Staff Perfusionist

Job Description

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).

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

Provides safe and effective ancillary tasks

1. Intra-operative Autologous Blood Salvage (IABS)
   1. Determines Therapeutical Appropriateness of IABS (with surgeon)
   2. Conforms to departmental procedures and policies for IABS
   3. Maintains proficiency in Platelet-Rich Plasma production/Use
   4. Maintains proficiency in Platelet-Gel production/Use
   5. Performs periodic Quality-Control on the IABS blood products.
2. Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping (IABP)
   1. Properly constructs and primes pressure monitoring line.
   2. Selects appropriate size IAB catheter
   3. Correctly performs initial IABP machine set-up.
   4. Correctly establishes initial IABP therapy.
   5. Provides transport and trouble-shooting assistance as needed.
3. Left-Heart Bypass or Veno-Veno Bypass
   1. Properly constructs and primes the circuit
   2. Properly conducts the bypass while allowing patient cardiac output.
   3. Communicates with anesthesia throughout the bypass
   4. Continuously monitors and maintains the patient blood pressure
   5. Understands the capabilities and limits of the bypass procedure
4. Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD)
   1. Provides assistance to the scrub team in preparing the VAD
   2. Correctly establishes initial function of the VAD driver console
   3. Provides transport assistance and trouble-shooting as needed
5. ECMO
   1. 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.
   2. Answers questions the ECMO Specialist might have.
   3. Provides trouble-shooting assistance to the ECMO Specialist.
   4. Assists in decisions about circuit modifications.
   5. Participates and/or instructs in the simulation lab
6. AngioVac procedures
   1. With the company rep, assists in the operation of the pump/circuit
   2. Orders new supplies as needed.
7. HIPEC procedure
   1. Properly sets up the machine
   2. Follows surgeon directives
   3. Wears protective gear when handling chemotherapeutic agents
   4. Properly disposes of circuit.
8. Temporary Pacemaker
   1. Properly sets initial parameters
   2. Properly performs threshold testing as needed
   3. Performs routine battery changes/maintenance
9. Other Ancillary Duties (Associated with CPB)
   1. Knowledgeable in the function and use of Ultra-Filtration
   2. Knowledgeable in the function and use of Retrograde cardioplegia
   3. Knowledgeable in the function and use of Retrograde cerebral perf
   4. Knowledgeable in the function and use of Antegrade cerebral perf
   5. Knowledgeable in the function and use of Circulatory arrest
   6. Knowledgeable in the function and use of direct coronary perfusion
   7. 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 Supplie

1. Routinely checks for outdates and stocks the Cardiac Mini-Core
2. Routinely checks for outdates and stocks the pump carts and