Clinical Cardiovascular Perfusionist

Summary

At Providence Health Care, Perfusionists are expert members of our cardiac surgical team and provide life-saving patient support during surgery and intensive care. They support numerous programs, including the heart failure program with VAD implantation, the adult congenital heart surgery program, and transcatheter heart valve program. 

Under the direction of the Supervisor/Clinical Instructor, the Perfusionist:

• participates as a member of the open-heart surgical team by selecting, setting up, maintaining and operating extracorporeal circulation equipment during surgery
• monitors the patient's altered circulatory process closely, taking appropriate corrective action when abnormal situations arise and keeping both the surgeon and the anesthesiologist fully informed
• carries out physiological measurements and monitors physiological responses during surgery
• operates the heart-lung machine during surgery
• functions in a supportive role for other medical specialties in operating mechanical devices to assist in the conservation of blood and blood products during surgery
• operates a platelet separator to process autologous blood to separate and render topical blood products for the production of homeostasis and wound healing
• provides extended, long-term support of the patient's circulation outside of the operating room environment such as ventricular assists devices (VAD), intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and extracorporeal life support system (ECLS)

The Perfusion department provides specialized care, including:

• • Cardiac transplant
  • Ventricular assist devices (VAD)
  • VA ECMO

As British Columbia's leading tertiary and only quaternary cardiac program, we perform over 1,100 cardiac cases per year. Our St. Paul's Hospital team is dedicated to advancing the field of cardiac care, working together to deliver cutting-edge, compassionate treatment for patients with complex and life-threatening heart conditions.

Education
Graduation from a recognized and accredited program in Cardiovascular Perfusion technology, plus one year's recent related experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Eligible for membership with the Canadian Society of Cardiovascular Perfusionists (C.S.C.P.) and/or American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion Certified.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to deal effectively with patients/residents, families, staff, physicians, and other health care providers.
• Knowledge of other health care disciplines and their role in patient/resident care.
• Demonstrated ability to draw out information that will contribute to understanding the patient/resident's situation in order to explore issues beyond the initial concerns.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize issues and workload.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Ability to participate in research.
• Demonstrated ability to provide supervision and teaching to students.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and provide in-services and presentations.

• Additional financial support: Additional educational or bursary bonuses may be available. Ask our recruiters
• A competitive salary: The salary range for this position is $62.13-$68.10 per hour, depending on experience.
• Growth opportunities: We welcome individuals at all stages of their career, offering opportunities for professional development and growth.
• State-of-the-art facilities: The new St. Paul's Hospital and health campus will be the most innovative approach to the delivery of integrated care in B.C. and Canada, designed to appropriately address the future health needs of patients, families, and our communities. From hospital care to primary and community health solutions, the new St. Paul's Hospital and health campus will continue to lead innovations in care, research, and teaching. The new St. Paul's Hospital is expected to open in 2027.
• Inclusive culture: We respect the diversity, dignity and interdependence of all persons. We value the cultural richness that our diverse workforce brings to the care of our equally diverse population of patients and residents.

Your Day to Day

The Perfusionist:

• Selects, assembles, and sets up perfusion and related equipment such as heart-lung machine, cardioplegia delivery system, roller pumps, centrifugal pumps, ventricular assist devices during surgery, post surgery or some medical emergencies.
• Sets up auto transfusion system for salvaging and processing patients own blood products during diverse surgeries and post operatively as required.
• Sets up, prepares and operates autologous platelet separation system for surgical and non-surgical application.
• Operates perfusion and related equipment such as heart-lung machine, oxygen therapy equipment, cardioplegia delivery system, roller pumps, centrifugal pumps, and ventricular assist devices.
• Monitors flows and pressures during surgeries, including venous return and arterial infusion of oxygenated blood. Interprets blood gas analysis and adjusts flow and pressure as required.
• Carries out various physiological measurements and calculations.
• Monitors physiological responses of patients undergoing extracorporeal circulation or other type of mechanical cardiovascular support during surgery or other medical therapy.
• Administers crystalloid solutions, colloid solutions, blood products, drugs, and medical gases under the supervision of medical staff.
• Participates in research projects and modifies current equipment and procedures as required while maintaining standard of care.
• Evaluates new equipment and develops policies and procedures for optimal care.
• Cleans, maintains and replaces faulty perfusion equipment, oxygen therapy equipment, and other related equipment. Maintains logs of quality assurance.
• Demonstrates perfusion procedures and equipment operation to medical and nursing staff.
• Provides training for cardiovascular perfusion students.
• Performs review of emergency practice and special procedures on a routine basis to maintain clinical proficiency.
• Orders medical supplies as required.
• Performs call duty as scheduled.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

About the Heart Centre at St. Paul's Hospital:

St. Paul's Hospital is the lifeline for British Columbians living with heart disease: we are the provincial referral centre for BC and Yukon's most complex cardiac cases, and the only centre in BC to perform adult heart transplants. We became the provincial referral centre because our clinicians and researchers are world-class pioneers in treating, researching, and even reversing diseases of the heart.

Who We Are:
Providence Health Care is one of the largest faith-based health care organizations in Canada. For the people at Providence, living our Mission, Vision and Values means providing British Columbians with compassionate, socially just, exceptional and innovative care every day.

From our humble roots 129 years ago, Providence has grown into globally renowned research, teaching, and care organization. As individuals within a mission-driven organization, we choose to be part of Providence Health Care because we value the organization's long commitment to social justice and compassionate care, and its commitment to the process of Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

We acknowledge that Providence Health Care and the new St. Paul's Hospital site is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.