monitors and maintains the patient blood pressure
  • Understands the capabilities and limits of the bypass procedure
• Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD)
  • Provides assistance to the scrub team in preparing the VAD
  • Correctly establishes initial function of the VAD driver console
  • 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.
  • Answers questions the ECMO Specialist might have.
  • Provides trouble-shooting assistance to the ECMO Specialist.
  • Assists in decisions about circuit modifications.
  • Participates and/or instructs in the simulation lab
• AngioVac procedures
  • With the company rep, assists in the operation of the pump/circuit
  • Orders new supplies as needed.
• HIPEC procedure
  • Properly sets up the machine
  • Follows surgeon directives
  • Wears protective gear when handling chemotherapeutic agents
  • Properly disposes of circuit.
• Temporary Pacemaker
  • Properly sets initial parameters
  • Properly performs threshold testing as needed
  • Performs routine battery changes/maintenance
• Other Ancillary Duties (Associated with CPB)
  • Knowledgeable in the function and use of Ultra-Filtration
  • Knowledgeable in the function and use of Retrograde cardioplegia
  • Knowledgeable in the function and use of Retrograde cerebral perf
  • Knowledgeable in the function and use of Antegrade cerebral perf
  • Knowledgeable in the function and use of Circulatory arrest
  • Knowledgeable in the function and use of direct coronary perfusion
  • Knowledgeable in the function and use of vacuum-assisted venous return

Provides periodic ON-CALL service

• 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

Maintains Adequate Perfusion Supplies

• 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

Provides continuous evaluations of devices and processes

• Immediately reports faulty equipment
  • Follows Clin Eng "Tag-Out" procedure for electrical devices
  • Retains faulty disposable products for manufacturer analysis