The Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) is seeking a Clinical Perfusionist. This position will be located in Houston, TX. Current permanent VA employees, Federal employees from other federal agency, should apply under CBST-11879854-23-LG. 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 English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Clinical Perfusionist, GS-12 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: The incumbent has minimum of 2 years of current Perfusionist experience. References: VA Handbook 5005/131, Part II, Appendix G63 dated July 02, 2020 The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. Physical Requirements: Required light lifting and carrying under 15 pounds, Work is not sedentary and demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. ["Performs and documents pre-cardiothoracic evaluations of patients prior to surgery, including requests for diagnostic and/or laboratory studies in efforts of optimizing patients prior to surgery. Provides preoperative and postoperative care of special complex equipment which include assembly, calibration, diagnostic testing (to ensure proper operation), aseptic maintenance in preparation for sterilization, and preforms any documentation associated with all perfusions equipment in accordance with hospital guidelines, SOPs, manufacturer's recommendations and CDC guidelines. Reviews and interprets blood gas results and functions as a clinical specialist for staff regarding interpreting blood gas results in all surgical specialties requiring blood gas analysis prior to surgery. Maintains, operates and ensures sterility of software for the heart-lung machine and pump during open heart surgery. Provides operational expertise in those instances when the patient's cardiovascular system is placed in continuity with devices that either monitor or support circulatory and respiratory integrity. Calculates projected flow rates, medication doses and assesses the need for blood replacement using various algebraic formulas during complex surgical procedure such as: Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB) during long-term cardiac support, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), left and right ventricular assist (LVAD, RVAD), direct support to the left ventricle via an intra-aortic balloon counter pulsation pump (IABP), Total Artificial Heart (TAH) preservation, and the salvaging of blood during and after thoracic, vascular, orthopedic, and general surgery procedures. During CPB surgery, the CCP will establishes and maintains an appropriate gas exchange for respiratory support, maintains an appropriate blood flow rate, maintains an appropriate mean arterial pressure, maintains a safe operating volume in the extracorporeal circuit, regulates the patient's body temperature as prescribed by the surgeon, employs safety devices such as air bubble, detector, arterial line pressure monitor, arterial line filter and low-level alarms according to established protocol. Adjustment of anesthetic drugs, anticoagulation therapy, pressor support and techniques utilized in the maintenance of the patient's homeostatic status during complex cardiothoracic surgical procedures. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 6:00 am - 2:30 pm Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 580-00524-F, Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
