Cardiac Perfusionist

Responsibilities

• Provide perfusion services for cardiothoracic surgical procedures, including cardiac bypass and valve replacement surgeries.
• Prepare, operate, and monitor heart-lung machines during surgery.
• Maintain patient circulation and blood volume during extracorporeal circulation.
• Support emergency and ICU cases, including patients requiring ECMO, intra-aortic balloon pump, and ventricular assist device support.
• Review the patient’s electronic health record (EHR) prior to surgery to understand the surgeon’s plan of care.
• Operate and maintain VA-owned equipment, including:
• Heart-lung machine
• Intra-aortic balloon pump
• Centrifugal ventricular assist device
• Complete all required clinical documentation, including perfusion data and transfusion records.
• Participate in quality improvement (QI) activities and peer review as required.
• Attend staff and service meetings when scheduled.
• Maintain accurate time and attendance records.
• Aid in identifying equipment and supply needs and communicating them to VA logistics.
• Follow all VA patient safety, infection control, and documentation standards.

Requirements

• Active, full, and unrestricted license in any U.S. state or territory.
• Board Certification by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP).
• Graduate of an accredited School of Perfusion Technology.
• Minimum 10 years of experience as a perfusionist.
• At least 1,000 documented clinical perfusion cases.
• Demonstrated experience with:
• Open-heart surgery
• Autotransfusion
• Heart-lung machines
• ECMO
• Intra-aortic balloon pumps
• Ventricular assist devices
• Maintain active AHA BLS.