Responsibilities:
1. Follow Departmental Policies, Procedures and Guidelines.
2. Communicate with appropriate personnel regarding work activities.
3. Review and evaluate patient charts prior to procedures in which they are involved.
4. Prepare and assemble the heart-lung machine for open-heart surgery including but not limited to, priming the system with appropriate fluid, medications, and blood derivatives.
5. Provide appropriate ancillary components and equipment to nurses, physicians, and other health care professionals.
6. Control blood flow rates and gas exchange during cardiopulmonary bypass within the limits designated by Departmental Guidelines and the attending surgeon, notifying the surgeon of any deviations from protocol.
7. Using Departmental Protocols and Guidelines to evaluate and treat patient hemodynamic and laboratory data.
8. Safely initiate and terminate cardiopulmonary bypass.
9. Provide cardioplegia delivery by preparing the proper solutions, priming the system, and ensuring the mixture is delivered at the correct temperature, pressure, ratio and volume.
10. Perform ultrafiltration and dialysis for removal of excess plasma water and electrolyte balance.
11. Set-up in a timely fashion and operate other extracorporeal systems, including but not limited to adult, pediatric, and infant ECMO; portable CPB; veno-venous bypass; and isolated limb perfusion.
12. Set-up, calibrate, and operate monitoring and diagnostic equipment used during surgery and the postoperative period.
13. Collect specimens for blood pH, pO², pCO², hematocrit, and electrolytes.
- Analyze and interpret results
- Take appropriate action
14. Operate analytical equipment for continuous monitoring of arterial and venous oxygen content.
15. Assemble and operate intra-aortic balloon assist devices.
- Adjust the intra-aortic balloon assist interval to achieve maximum assist for the patient.
- Evaluate adequacy of assist on a routine basis.
16. Assist with implantation, monitoring, and troubleshooting ventricular assist devices.
17. Keep appropriate records of techniques and procedures performed and generate the appropriate charges.
18. Maintain adequate inventories of Departmental supplies and notify the Director, Chief Perfusionist, or Assistant Director when any device does not operate within specifications.
19. Perform equipment maintenance and appropriately notify the Director, Chief Perfusionist, or Assistant Director when any shortage occurs.
20. Maintain cleanliness and sterility of equipment and supplies.
21. Assemble and operate autologous blood processing devices for use during open-heart surgery or any operative procedure requiring the use of this technology.
22. Assemble and operate equipment for procuring autologous growth factor, platelet-rich-plasma, and related services.
23. Provide the appropriate stand-by level for PTCA’s (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty), OPCABs (off bypass CABG’s), and other procedures requiring perfusionist stand-by.
24. Provide call for emergency or after-hours cases, equipment set-up, transport, troubleshooting, or any other situation requiring the services of a perfusionist.
25. The staff perfusionist must be able to properly select and set-up all systems outlined in the Policies, Procedure and Guidelines Manual, which involves a comprehensive understanding regarding:
- Related components
- Related equipment
- Surgical procedures relating to Departmental Services
- Fluid dynamics
- Pharmacology related to extracorporeal technology
26. The staff perfusion must have a comprehensive understanding of
- Hemodynamics
- Hemostasis related to extracorporeal technology
- Acid base management
- Gas exchange
- Electrolyte and fluid balances
- Hematology
- Hypothermia and hyperthermia
- Pathophysiology of cardiopulmonary bypass and related procedures
- Principles and practices of extracorporeal technology
- Ventricular assist devices
27. The staff perfusionist must understand the complex metabolic needs of the patient undergoing extracorporeal circulation. The perfusionist must be able to optimize patient care by coordinating system parameter changes with physicians and nurses actions and assessments.
28. The staff perfusionist must understand intra-aortic balloon pump theory, including timing and troubleshooting
29. The staff perfusionist must have an understanding of physiological monitoring, including ECGs and arterial and venous invasive monitoring.
30. The staff perfusionist must have an understanding of autotransfusion theory and practices, as well as related sequestration procedures.
31. Supervise and teach perfusion technology students in:
- patient care and Departmental activities
- the classroom, lab, or other appropriate setting as assigned.
Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.
