Perfusionist
A perfusionist is a medical professional specialized in operating extracorporeal circulation equipment, most notably the heart-lung machine, which supports or replaces a patient's respiratory and circulatory functions during surgeries like cardiopulmonary bypass. This role is crucial in various medical procedures, ensuring patient safety and stability throughout operations. Typically working in hospital operating rooms and intensive care units, perfusionists engage in a demanding schedule that may include day, evening, and weekend shifts to meet surgical needs.
To become a perfusionist, individuals typically pursue an associate's degree in cardiovascular technology or a related field, gaining hands-on experience through internships. The position requires a detail-oriented, analytical mindset, as perfusionists must monitor complex machinery and make critical decisions affecting patient health during surgery. They are also responsible for equipment maintenance and ensuring proper sterilization to prevent infections. Additionally, perfusionists often collaborate with surgeons and other medical staff, contributing to the evolving field of perfusion science, which continuously seeks new applications and advancements in patient care. The median annual salary for perfusionists is around $80,850, with a faster-than-average job outlook, reflecting the increasing demand for this essential healthcare role.
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Subject Terms
Perfusionist
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Health Science
Interests: Medicine, cardiology, perfusion science, medical technology, anatomy, biology
Earnings (Yearly Median): $80,850 per year $38.87 per hour
Employment & Outlook: 10% (Much faster than average)
Entry-Level Education Associate's degree
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job-Training None
Overview
Sphere of Work. Perfusionists are medical professionals specifically trained to operate extracorporeal (happening outside of the body) circulation equipment for surgery and other major medical procedures. Extracorporeal circulation equipment, more commonly referred to as a heart-lung machine, is used to support or replace a patient’s natural breathing and blood flow during certain types of surgical operations, especially cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Other types of surgical procedures also require a perfusionist to be present, and the field continues to evolve as new applications are recognized. In addition, perfusionists may work with surgeons and physicians in determining appropriate surgical and postoperative equipment and anesthesia.
Work Environment. Perfusionists spend their workdays in hospital operating rooms or suites. A typical work schedule generally includes day, evening, and weekend hours to meet the surgical staff’s need for heart-lung machines during surgery. Perfusionists, like other medical professionals, may be at risk for job-related injuries such as backache, machine accidents, and exposure to infectious diseases.
Occupation Interest. Individuals drawn to the profession of perfusionist tend to be intelligent, analytical, and detail-oriented. Perfusionists rely on machines to perform their work, so understanding the mechanics of medical technology is a great advantage. Perfusionists should enjoy working in a medical environment and have training in cardiology. Because perfusionists make many decisions that affect patients’ health, the ability to handle stressful situations is essential. Availability beyond regular work hours is usually required in an on-call capacity.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. Perfusionists' daily occupational duties and responsibilities will be determined by the individual’s work environment and area of job specialization. Areas of specialization may include heart-lung machine operations, autotransfusion, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine operations, intra-aortic balloon pump monitoring, ventricular assist device monitoring, and limb perfusion.
Before beginning a medical procedure, a perfusionist must prepare, maintain, and sterilize heart-lung machines and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines. Failure to properly sterilize equipment can lead to life-threatening infections in patients. Perfusionists are responsible for ensuring their medical equipment is well-maintained and working as it should. Equipment malfunctions or failures should be reported immediately to biomedical equipment technicians or hospital engineers.
Most of a perfusionist’s time is spent helping to keep patients alive during complex medical procedures. Perfusionists must review patient health records and surgery plans and assist surgeons and physicians in choosing surgical and postoperative equipment, anesthesia, and blood products. During heart surgery, perfusionists operate the heart-lung machine, monitoring the patient’s blood flow rate, blood composition, blood temperature, oxygen level, and reaction to drugs and medication.
Open-heart surgery is not the only type of procedure that requires a perfusionist’s expertise and services. The field continues to evolve, and new life-saving applications are still being researched and brought into common use. Perfusionists perform autotransfusions to help patients who are bleeding internally as a result of different types of traumatic events or surgeries. Autotransfusion is the process of recovering blood (often during trauma surgery), cleaning it, and bringing it back into circulation to save patient lives. Perfusionists also operate extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines for patients in the intensive care unit, monitor intra-aortic balloon pumps and ventricular assist devices, and perform limb perfusion (direct infusion of anticancer medication to affected limbs).
Perfusionists may help with administrative tasks, such as scheduling and training, as needed. They typically report to supervising surgeons and cardiologists. In addition to the range of responsibilities described above, all perfusionists are responsible for educating themselves about the administrative, physical, and technical patient privacy safeguards included in the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. The immediate physical environment of perfusionists varies based on their employer and specialization. Perfusionists operate extracorporeal circulation equipment in hospital operating rooms and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines in hospital intensive care units. Perfusionists deal with both machines and people—helping patients and their families understand the machine’s function and abilities will help alleviate stress during treatment.
Human Environment. Perfusionists should be comfortable interacting with patients, physicians, laboratory technicians, nurses, scientists, and office staff. Due to the sensitive nature of medical diagnosis and treatment, perfusionists should use empathy, tact, and confidentiality when working with patients.
Technological Environment. Perfusionists use a wide variety of tools and equipment to complete their work, including extracorporeal circulation equipment, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines, computers, measuring and dosing equipment, thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, and intravenous pumps. The equipment they use requires extensive training. Monitoring, adjustment, and continuous communication with the surgical team during a procedure are essential.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students interested in pursuing a career as a perfusionist should prepare themselves by developing good study habits. High-school-level study of anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry, and mathematics will provide a strong foundation for future work in the healthcare field. High school students interested in this career path may want to consider internships or part-time work that exposes them to medical settings and helps them learn more about working with patients.
Postsecondary. Postsecondary students interested in becoming perfusionists should work toward a postsecondary certificate or an associate's degree in cardiovascular and vascular technology or a related field. Coursework in anatomy, biology, clinical science, and ethics may also prove useful in students’ future work. Postsecondary students can gain work experience and potential advantage in future job searches through internships or part-time employment in medical settings.
Those perfusionists who plan to teach will need to obtain a master’s degree in perfusion science or combine an undergraduate degree in perfusion science with some type of education degree.
Related Occupations
− Medical Laboratory Technician
Bibliography
"Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, Including Vascular Technologists." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/diagnostic-medical-sonographers.htm. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.
Villines, Zawn. "What Is a Perfusionist and What Do They Do?" Medical News Today, 13 Jan. 2023, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-is-a-perfusionist. Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.