Perfusionist

Overview:

UnityPoint-St Luke's Downtown

Full-Time

Rotates all shifts

 

The Perfusionist EX plays a critical role in supporting advanced cardiovascular surgical care. This position is
responsible for the operation and management of cardiopulmonary bypass equipment and the regulation of
patient circulatory and respiratory functions during complex surgical procedures. The Perfusionist is responsible
for the setup and monitoring of all perfusionist-related equipment ensuring all equipment is fully operational and
compliant with manufacturer’s and regulatory standards. The Perfusionist actively contributes to clinical
excellence by participating in staff education, promoting continuous professional development, and maintaining
rigorous patient safety protocols.

Why UnityPoint Health?:

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.  

Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in.  Here are just a few:      

• Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.   

• Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.  

• Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.   

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.   

And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience. 

Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

Responsibilities:

Patient Care

Collaborate with anesthesiologists, surgeons, and surgical teams
to initiate and operate cardiopulmonary bypass equipment during
surgical procedures, ensuring patient respiratory and circulatory
stability.
• Assembles, calibrates, operates, monitors and maintains
cardiopulmonary bypass machine (CPB), blood pumps, oxygenators,
water heater/coolers and related life-support equipment for patients
requiring extracorporeal cardiopulmonary support.
• Operate the Cell Saver during selected procedures to manage
blood conservation and support patient safety.
• Set up and manage intra-aortic balloon pumps in the OR, ICU,
CCU, and Cardiac Cath Lab to support patient circulation.
• Review patient charts and consult with surgeons on case-specific
conditions to prepare for abnormal or life-threatening scenarios.
• Ensure patient transport and portable monitoring across OR, ICU,
and Cath Lab settings to maintain continuity of care.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all patient care and
perfusion procedures, ensuring clinical accountability and
compliance with legal and regulatory standards.

 

Quality And Safety

Perform all required calibration and quality assurance testing on
perfusion-related machines to ensure operational reliability and
compliance with standards based on manufacturer’s instructions
for use.
• Support the Chief Perfusionist in monitoring and managing
perfusion-related inventory levels to ensure continuous availability
and operational readiness of heart-lung machines, blood salvage
devices, and associated supplies.
• Promote patient and workplace safety by preventing errors and
reporting potential or actual safety concerns immediately.
• Assist with data collection for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons
(STS) registry where applicable.
• Support or conduct education sessions for OR staff on perfusionrelated procedures and equipment, as delegated by leadership.

Qualifications:

• Education:  Bachelor's Degree required.  Successful completion of a Perfusion Education Program accredited by the Accreditation Committee - Perfusion Education (AC-PE) through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) required.
• Experience:  Three years of experience working in a hospital setting or a surgical unit or related field preferred.
• License/Certifications:  BCLS within 180 days required.  CCVP Cert Cardio Vascular Perfusionist • American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP) within 1 year required.  Licensed to practice Perfusion services in states where required upon hire.
• Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:  Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment Operation: Proficiency in operating and maintaining cardiopulmonary bypass machines to support patient circulation and respiration during surgery. Quality Assurance Testing: Skilled in conducting quarterly quality assurance tests on perfusion equipment, such as Cell Saver machines, to ensure reliability. Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Management: Expertise in setting up and operating intra-aortic balloon pumps in OR, ICU, CCU, and Cath Lab settings. Ventricular Assist Device Operation: Ability to configure and manage ventricular assist devices to maintain circulatory support during complex procedures. Training and Developent: Ability to collaborate, develop and deliver training programs that effectively transfer knowledge and skills to learners, utilizing instructional design principles, hands-on exercises, and interactive learning methods to enhance comprehension and retention of concepts. Document Management: Ability to maintain organized, confidential filing systems for patient records, ensuring easy retrieval and compliance with hospital policies. Regulatory and Compliance: Knowledge of Healthcare laws and patient rights, including HIPAA and informed consent, safety standards and emergency protocols. Ethical Decision-Making: Ability to always adhere to patient safety and confidentiality standards. Clinical Excellence: Deliver high-quality care within the scope of practice set by the American Society of Extracorporeal Technology (AmSECT), using a holistic approach to patient needs.