Job Summary:

As a member of an open-heart surgical team, the Perfusionist is responsible for the setup and operation of extracorporeal circulation equipment to take over the functions of a patient's heart and lungs during surgery or respiratory failure.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Reviews patients medical histories, consults with surgeon or physician, and obtains necessary information to set up the heart-lung machine and related equipment. Prepares and tests equipment to ensure proper functioning.
• Operates heart-lung machine to divert patient's blood and circulate it outside the body, to administer drugs and anesthetic agents through the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit, and to control body temperature during surgery or respiratory failure. Operates other mechanical devices to assist in the conservation of blood and blood products during surgery.
• Monitors and observes the operation of the heart-lung machine and patient's physiological variables such as blood temperature, blood composition and flow rate, and adjusts equipment to maintain normal body functions. Cleans, adjusts, and maintains the heart-lung machine to ensure it is always functioning properly .
• Purchases supplies for department.
• Takes corrective action when abnormal situations arise, and keeps the surgeon and anesthesiologist informed about patient's condition.
• Provides extended long-term support of patients' circulation outside of the operating room.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Demonstrated competency in dealing with all age groups including neonates, infants, children, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor of Science degree with courses in chemistry, biology, human anatomy and physiology, physics, college algebra, and statistics required.
• Completion of a 12-month course in perfusion technology required.
• Certification by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP) required.

Physical Requirements:

• Exposure to body fluids, human tissues, contagious diseases, sharps, chemicals, and explosive gases by nature of duties.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk or at a machine.
• Prolonged periods of standing, bending and moving.
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at times.