Join Cleveland Clinic's world-renowned Congenital Heart Surgery team as a Congenital Perfusionist, where you'll provide life-sustaining cardiopulmonary bypass support for pediatric and congenital heart patients. In this highly specialized role, you'll operate and manage advanced perfusion technology while collaborating with multidisciplinary surgical teams to deliver exceptional patient care.  

Our program offers exposure to one of the nation's most complex and diverse congenital heart surgery populations, as well as one of the country's premier pediatric hearts and transplant programs, including advanced mechanical circulatory support with ECMO and ventricular assist devices. This unique position provides the opportunity to develop expertise across the full spectrum of congenital cardiac surgery, pediatric heart failure, and heart transplantation while practicing alongside internationally recognized leaders in the field. 

A caregiver in this position works M-F primarily from 6:30am—2:30pm with occasional coverage from 1:00pm—9:00pm | On-Call coverage is required.  

A caregiver who excels in this role will:  

• Assemble, operate and disassemble the heart lung machine within the accepted safe scope of established clinical practice. 

• Provide total patient support during cardiopulmonary bypass.  

• Set up and operate ECMO's, Cell Savers, rapid infusion devices and all available perfusion devices, sometimes involving the use of X-rays or fluoroscopy as a diagnostic aid in the procedure. 

• Manage the patient parameters within the accepted safe ranges of established clinical practice. 

• Support organ transplants, laser procedures, new surgical procedures and perioperative LVAD support. 

• Perform patient charting and sterile packs. 

• Assist in research, animal testing, product evaluation and education of staff and students. 

• Maintain current knowledge in perfusion. 

• Share on-call responsibilities and the routine staffing and operating room coverage. 

• Share the daily tasks and operation of the department functions, such as lab coverage, stocking of supplies and equipment maintenance. 

• After selection and placement into this job, complete three months of on-the-job training to become proficient with various perfusion techniques, unique equipment and with various operative procedures.  

• Complete one year of on-the-job training to become proficient with various perfusion techniques and protocols unique to Cleveland Clinic. 

Minimum qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include: 

• Bachelor's Degree and completion of an accredited school of perfusion and eligible to take the certification examination of the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion and/or currently a CCP in good standing 

• Certification as a Clinical Perfusionist (CCP) 

• *All new hires must receive their CCP within three (3) testing cycles once they become eligible to sit for the board exams 

• After selection and placement into this job, three (3) months of on-the-job experience is required to become proficient with various perfusion techniques, unique equipment and various operative procedures 

• One (1) year on-the-job training is also required to become proficient with various perfusion techniques and protocols unique to CCF 

Physical Requirements:

• Requires a full range of body motion including the ability to lift and/or bear the weight of 100 pounds or more while pulling, lifting, pushing and transferring patients.

• Must be able to stand, walk or sit for extended periods.

• Good visual acuity through normal or corrected vision.

• Must be willing to rotate 24 hour coverage (on-call) and be able to work under stressful conditions.

• Must have the ability to work within guidelines of universal safety precautions, using protective gear.

• May be required to travel in ambulance, small airplanes or helicopter for organ procurement.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Follows standard precautions using personal protective equipment (gloves, eye protection, lead gown) as required.