Clinical Perfusionist

Description:

The clinical perfusionist functions within the Operating Room within the Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System and is directly accountable to the OR Assistant Nurse Manager, or the Associate Chief Nurse, Surgery & Perioperative Service or the OR Nurse Manager, and ultimately to the Associate Director, Patient Care Services. Their main responsibility is to effectively manage the needs of the Cardiac surgical patient while on the cardiopulmonary bypass machine or extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation.

Requirements:

Basic Requirements :

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education. Candidates must hold a degree in perfusion as described below in paragraphs (1) and (2) that has been accredited by either CAAHEP or EQualTM Canada at the time the program was completed.
  • (1) Bachelor's or master's degree in perfusion from a program in the United States or Canada accredited by the CAAHEP or EQualTM Canada. OR,
  • (2) Bachelor's or master's degree in addition to a post-baccalaureate certificate in perfusion from a program accredited by CAAHEP or the EQualTM Canada.NOTE: The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. The degree is to be verified by submitting a request to mail@caahep.org. The request must include the name of the school, city, state and graduation date of individual.
• Board Certification. Persons hired or reassigned to CP positions in VHA must be board-certified in the field of clinical perfusion as a Certified Clinical Perfusionist by the ABCP. The board certification must be current, and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education.
• Licensure. None required, but a license or license eligibility or State required credential is strongly preferred.
• Grandfathering. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations : GS-12

(a) Experience, Certification and Education. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of CP experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and have obtained their ABCP certification as a CCP. License is preferred, but not required.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
i. Ability to apply the principles of program management and oversight required to develop program goals and objectives, administer and monitor programs, evaluate program outcomes/accomplishments, set and redefine priorities and implement effective solutions as needed to present findings and recommendations to the appropriate management officials.
ii. Ability to provide oversight, judgement and management of the application of clinical perfusion to patient care, organization processes and/or systems and long/short range goals, with a focus on delivering patient care and achieving program outcomes.
iii. Expert level of knowledge of best practice in the perfusion profession.
iv. Ability to validate or identify barriers to safe effective care, and manage all aspects of clinical perfusion, technical, fiscal, and administrative including daily assignments and call schedule preparation.
v. Ability to serve as a liaison, interfacing with other departments to incorporate the expertise of all disciplines in a comprehensive, integrated approach to patient care.
vi. Ability to develop, coordinate, review organizations and accrediting agencies, and manage a perfusion regulatory program including follow-up actions to ensure departmental compliance with regulatory agencies as required.

Preferred Experience: Must be Board certified in the field of clinical perfusion as a certified clinical perfusionist by the ABCP. Board certification must be current and applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education. Must meet the qualification standards for Clinical Perfusionist.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ .

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 12.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.