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).

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, participants 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‑assistant 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