Lead Perfusionist (Full-Time

Overview

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community.

Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

The Lead Perfusionist will be responsible for the oversight of the perfusion team including the scheduling and delegation of daily assignments for the Perfusionist and Perfusion technicians in the Department of Perfusion Services as directed by the Director of Perfusion Services. The Lead Perfusionist, under the direction of the primary surgeon, shall set-up and operate such devices as the heart lung machine for bypass procedures, ventricular assists devices, intra-aortic balloon pumps, and the autotransfusion device.

A day in the life of a Lead Perfusionist at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

• Under the guidelines of the primary surgeon conducts cardiopulmonary bypass safely in accordance with the department's policy and procedures and the standard accepted practices of the American Society of Extracorporeal Technology and the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion.
• Responsible for the Perfusion team scheduling and daily assignment activities
• Initiates and monitors continuing educational opportunities for the Perfusion team including new technologies and required departmental continuing education.
• Monitors and evaluates annual Perfusion and Perfusion technician competencies
• Responsible for department of Perfusion Peoplesoft and Clairvia applications.
• Responsible for Perfusion services supply and inventory management including the ordering and monitoring expiration dates of all products.
• Performs quality assurance reviews on perfusion records in collaboration with the Chief of Perfusion.
• Performs analyses of variances and develops recommendations for quality improvement and ensures follow-up and implementation of changes.
• Under the guidelines of the primary surgeon reviews patient's medical record prior to each procedure to assess the scope of disease/illness and make appropriate judgments concerning prime selection, additional fluid choices, drug usage during bypass, and techniques of conducting bypass.
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills to provide extracorporeal services to patients from adult to geriatric and makes appropriate changes to equipment, supplies, and techniques to best meet the needs of the patient and the policy and procedures of the primary surgeon.
• Maintains readiness to initiate bypass throughout the procedure. Prior to bypass completes and records the baseline activated clotting time, baseline blood gases, baseline Cerebral Oximetry data, the autotransfusion checklist, and the pre bypass checklist.
• Under the guidelines of the primary surgeon makes appropriate responses to the patient`s medical status when using the intra-aortic balloon pump, auto-transfusion, and ventricular assist devices. Records all responses appropriately.
• Communicates with the surgeon and the anesthesiologist throughout the procedure as to the condition of the patient.
• Under the guidelines of the primary surgeon monitors anticoagulation, acid-base, hemodynamics, Cerebral Oximetry, hemodilution, and homeostasis. Keeps all parameters within acceptable limits set by the