Clinical Perfusionist

Summary

The Clinical Perfusionist's main responsibility is to manage the physiologic and metabolic needs of the surgical patient while on Cardiopulmonary Bypass or Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation. He/she is independently responsible for the conduct of perfusion and ensuring the safe management of cardio-respiratory function of the patient during those procedures so deemed by the Cardiac Surgeon.

Duties

• Clinical Perfusionist Duties: Perform clinical perfusion practice independently and with varying levels of complexity and/or difficulty, utilizing perfusion principles and techniques to maintain best practices. Assesses and creates a pre-surgical evaluation and plan, presents his/her findings and recommendations to the surgeon and/or the anesthesiologist of the patient before surgery to ensure proper quality and timeliness of care for the patient. This may require instant and continuous modification to limit and alleviate surgical side effects and complications. Operates, manages, troubleshoots, and evaluates parameters of the heart lung machine to ensure best practices of perfusion for patient care. Manages life support systems other than the heart lung machine, including, but not limited to LVAD, RVAD, and ECMO. Instructs/aids other perfusionists, students, and other medical professionals on perfusion related equipment, perfusion principles and techniques by providing educational programs and material. After concurrence with the plan by the cardiothoracic surgeon, initiation of the planned clinical perfusion support and technique(s) which may require instant and continuous modification to limit and alleviate surgical side effects and complications. Induction of complete perfusion support ensuring circulatory and ventilator support are adequate. Adjustment of anesthetic drugs, anticoagulation therapy, pressor support and techniques utilized during the cardiothoracic surgical procedure. Manages emergence from complete circulatory support after discussion and concurrence from cardiothoracic surgeon and anesthesiologist.- May provide emergency perfusion case management throughout the facility, i.e. ER, Cath Lab, SICU. Participation in staff meetings, cardiothoracic multi-disciplinary conferences and other committees as assigned by the Chief Cardiothoracic Surgeon or Chief Anesthesiologist. Maintains perfusion equipment in constant readiness and cleans equipment in accordance with hospital guidelines, SOPs, manufacturer's recommendations and CDC guidelines. Prepares pharmacologic agents properly for use in clinical perfusion casework administration. Attends in-service and continuing education programs. Assists in in-service educational programs regarding perfusion care. Precepts students Adheres to OR/clinical perfusion safety regulations/procedures and infection control policies. Complies with Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals- Fully complies with medical center Correct Site/Universal Protocol requirements, including pausing activities during pre-operative time-out. Complies with VA and Joint Commission documentation requirements. Performs all aspects of perfusion documentation, both paper and electronic, to include creation, update, implementation, and maintenance of perfusion records, charts, databases, policies/procedures, preference cards and storage of documents according to established guidelines, requirements and protocols. Instructs/aids other perfusionists, students, and other medical professionals on perfusion related equipment, perfusion principles and techniques by providing educational programs and material. Provide in-service and didactic teaching to ensure competency of staff. Aptitude of operation of all perfusion equipment, including quality control and troubleshooting as needed. Support, maintain and share evidence-based and goal directed perfusion to improve clinical practice and utilize pertinent medical literature to enhance patient care to the cardiothoracic team. Expert level of knowledge of current perfusion best practices and familiar with standard of care in the perfusion field. Perform quality control and internal reviews as required on all lab equipment utilized by the perfusion team. Perform improvement studies on all perfusion equipment as needed. This shall be done by collecting metrics in databases and analysis with software for quality performance of perfusion devices. Participation in staff meetings, cardiothoracic multi-disciplinary conferences and other committees as assigned by the Chief Cardiothoracic Surgeon. Maintains perfusion equipment in constant readiness and cleans equipment in accordance with hospital guidelines, SOPs, manufacturer's recommendations and CDC guidelines. Prepares pharmacologic agents properly for use in clinical perfusion casework administration. The above list is not all inclusive Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7am-3:30pm with some evening/ weekend call coverage Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.